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SAN DIEGO ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news

January 2009 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 8, No. 4

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Contributors Full Circle.. …………4 Barbara Mandrell Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 Laurie Lewis Athenaeum Jazz Series Parlor Showcase 3, 8 Tom Waits Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Stages Highway’s Song. …12 Terri Hendrix Of Note. ……………13 John Katchur Paul Nichols Anna Troy Nathan James The Spring Collection ‘Round About ...... …14 January Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

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JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news Tom Waits MISSION CONTRIBUTORS To promote, encourage, and provide an San Diego Serenade FOUNDERS alternative voice for the great local music that Ellen and Lyle Duplessie is generally overlooked by the mass media; Liz Abbott namely the genres of alternative country, Kent Johnson Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and PUBLISHERS bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring Liz Abbott together players, writers, and lovers of these I’m leavin’ my family the artist against his or her own image. where Waits did most of his growing up. Kent Johnson forms; to explore their foundations; and to And leavin’ my friends In the end, isn’t the artist-as-mythologi - With the excepted mentions of the expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS Liz Abbott My body’s at home cal-being the artist’s greatest work of all? Heritage, a Mission Beach coffee and SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for Chuck Schiele But my heart’s in the wind How shocked I was early in my teens to hoot house where Waits first climbed on alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, ADVERTISING blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, learn that the four members of KISS were stage, and Napoleone Pizza House, where Kent Johnson from “Shiver Me Timbers” is published monthly and is free of charge. wearing makeup after they had denied Waits worked as a dishwasher and cook Letters to the editor must be signed and may be BUSINESS CONSULTANT doing so on the 1976 “Paul Lynde in his teens, San Diego has figured little edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed Joanna Schiele rtists are complex that they will appear. Halloween Special.” And my reaction? I in the Waits’ mythology. He has crafted a DISTRIBUTION creatures. All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Kent Johnson renewed my membership to the KISS drifter’s or sailor’s image, one who has TROUBADOUR are solely the opinion of the Someone even Dave Sawyer Army, of course. no home nor hometown, one borne more writer and do not represent the opinions of the Mark Jackson described Pat staff or management. All rights reserved. Indian Joe Stewart of the highway or the sea. Take for Dan Long Boone as a ADVERTISING INFORMATION Paul Cruz A instance the following. complicated For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488, e-mail In June of 2008 Tom Waits [email protected], or visit www.sandiegotrou - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER animal once. It’s this complexity – badour.com Steve Covault sauntered to a podium in El the juxtaposition of clashing moods SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. WEB MASTER Paso, Texas, to accept the keys and “messages,” the square pegs in Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: Will Edwards to that fair city. The reason. He San Diego Troubadour WRITERS round holes, that constant P.O. Box 164 used to like the Marty Robbins La Jolla, CA 92037 Mike Alvarez reminder that two plus two really Julia Bemiss song “El Paso” when he was a WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the equals three-and-a-half – that Peter Bolland kid. In the mock press conference San Diego Troubadour? Go to baffles us mere mortals and keeps www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click Lou Curtiss posted at his MySpace, he praises Josh Damigo us coming back for more. on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of the “great Southwest,” then locations we deliver to. Paul Hormick Whereas a politician or Jim McInnes announces that his current tour will SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW philosopher is expected to be If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for Bart Mendoza start in Phoenix. The tour only ven - Terry Roland consistent and build a reputa - review, please send two copies to: San Diego tures eastward from there. Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92037. Raul Sandelin tion on the absence of contra - Sven-Erik Seaholm The fact is that Waits hasn’t played SUBMITTING A CALENDAR LISTING diction, the artist is expected Email your gig date, including location, address, José Sinatra San Diego in nearly 30 years. One has D. Dwight Worden to create contradiction. The road and time to [email protected] by to wonder how Robbins’ three-minute the 23rd of the month prior to publication. Cover photos: Virginia Curtiss sign that says “sharp curve ahead” on a If Pat Boone is a song could supersede San Diego – the ©2009 San Diego Troubadour. Cover design: Chuck Schiele long stretch of desert highway or the complex crooner, Tom Waits is a super city that cradled Waits from age 10, orange median line that guides the driver nova swallowed by a black hole wrapped through his teenage years, until he straight into the guard rail make for The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , inside an enigma, or some such mixed departed for the open mics at L.A.’s whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper. great art. The more the artist tricks us the metaphor. But it has always been my Troubadour. It would seem that San better. It is this clash of realities that we belief that acorns never swim too far Diego should get a bigger nod. After all, have paid to see and hear. from the nest. So, this article will attempt San Diego gave Waits his first glance at a We love to compare an artist’s work to bring some of the Waitsian paradoxes against itself, such as Picasso’s Blue ver - home, all the way home, to San Diego sus Rose Periods. We also love to compare continued on page 8

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle Barbara Mandrell From Miss Oceanside to America’s Sweetheart

by Bart Mendoza Red Foley and Tex Ritter ABC/Dot Records, releasing a further six albums Following these trips, her father put between 1974 and 1979. The label was together the Mandrell Family Band, playing absorbed in 1979 by MCA/Universal, resulting ne of a long list of performers who any venue that would have them. It was in the in a further dozen albums. The move to major got their start in San Diego before band that she met her future husband and distribution was well timed, just as she hit her hitting the big time, country singer O manager Ken Dudney, although at this junc - stride with a series of crossover chart hits, Barbara Mandrell is one of the most successful ture he was the Mandrell’s drummer. They including her first number one, 1978’s artists to have ever called San Diego home. toured regularly, though school still took “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” which was Now retired from the live stage, 2008 marked precedence. She took part in her first world followed by another number one, a version of Mandrell’s fiftieth anniversary as a performer. tour in 1965, visiting 18 countries. Alternating Luther Ingram’s immortal “If Loving You Is Billboard magazine’s top selling female singles Whether you prefer her earlier, more roots- country music with Beatles’ tunes and then Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right.” Just the liter - artist. Balancing things out a little, that same driven music, middle period pop-oriented current material, such as “The Beverly al tip of the iceberg – within the next few years year she made Mr. Blackwell’s list of ten worst tunes, or her later gospel material, there is no Hillbillies Theme,” her family band enter - she charted another four number one songs. dressed women. disputing that Mandrell is one of country tained troops at Camp Pendleton as well as in In 1980 Mandrell and her sisters were It’s at this point that her career picked up music’s biggest stars, scoring an impressive 50 Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines. given their own NBC-TV variety show, which steam. From 1982–1987 she won Favorite Top 40 country hits, including 29 top tens. And she hadn’t yet graduated from high ran until 1982. Notably, the show was pro - Female All Around Entertainer in the People’s Born in Houston, Texas, on December 25, school. duced by Marty Krofft, one half of the genius Choice Awards. She won Dove Awards for 1948, Mandrell was seven years old when her In 1966 she released her first single, “Queen team responsible for such kids’ classics as gospel work. Mandrell also scored several family relocated to Oceanside, but she was For A Day”/“Alone in a Crowd” (Mosrite “H.R. Puf-n-Stuf” and “Lidsville,” which