Carltone

CLICK HERE TO READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE CARLTONE'S CORNER MAILING LIST

CARLTONE'S CORNER

July 15, 2008

Here we are halfway through July and the staff at Carltone World Headquarters has just returned from its annual junket to the east coast. This edition is shorter than usual due to the fact that we’ve been away as well as we have been spending all of our free time following the fierce bidding wars for photos of the new Brangelina twins. But don’t be looking to buy any photos of the new kid produced by Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban. Nicky says she will not sell the rights!

The Devine Miss Double M. Mill Valley’s Maria Muldaur’s new pro-peace album titled Yes We Can is coming out on the Telarc label on the 22nd, and you can read more about it here. You can also get an autographed CD booklet by going to the site and ordering soon. Be the first one on your block to own one!

More new tunes. The Bay Area’s premier alt-country Americana band 77 el Deora has a brand new CD that will not be released nationally until August 19th, but the they are making some available now through their website. The disc is titled Hammer & Tongs, it features 12 tracks, and the songs are a mix of material the band has been honing live and songs they are yet to perform. “Dark, hyper-romantic ballads and bright, clever, trailer park operettas, recorded with the help of a dozen musicians." Go to their web site for more info.

Hot picker. Guitarist James Nash of The Waybacks is on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar this month, but the mag does not let you see stuff on line for free. With any luck, the August edition of Guitar Player magazine will be a little more generous, as he will be featured in there as well.

One burnt guitar for sale. The late electric guitar legend Jimi Hendrix was known for lighting a guitar or two on fire during some of his shows. His 1965 Fender Stratocaster, doused with lighter fuel and set ablaze during a performance at London's Finsbury Astoria in March 1967, was thought lost forever. Turns out his press agent had it stored in a garage all these years. For a cool million or so, you can get in on the bidding.

Housing crisis hits Malibu. County music couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood recently saved $500,000 on the purchase of their new pad in Malibu. The abode was originally listed at $5.45 million, but they got it for only $4.95 million. That’s a lot of CD sales…

That rumbling sound you just heard was Patsy Cline rolling over in her grave. Renowned pop “artist” (uh, why is she famous again?)(besides having dated football player Tony Romo?) Jessica Simpson will be releasing a country album in September titled Do You Know? Maybe it should be titled Do You Care? Read a Chet Flippo story about the recording here.

Take that, hack! The Alison Krauss/Robert Plant tour has been such a success (despite what the SF Chronicle’s hipster writer wrote last month) that they have added nine more shows to their schedule. They will play Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in SF’s Golden Gate Park on October 3rd, Kelseyville on the 4th and in Saratoga on the 5th. The betting and hope here says that the Chron writer won’t be getting any backstage passes for these shows…

Fishwrap roundup. There was a real nice story about Marin singer/songwriter Larkin Gayl in the SF Chronicle on the 14th. The bluegrass band The Grascals were featured on the Chronicle’s web site on the 16th. And the Chron had a story last week about Bay Area singer Carla Zilbersmith, who has ALS disease. Paul Liberatore in the Marin IJ wrote about Marin guitarist Ric Wilson’s music workshops in Forest Knolls, and about Marin soul singer Greg Scott.

Get out your handkerchiefs. Former boy band creator Lou Pearlman has been ordered to pay $300 million in back revenue to the bands ‘N Sync and The Backstreet Boys. The lads might have to wait awhile before seeing any of the cash, as Pearlman is serving a 25 year sentence for fraud at this time. $300 mil is a lot a license plates!

In rehab. To the surprise of only a few, Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood has gone into rehab to deal with his addiction to alcohol. According to the story, “fellow guitarist Keith Richards tried to help him sober up, he said, sometimes drawing a knife or wielding a pistol in the process.” Hopefully the latter was not done while playing a show on stage…

Coming attractions. Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival 8/8-10; Saw Festival 8/9-10; Peter Rowan at Sweetwater Station on 8/9; 18th Annual Sol Fest in Hopland 8/16-17; SF Outside Lands Festival in SF 8/22-24; Cur-ville Dog Day Fest in Kenwood 8/23; Cotati Accordion Festival 8/23-24; Strawberry Music Festival 8/28-31; Sebastopol Cajun/Zydeco Festival 9/6; Berkeley Old-Time Music Festival 9/11-14; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 10/3-5.

Additions

Howlin’ at the moon. That’s what folks will be doing on the 18th at the Velo Rouge Café (Arguello and McAllister) in SF from 7-9:30 p.m. Jeanie & Chuck Poling will be hosting this free, all ages show, with featured guests John McKelvy, Ray Bierl, Misisipi  Mike Wolf, Denise Funari, Evie Ladin, Matt Lax and Chickwagon.

