Wicked Tinkers SAT / MAR 14 / 11:00 AM

Aaron Shaw BAGPIPES, JAW HARP, JABBERING Keith Jones MARCHING SNARE DRUM, DJEMBE, FLOOR TOM, JAW HARP CJ Henderson DIDGERIDOOS, BRONZE-AGE IRISH HORN, FIELD DRUM, BODHRAN Tiki King BASS DRUM, HOLLERING

Wicked Tinkers is sponsored by McCallum Bagpipes, Countyman Microphones, Vic Firth Drums

Supported in part by a grant from the City of Santa Monica.

There will be no intermission.

Join us for POP immediately following today's performance on the plaza.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 4 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Prepare yourself for a wild ride with Monterey County Herald, “The Celtic Dwight Yocum, The Marshall Tucker WICKED TINKERS. Pioneers of the bagrock band ... the bagpipe-and- Band and the Neville Brothers. He also growing Tribal Celtic movement, drums answer to The Clash! ... They makes many of the drums he plays. Wicked Tinkers have been playing play like their sporrans have been set When Keith joined the band, he haunting, heart-pounding bagpipes ablaze!” - Dean Bonzani, Flagstaff Live. embraced his Scottish heritage with and irresistible, tribal drums as a Wicked Tinkers sound is the distillation fervor, and his enthusiasm spills over professional band since 1995 and for of the passion of a people and their into every one of his performances. many years before that at parties, music. Like a fine, smoky Scotch His high energy is infectious and his Renaissance faires and on various whisky, it's a little rough around the drumming intoxicating (sometimes street corners. With the addition of the edges but unmistakably the real thing. intoxicated!) Keith says, “I've found my mesmerizing drone of the Australian place.” Fans think so, too. didgeridoo and bronze-age Irish horn, AARON SHAW (bagpipes, trumps & Keith´s personal website is at: the magic was complete. Sit back and vocals) has been playing the Scottish KeithJones.com be transported to an earlier time in Bagpipes since 1976. He is a much loved Scotland and Ireland when battle cries and well-respected pipe teacher, both When CJ HENDERSON (didgeridoos, filled the air and strange, unheard- in the L.A. area and at summer piping bronze-age horn) first saw the Wicked of creatures roamed the night. Or schools around the country. He first Tinkers, he said, “I want to do what better yet, get on your feet and let heard the bagpipes at age three in the these guys do!” He heard their your body move to ancient rhythms highlands of Santa Cruz, CA, where he didgeridoo and said, “...and I want to and forgotten sounds. Don’t think that grew up. At 16, on a trip to Scotland, he play that thing!” this is dry, dusty music for museum bought his first set of pipes. Shaw has shelves—the boys in the band merge won many top awards, from Los Angeles After befriending the band, he the best of modern, almost-rock-and- to London, including the Silver Chanter immersed himself in the didgeridoo and roll energy with the hypnotic, insistent at Costa Mesa and the Strachan Trophy. soon became an expert at its haunting, grooves of their Gaelic ancestors. For years he was a member of the L.A. rhythmic sounds. CJ has a passion for Rare is the bystander who comes away Police Pipe Band and now teaches and music (especially punk and rock), playing without feeling a surprising, sometimes leads the Los Angeles Fire Department bass guitar, bodhran and trombone – bewildering connection with long- Pipes and Drums. His piping is known but the didgeridoo is the instrument forgotten, primal emotions and half— for its musicality, and his love of that resonates most with him. In 2009 memories of ages past and experiences the music keeps Aaron playing. He the Tinkers brought him aboard to play unknown and yet somehow familiar. says, “Most pipers shy away from the didge, Irish horn and drums. This is music to set your jaw, put a emotion of this music. But the pipes CJ’s artistic talents can also be seen fire in your belly, a glint in your eye amplify sorrow and longing, exuberance in his pottery, like the rum bottles and a dance in your feet. The Wicked and joy, even the bloodlust of battle. I do and oversized beer mugs he designs, Tinkers bring their vitality and humor to not run from this power – I embrace it.” crafts and sells. Born and raised stages across America. They were on You´ve seen him perform on American in Bakersfield, he brings a rugged national television: The Late Late Show Idol, The Tonight Show, The Late Late style, a different perspective and an . Touring the U.S. with Craig Ferguson Show with Craig Ferguson, Friends, enthusiastic stage presence that adds for most of the year, they have made The Drew Carey Show and others. His greatly to the sound and energy of the friends and fans from all over the world music is heard in several big-budget Wicked Tinkers. at some of the largest Highland Games, films such asThe Fugitive. He has including Pleasanton in California; the recorded with many artists including TIKI KING (tapan/bass drum/raconteur) Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Bonnie Raitt. On stage, Aaron is known and Aaron have a long and varied Games in Enumclaw, Washington; the for his dry wit and having “too good a musical history. From playing together Texas Highland Games in Arlington, time” playing the instrument he loves. in Punk and Ska bands of the 80’s, to Texas; festivals in Estes Park, Colorado Aaron's personal website can be seen busking with the pipes and drum on the and Las Vegas, Nevada; as far east as at: piperaaronshaw.com streets of Santa Cruz, they were always the Oklahoma Highland Games; the ready to do what it took to raise a little Kentucky Scottish Weekend; the Rhode KEITH JONES (snares & percussion) is beverage money! Island Celtic Festival; and the Mid- not your everyday drummer. He boasts On stage, Tiki is famous for his savage Winter Scottish-Irish Festival and Fair in more than three decades of experience Pennsylvania. Some of Wicked Tinkers’ energy and thundering bass drumming, and an incredibly diverse drumming while his offbeat and surprising humor biggest fans are kids! The band has language. Keith graduated from performed and instructed at schools keeps audiences guessing. Tiki´s playing Hollywood´s Percussion Institute of style was once described as, “He beats for children of all ages. “Heart-swelling Technology, and he won a CMAA Rising music from a group called the Wicked that drum like it done him wrong!”, but Star Award in 1996. He leads drum it is all in fun! Tinkers” – Mike McDaniel, Houston clinics and seminars around the country Chronicle, “Music that truly isn't about and at his studio in Rancho Cucamonga. When not in a Kilt, you might find Tiki in being pretty, it's about being forceful He has played every style imaginable, a grass skirt, as Tiki King is a self-taught and filled with rhythms of life.” - from rock & roll, jazz and marching artist and Luthier, specializing in Tiki Chuck Thurman, The Coast Weekly, “A band to country, performing with such and Ukulele themes. sound powerhouse!” - Antje Depone, greats as Joe Houston, John Mayall, PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 5