gives Grammys, notably in 1982 for Best already well on her way to a life in music, hav - Records), which featured session guitarist an idea of the level of writing involved in Inspirational Performance for “He Set My Life ing made her public debut playing accordion Glen Campbell. An updated version was some of the sketches. The show saw Mandrell’s to Music” and another in 1983 for Best Soul in church at the age of five. issued in 1984. Mandrell had a long associa - image shift to that of a more mainstream, Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group with Music was a big part of family life. tion with Mosrite Guitars, having custom built glitzy performer, though her roots continued “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today,” a duet Mandrell’s mother, Mary, was a music teacher two-necked electric guitar for her in 1981. to show. Notably, Mandrell used her position with Bobby Jones. 1983 also saw the broadcast and her father, Irby, ran a music store in Dudney was eventually drafted and sent to to book an impressive array of musical guests. of her own HBO special and she guest hosted Oceanside and later led the Mandrell Family Vietnam. While on leave, the pair married on Indeed, her show was just about the only place NBC-TV’s “Tonight Show.” It’s also noteworthy Band, in which young Barbara was a multi- clockwise from top left: Mandrell in 2005; May 28, 1967, in Oceanside. Today they have on mainstream TV a viewer could see iconic that in the ’80s she was a spokeswoman for instrumentalist, playing pedal steel, banjo, in 1966; the Mandrell sisters three children and have been married more country artists such as Roy Rogers, the Sons of Kinney Shoes and was later omnipresent on piano, bass guitar, and saxophone, as well as than 40 years. At the time, Mandrell’s original the Pioneers, or June Carter Cash during this TV in commercials for a variety of products. singing. reunited for TV, but not in a musical sense. plan was to give up music and settle down. era. Meanwhile, Mandrell still spent a signifi - By 1984, her focus began to shift toward By the age of 11, she was skilled enough to The three have a lifelong love for trap shoot - However, when Dudney, a Navy pilot, was sent cant amount of time on the road and record - acting. She has hundreds of television appear - be hired to demonstrate new pedal steel mod - ing, which resulted in the TNN show “Louise overseas for Air Force duty, Mandrell went to ing. Unfortunately, the constant rehearsals for ances to her credit, but her first major role was els at a Chicago NAMM show. That visit to the Mandrell’s Celebrity Shoot,” beginning in stay with her parents in Nashville, who had the television program took a toll on her vocal in that year’s television film “Burning Rage.” windy city proved to be the lynchpin in 1993. Irene Mandrell began her own, non-tele - relocated there for work. This set in motion chords. Though the show was a success, Her first network TV special aired the follow - Mandrell’s early career. Artists in attendance, vised “Celebrity Shoot” in 2006, raising funds the next phase of her career. A visit to the Mandrell pulled the plug after the third sea - ing year, and she guested on such shows as such as Chet Atkins were impressed, but it for the Wish Upon A Star foundation. Grand Ole Opry convinced her to think on a son. “The Rockford Files.” At the height of her was country singer Joe Maphis who was Having retired from live performance, larger scale. She soon moved permanently to During this time frame, she basically popularity, there was a gift shop devoted to her moved enough to offer her a spot on his revue Mandrell has kept a relatively low profile over Nashville, where she soon joined the Curly became America’s Sweetheart and was seem - in Nashville called Barbara Mandrell Country. at the Showboat Casino in Las Vegas. Perhaps the past decade, but her music is continually Chalker Trio. That union proved to be short ingly just about everywhere, from magazines It was in business for 13 years. more important, it was through Maphis that being re-released, the most recent “Best Of” lived as Columbia Records producer Billy to TV guest spots. To say she was popular As great as her successes were in 1984, the she became a regular on the weekly Los being the “Ultimate Collection,” issued on July Sherrill signed Mandrell in 1969. would be an understatement. She won dozens year would end with a dark cloud when on Angeles TV show “Town Hall Party,” airing on 30, 2004. Meanwhile on May 1, 2007, a three- Within months she scored her first chart of awards, including CMA Entertainer