Sausalito guitarist Joe Tate will be sittin’ in with Michael Skinners Final Touch Band at the Presidio Yacht Club on the 18th. The band also plays there on the 19th.

Blame Sally will be playing a show on the 18th at 8 p.m. at the Stinson Beach Community Center.

The Celebrating Songwriters series at the Left Coast Cyclery in Berkeley on the 19th will feature five singer/songwriters from all over the state/country. See John Haley-Walker, Lynn Smith, Ilene Adar, Rebecca Pronsky and Steve Meckfessel, starting at 8 p.m.

See the C.T. Cruisers play their high energy interpretation of R&B classics at the Blues & Jazz in The Plaza event on the 19th from 2-5 p.m. at Helen Putnam Plaza next to Starbucks on Petaluma Blvd. in Petaluma.

Country rock in the big city. KPIG radio presents the 8th Annual Sleepless Nights Gram Parsons Tribute Show at the Great American Music Hall in SF on the 19th, and then on the 23rd see The New Riders of the Purple Sage and Moonalice.

Bluegrass fest in Etna. If you are looking for bluegrass on the weekend of the 19th, then the Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival in Etna is the place to go. See Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, The Alhambra Valley Band, The Anderson Family Band, III Generation, Lost Highway, Piney Creek Weasels, and more.

Reminders

Good things are happening at Peri’s in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Billy D of The Billy Boys. See Sacred Profanities on the 16th, Tom Finch Group on the 19th, Jeb's TwangFest on the 23rd, Stone Cold Soul on the 24th, Craig Caffall Band on the 26th, The Courtney Janes on the 29th, Norton Money on the 31st, and more.

Finnegan’s in Novato has an open mic every Monday hosted by KC Turner. See Damir Stosic on the 16th, Revolver on the 19th, Double Barrel on the 23rd, Brittany Bexton & the Suburban Roundup on the 26th, and Blind Date on the 30th.

Harp and fiddle duo. Verdandia is a new duo featuring Alison Streich on fiddle and Adria Amenti on harp and they play a mix of Celtic, classical and improvisation. They will be playing at 33 Revolutions, a coffee house for music, located at 10086 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito on the 16th 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 Sergei & The Full Soul Jackets on the 16th, Rubber Souldiers on the 23rd, and the Pat Echols Experience on the 30th.

Bay Area bluegrass singer Kathy Kallick will be hosting some bluegrass sessions at McGrath’s in Alameda on some Wednesdays at 8 p.m. with different players each time. On the 16th with see her play with Tom Bekeny, Mark McCornack, Markie Sanders and Gene Tortora, and on the 30th with Tom Bekeny, Keith Little and other special guests. And she will be offering bluegrass vocal workshops at the 5th String in Berkeley on July 23rd, August 16th and 20th. Topics include an exploration of bluegrass vocal styles, finding your range, singing from the heart with nuance and much more. For the bluegrass sessions, just go to McGrath’s on the given dates. For the vocal workshops, contact Peter Thompson at bgsignal@comcast.net.

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 Ace in the Hole outside of Sebastopol has an eclectic mix of music on its calendar most nights of the week. See Friends of the River on the 17th, David Thom Band on the 20th, Gina Marie on the 22nd, Paulina & Jim Switzer on the 29th, 5 Cent Coffee on the 31st, and lots more.

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 Kimrea & Joe LoCoco on the 17th, The David Thom Band on the 25th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 26th, Peter Lamson on the 27th, and lots more good stuff.

The California World Fest will taking place in Grass Valley on the 17th-20th, and some of the acts you can see there are David Bromberg & Angel Band, David Lindley, Wailin' Jennys, Chic Gamine, California Guitar Trio, Joe Craven, Redhead and lots more  

Blue Highway will be pickin’ some smokin’ bluegrass at Slim’s in SF on the 17th. Opening will be Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys.

On Thursday the 17th 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. The headliner will be Poor Man’s Whiskey. 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.  Poor Man's Whiskey 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. 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.

At the Mystic in Petaluma you can see David Bromberg & Angel Band on the 17th, The New Riders of the Purple Sage on the 24th, Raul Malo and Lansdale Station on the 25th, 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. As noted above, she will be playing at Murphy’s on the 17th and also will be hosting her community jam on the 24th at the 142 in Mill Valley.

The Black Rose Pub in Santa Rosa presents Under the Radar on the 18th, The Carrtunes on the 25th, and The Tonewoods on the 26th, just to name a few shows. There are also Celtic and bluegrass/old-timey jams on some Wednesdays.

