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Applegater Winter 2015 13 it, so he got his equipment out of storage and competition he experienced as a Music magic in Williams and moved to Williams eight years ago. professional musician. “Elsewhere,” he He is amazed at the talent here. He says, says, “it is cutthroat. There is no sense BY GABRIELA EAGLESOME “This is such a small area, so it blew my of the collaboration or community that In big cities, people enjoy music were three to four musicians living in mind that there is such a diverse range of you have here in Williams. Of course, as consumers. In Williams, it is an Williams,” he says, “but now there may quality musicians in Williams.” musicians here don’t have money, but it’s integral part of life: impromptu jams in be three to four hundred,” playing in Windsong, a singer- fun to do what you love with your heart friends’ homes, two pubs with live music genres ranging from classical guitar to songwriter and guitarist who has wide open.” throughout the week, a grassroots radio bluegrass, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. lived in the area since 1978, thinks there Others believe that there is a high station (operated by Iwill, a musician Kim Mericle, a musician who is a “strong musical spirit in the area.” density of musicians all across the United and longtime resident), open mic nights, closely follows the local music She says, “Amazing and fairly famous States and that Williams is nothing and concerts that draw visitors from far scene, likens the Williams’ music musicians come here to find quietness noteworthy. Brian (Buzz) Sulgit hesitated beyond Williams. phenomenon to the creativity and arts during their off-the-road time, and then to say that Williams deserves special It seems that every third that thrive in Taos, New Mexico. Many they tour.” recognition, saying, “I’ve heard people person in Williams plays an musicians who live in Williams are good Many musicians feel that Williams’ say that there is a lot of music happening instrument, sings, or performs with enough to do well in Los Angeles or New relaxed, laid-back, even spiritual here, but I just don’t notice it, because a group. Williams’ musicians travel York, but they prefer to live here. ambiance and natural surroundings I have been here for 22 years and it with their instruments to play at every Dennis Dragon’s “The Studio make it the perfect place to compose and just seems normal.” Warren Wolfe, on opportunity. They are frequently at the at Pacifica” offers world-class escape the rat race. Kim Mericle says, the other hand, insists, “I would chalk Applegate River Lodge, where people recording opportunities. Dennis won “Musicians seek the lifestyle of Williams, it up to emotional energy, spirit, and gather after the main act to jam until Grammies for his work before he moved where people want to live their own even magic.” In spite of the threats and early morning. to the Applegate Valley from the Los lives, but have a strong community at disasters happening in the world, Warren Willy Warwick is a venerated Angeles area. Disenchanted with the the same time.” thinks that here in Williams “we are musician in the area, whose mother, big-city scene, he came to visit a friend in Warren Wolfe, who moved to making our own paradise; we are living Martha, started the Old Time Fiddler’s Williams. When he saw the Steve Miller Oregon from Monterey, California, in the Shire.” Camp in Williams many years ago. recording studio at Pacifica, he realized it in 2009, says that making music in this Gabriela Eaglesome When Willy began playing fiddle, “there was exactly the way he would have built rural community is better than the grind [email protected] COLONEL MUSTARD FROM PAGE 1 Part of the fun is that they make “It’s effortless,” Johnny says. “We people happy because it’s so obvious always know where we’re going. Just a they’re having fun themselves. And hint, and we’re there.” B. echoes that part of our fun is that we’re listening to spirit when she says that singing with familiar music we have loved for years. the other two vocalists is like being with They are a cover band: they do other siblings. people’s music—lots of Beatles, anything The Colonel Mustard Band from Santana to Amy Winehouse, plays at weddings, wineries, and resorts, anything from the 1940s on through the which, Johnny says, is more fun than decades. One of their audiences’ favorites being at a bar till midnight. Wherever is their Beatles medley, but if you have they play, they like the moment best a request for just about anything, they’ll when they see people bopping their be able to do it. heads. There’s no mystery about that— Another part of the fun lies in they’re a dance band. the generous spirit of the band. Diana Coogle Though they aren’t averse to turning [email protected] down a benefit gig if it seems too private or petty, they are quick to say yes to Check our online calendar nonprofits they support or if it’s a cause for upcoming they feel strongly about or if it’s a medical Colonel Mustard Band playing at RoxyAnn Winery. Band members, from left to right, are concerts featuring cause—“the important things people Chris Graves, guitarist and vocalist; Sandy Ficca, drummer; B. Wishes, guitarist and vocalist; • Colonel Mustard rally behind,” B. says. They have played and Johnny Trujillo, bassist and vocalist. Photo: Renee Olmsted. • Stolen Moments for Relay for Life, the Women’s Crisis • The Evening Shades Center, individual cancer benefits, and, band apart is that they “play fun dance talks about liking the camaraderie of the and many other groups of course, for the Applegater fundraiser music with great vocals,” but there’s band, the way they respect each other who play all over at Red Lily last summer, proving us an something more, too, something that has and appreciate their professionalism. The southern Oregon. important cause people rally behind. to do with the spirit of the band when secret to their good music might be no www.applegater.org B. says the thing that sets their they are playing music together. Johnny more than that they like playing together. Serving Jacksonville for over a decade with 30 years of experience in the Valley Repairs Relines Full Dentures Implant Dentures Partial Dentures Great Service Immediate Dentures Custom Support Valley Denture Care 590 Blackstone Alley Diana Helvey L.D. Jacksonville, OR 97530 [email protected] 541-899-9516 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.