of the September 12, 1984, she was involved in a Saturday nights. Touring was scheduled DVD set, “The Best of Barbara Mandrell and hit with a cover of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Year in 1980 and 1981, CMA Female Vocalist fatal car accident that was caused when a driv - around school, but still a preteen, she became the Mandrell Sisters Show,” was issued. In Loving You Too Long,” starting a pattern of of the Year in 1979 and 1980, and Favorite er crossed into her lane, seriously injuring her a regular attraction in Las Vegas. Mandrell also 2002, her love of gospel music brought her covering classic soul songs. After that initial Female Country Vocalist, 1980 through 1981. and two of her children. She would spend a performed at local nightspots such as the 101 back to the stage once more to host a televised major label release she quickly became a staple The latter was also the year she released her year in rehabilitation. Club. tribute to legendary songwriter Dottie Rambo. on the country charts, both as a solo star and signature tune “I was Country When Country By 1987 she had moved to Capitol Records. In 1961, at age 12, she made her network And the awards keep coming. In 2001 she as a duet with David Houston. In addition to Wasn’t Cool” (another number one), a state - Though her chart success was now more limit - debut on Red Foley’s ABC TV show “Five Star received the Pioneer Award from the Academy compilations, she would release six albums for ment on all the bandwagon jumping that sur - ed, she still issued seven albums for the label. Jubilee.” This led to a 1962 tour with the of Country Music. On November 5, 2007, she the label. rounded the then current movie, Urban During this time her autobiography Get to the “Johnny Cash Show” on an incredible bill that was inducted into the Music City Walk of In 1972 she became a member of the Grand Cowboy . It’s no coincidence that in 1981 she Heart: My Story (1990) was a major success, also featured Patsy Cline and George Jones. Fame in Nashville. Ole Opry, but by 1975 she jumped ship to was both Cashbox’s Entertainer of the Year and notching up six months on the New York She also spent time on the road opening for Times Best Seller list. Unfortunately, changing Perhaps the best indication of how big an tastes in music saw her return to indie status impact Mandrell has made is in the places her by 1992. In 1994 she released three TV mar - name has appeared aside from her own proj - keted albums, but the loss of major label sta - ects. For example, in 2004, a special edition tus was softened by an appearance that year Mandrell Olympic Shooting Pistol was issued on TV’s “The Commish.” in her honor. 2006 saw the release of a tribute 1997 would prove to be a very significant album to Mandrell, She Was Country When year in her life. First she signed a deal with Country Wasn’t Cool , with contributions from noted indie label Razor & Tie, which re-issued Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, one of the previously TV only albums, “It and Reba McEntire. However, easily topping Works for Me” as well as a greatest hit compi - the list of accolades Mandrell has received, lation. More important, however, after nearly Nashville’s Baptist Hospital named their three decades on the road, she decided to give Coronary Wing the Mandrell Heart Center. up live performance, with a farewell show, Though it’s unlikely Mandrell will release “The Last Dance,” at the Grand Ole Opry on another album of original material or play October 23, 1997. another concert, her legacy is secure. She didn’t stay out of the public eye for Mandrell’s rise to the top has proven to be very long. Having caught the acting bug, she inspiration to singers the world over, and it all began to take on more TV roles, starring in started in Oceanside. several movies of the week as well guest star - Barbara Mandrell on You Tube ring in such favorites as “Walker, Texas This 1967 clip actually shows the Mandrell’s Ranger,” “Sunset Beach,” “Touched by an logo on her pedal steel guitar at the end of the Angel,” and even “Baywatch.” Around this clip: time her autobiography was made into a TV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1T0vGP2DEk movie for CBS, airing on September 28, 1997. Here she is sitting in on pedal steel with a She was portrayed by none other than house band, circa mid-sixties: Maureen McCormick, otherwise known as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2WGso5Yhpo Marcia from “The Brady Bunch.” The follow - An early seventies clip, notable for her father ing year an episode of A&E’s “Biography” was Irby on guitar and sister Irlene on drums dedicated to her career. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m3tajiCRmI During this time frame the Mandrell sisters