Sebastopol guitarist Kevin Russell has three gigs with three different bands this month. On the 18th Under the Radar will be back at The Black Rose, on the 23rd The Rhythm Rangers play at the Sonoma County Fair at 1:15 p.m., and on the 26th it will be Mark McLay & the Dustdevils at Studio E (see below).

Out at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station see the Hands On Fire band on the 18th, Rebecca Riots on the 19th, and Maracaibera on the 20th.

Some shows of note at Sweetwater Station, besides the Bluegrass Gold show listed above are the Monophonics on the 18th, Beautiful Losers on the 25th, Jimmy Buffett Tribute on the 26th, and more. The Tuesday open mic is now just once a month, so go on by on the 29th.

Saylor’s Restaurant in Sausalito has live music on Fridays and Saturdays in the restaurant from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 7-10 on Saturdays. See Lauralee Brown & Acoustic Sounds on the 18th, Mindy Canter on the 19th, Eugene Huggins on the 25th, and Tina Marzel on the 26th.

Murphy Productions has two shows left this month. See 2 AM Club^/ The Felix Dukes/Young Murph on the 18th at the Masonic, and Stompy Jones at the Stage Dor Dance Studio in Sausalito on the 25th.

Lauralee Brown and Acoustic Sounds will be at Saylor’s on the 18th and at the Bazaar Café in SF on the 23rd from 7-9 p.m.

In the Steel of the Night. There will be another Steel Guitar Extravaganza on the 18th at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley with The Bobby Black Quartet, Joe Goldmark and The Seducers and Big Lou’s Polka Casserole w/David Phillips.

The Marin Civic Center has three shows of note this month. See Tom Jones on the 18th, the Texas Guitar Show on the 26th and 27th, and on the 30th it will be Buddy Guy and George Thorogood.

Mill Valley’s Peter Rowan will be opening for David Bromberg & Angel Band on the 19th at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF.

San Rafael guitarist/singer/songwriter Kurt Huget can be found playing jazz with the Namely Us at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo on the 19th, and then some blues/rock/country with The New Rising Sons at Caffe Trieste in Sausalito on the 25th and at the San Rafael Trieste on the 26th.

Novato’s Doug Adamz and Doug Young will be at the Foster City House Concerts on the 19th, and then he will be part of the Acoustic Vortex show on the 20th (see below).

Pelican benefit. The Acoustic Vortex will be at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach on the 20th from 4-7 p.m. doing a benefit concert for the Mill Valley Wildlife Conservation effort. In keeping with the setting, it will be all Celtic music. The cast of characters includes Doug Adamz & Don Rich, John McCormick, Walter Strauss, Marla Fibish & Three Mile Stone, and Bigger Than Phil (Marian Hubler, Tom Neylan and Bruce Victor).

Nick's Cove in Marshall presents Local's Night every Tuesday. Enjoy great live music 7-9 p.m. and dinner and beer specials. See Leon Bristow Band on the 22nd and Mike Lipskin and Dinah Lee on the 29th. Call Nick's at (415) 663-1033 for reservations.

The Sonoma County Fair runs from July 22nd-August 4th. See Flatt Lonesome, The Rhythm Rangers, Kitty Rose, Solid Air, Jeff & Vida, Crooked Roads, Big Lou’s Polka Casserole and 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. See Jimmy Dillon & Danny Click on the 24th at 8 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info.

See Mill Valley’s Dore Coller on the 24th with Bermuda Grass at the Tiki Lounge in Fairfax and on the 25th with Savannah Blu at McGraths in Alameda.

The 142 Throckmorton Theatre has a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides Mark Pitta’s comedy night every Tuesday you can see Kimrea’s Community Jam on the 24th, Pierre Bensusan on the 25th, Will Durst on the 26th, and lots more.

Schaef-Abel Productions at Studio E in Sebastopol on the 26th will be hosting Mark McLay and the Dustdevils playing a CD release party ("Love and Barbwire"), featuring Kevin Russell, Kirby Pierce, Dan Ransford, Eric Straus and Sue Pierson.

Calistoga performers Michael and Lindalou will be playing on the 27th at the Windsor Farmer's Market from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The 22nd Annual Mendocino Music Festival is running through the 26th in Mendocino Headlands State Park, featuring Jesse Winchester, The Hot Club of SF, Los Pinguos, classical and opera music, jazz, and more.

Brass Menazeri can be seen playing on the 26th at the Osher JCC in San Rafael. This is an outdoor, general admission event, with lawn seating at the front of the house, chairs set up in rear, and some picnic tables available. These are family friendly events, and end no later than 10 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 for the general public, and 6 p.m. for subscribers. Concessions including beer, wine, sweets, and savories available for purchase.

Bay Area singer/songwriter extraordinaire Caren Armstrong will be playing a show at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 26th along will Mill Valley’s Josh Zucker on bass and other special guests.

There will be pickin’ of gospel, bluegrass and old-time music as usual up in Sebastopol on the fourth Sunday of this month, and the date is the 27th. It takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing.

The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa closes out the month with a bang with Lyle Lovett on the 30th and Chris Isaak on the 31st.

Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place for bluegrass pickin' on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave, from 2-5 p.m.

Andrew Freeman, besides performing solo on the first Saturday of every month at Murphy’s in Sonoma, continues to play Tuesday evenings at Giordano's (Columbus and Broadway) in SF at 7 p.m.

Ed Neff and Friends are playing bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There is no cover, and you get to hear some of the finest traditional bluegrass in the North Bay. The regular pickers are Ed Neff on fiddle, Mike Wilhoyte on guitar, Jeff King on bass, Paul Shelasky on fiddle, and Larry Cohea on banjo. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info.

Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area:

STEVIE NICKS – PART 1 7/17 11 p.m.: “In this episode, Soundstage captures a radiant Stevie Nicks in her first filmed solo performance since 1987. Clad in high heels and lace, Stevie boldly jumpstarts the night with ‘Stand Back.’ Don't miss a second as she performs songs from her comprehensive career retrospective album, Crystal Visions. Throughout the evening, Stevie elegantly showcases her vocal abilities on ‘Fall From Grace,’ and follows a stunning performance of ‘How Still My Love’ with a cover of Dave Matthews Band's ‘Crash’ interpreted through the eyes of a woman. Stevie also beautifully performs ‘Sara,’ a song rarely performed without Fleetwood Mac, before finishing up the hour with an amazing cover of Led Zeppelin's ‘Rock and Roll.’”

STEVIE NICKS – PART 2 7/24 11 p.m.: “Stevie Nicks knows how to put on a show. Part Two of this theatrical evening continues with a perfect mix of favorites like ‘Landslide’ and ‘Gold Dust Woman’ that will leave you yearning for more. During this intimate show, Stevie shares poignant personal memories and the origins of her songs. In long, dripping sleeves and trademark shawl, she breaks into her signature slow twirls, exuding a sensuous stage presence. The hour starts off with a riveting version of ‘Rhiannon’ and ends with an epic rendition of ‘Edge of Seventeen.’ If that's not enough, Vanessa Carlton joins Stevie on stage for a special duet of Bonnie Raitt's ‘Circle Dance,’ as well as ‘The One,’ a cut from Vanessa's latest album.”

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974) 7/26 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.”

BEST OF THE BEATLES 7/30 10 p.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.”

SF BALLET'S NEW WORKS FESTIVAL 7/30 7:30 p.m.: “In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the San Francisco Ballet mounted an ambitious festival of new works, ten world premieres by ten choreographers. SPARK 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.”

JOHN LENNON'S JUKEBOX 7/30 11 p.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.”

SANTANA – HYMNS FOR PEACE LIVE AT MONTREUX 2004 7/31 9:30 p.m.: “In 2004, guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana augmented the Santana band with a stellar group of musicians for an evening billed as ‘Hymns for Peace’ at the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival. The all-star event included Ravi Coltrane (sax), Chick Corea (keyboards), Herbie Hancock (grand piano), John McLaughlin (guitar), Wayne Shorter (sax), Stevie Winwood (vocals, organ), and guest vocalists Patti Austin, Indrissa Diop, and Angelique Kidjo. The result – a one-of-a-kind musical experience and a reminder of the unifying force of music.”

As always, shows, dates and times are subject to change. Please contact any venue listed above to confirm appearances.

Cheers!

Larry

Resources

Marin Bluegrass Jam, Northern California Bluegrass Society, California Bluegrass Association, Sweetwater, Sweetwater Station, Murphy Productions, Hicks With Sticks Twang Newsletter, North Bay Music Listings, North Bay Concerts, Petaluma Folk Music Concerts, Schoenberg Guitars, Murphy’s Irish Pub, Country Music Television, Rancho Nicasio, The Alpha Acoustic Concert Series, The Sweet Spot Pub and Lounge, The Black Rose, Gordyo, San Francisco Folk Club, SF Bay Area Radio Stations,  SF Celtic Music, 19 Broadway, Café Amsterdam, Peri’s Silver Dollar Saloon, Iron Springs Pub, Rocker Oysterfeller’s

Links

Dave Wellhausen Recording, Allen Lam/Professional Audio, Sound Reinforcement and Location Recording, Lou Judson Intuitive Audio Live Sound and Recording Perfection, Hot Buttered Rum, Kimrea, Poor Man’s Whiskey, Amazing Grace Music, Bay Area Bluegrass Radio Shows, Lauralee Brown & Company