4 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle n o s d r a h c i R

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Recordially, Lou Curtiss B

: o t o h P MY YEAR END LIST OF 101 SONGS 28. GID TANNERS SKILLET LICKERS : 59. MARK SPOELSTRA : “Just a Hand to 80. MAYNE SMITH : “I Like It” (sung at the YOU OUGHT TO LISTEN TO “Cotton Eyed Joe” (sung at the Heritage Hold” (sung at the Heritage by Kathy Heritage by Ray Bierl) by the Fat City String Band) Larisch and Carol McComb) 81. BO CARTER : “I’ve Got the Whiskey, ell this iss ue has a lot of Tom 29. JIMMIE DRIFTWOOD : “Tennessee 60. CANNON’S JUG STOMPERS : “Whoa You’ve Got the Gin” (sung at the Heritage Waits in it and I’m not going to Stud” (sung at the Heritage by Martin Mule! Get Up in the Alley” (sung at the by Sam Chatmon) bother you with a list of his W Henry) Heritage by the Almost Mediocre Jug 82. CARTER FAMILY : “Hello Stranger” (sung songs, but in those early days when Tom was Band) hanging around and working as a doorman at 30. THE JOHNSON FAMILY : “The Death of at the Heritage by Kathy Larisch and the Heritage Coffeehouse in Mission Beach he Ellington” (sung at the Heritage by the 61. CLIFF EDWARDS : “Stagolee” (sung at Carol McComb) Lou Curtiss got exposed to a lot of other people who did a Famous Krudd Family) the Heritage by Bob La Beau) 83. MOLLY O’DAY : “Tramp on the Street” 31. RED FOX CHASERS : “Otto Wood” (sung 62. J.T. “FUNNY PAPER” SMITH : “The (sung at the Heritage by Lou Curtiss and pretty wide variety of old time songs. So I’m 97. JIMMY ROGERS AND HIS ROCKIN’ at the Heritage by the Sweets Mill String Howlin’ Wolf” (sung at the Heritage by the Famous Krudd Family) going to list the songs, who originally record - FOUR : “That’s Alright” (sung at the Band) Thomas Shaw) ed them, and who might have sung them at 84. RUFUS CRISP : “The Blue Goose” (played Heritage by Sam Chatmon) the Heritage when Tom might have been 32. JOE AND ROSE LEE MAPHIS : “Dim 63. MALVINA REYNOILDS : “The Little Red at the Heritage by Stu Jamieson) 98. RICHARD RABBITT BROWN : “James around to hear them. Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud Loud Hen” (sung at the Heritage by Faith 85. JIMMIE DRIFTWOOD : “Father, Oh Dear Alley Blues” (sung at the Heritage by Music” (sung at the Heritage by the Petrich and Larry Hanks) 1. THE MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS: “Corrine Father” (sung at the Heritage by Sam Wayne Stromberg) Corrina” (sung at the Heritage by original Bluegrass Cardinals) 64. U UTAH PHILLIPS : “Starlight on the Hinton) 99. JOHN FAHEY : “In Christ There Is No Sheik Sam Chatmon and, in a bit different 33. MALVINA REYNOLDS : “McLaren Park” Rails” (sung at the Heritage by Rosalie 86. JIMMIE RODGERS : “The Hobo’s East or West” (played at the Heritage by version, by Bruce Frye) (sung at the Heritage by Sam Hinton) Sorrels) Meditation” (sung at the Heritage by Walt Kathy Larisch and Carol McComb) 2. MIKE SEEGER : “Waterbound” (sung at 34. JUDY RODERICK : “Young Girl’s Blues” 65. HARRY McCLINTOCK : “The Trusty Richards) 100. BUCK OWENS : “I’ve Got the Hungrys the Heritage by Pam Ostergren and Susan (sung at the Heritage by Clair Hart) Lariet” (sung at the Heritage by Sam 87. SAM CHATMON : “Crosscut Saw Blues” for Your Love and I’m Waitin’ in Your Halgedahl) Hinton, Larry Hanks, Ray Bierl, and 35. SKIP JAMES : “Cherry Ball Blues” (sung (sung at the Heritage by Steve Von Lutes) Welfare Line” (sung at the Heritage by 3. IAN & SYLVIA : “Someday Soon” (sung at Martin Henry) at the Heritage by Bruce Frye) 88. WOODY GUTHRIE : “Poor Lazarus” Ray Bierl) the Heritage by Cliff Nimen and Hilary) 66. WADE MAINER AND ZEKE MORRIS : 36. MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT : Lewis Collins (sung at the Heritage by the Famous 101. TOM WAITS : “Doctor Says It’ll Be All “Maple on the Hill” (sung at the Heritage 4. ERNEST STONEMAN : “Blue Ridge (sung at the Heritage by Stan Smith) Krudd Family) Right” (sung at the Heritage by Tom Mountain Blues” (sung at the Heritage by by Ray and Ina Patterson) 37. SPECKLED RED : “The Dirty Dozens” 89. ST. LOUIS JIMMY : “Goin’ Down Slow” Waits) the Heritage House String Band) 67. BILL COX AND CLIFF HOBBS : (sung at the Heritage by Wayne (sung at the Heritage by Bruce Frye) Tom had to have heard most of these 5. BING CROSBY : “I’m on the Crest of a “Franklin D. Roosevelt Back Again” (sung Stromberg) 90. BUFFY ST. MARIE : “Co’dine “(sung at songs over his time working at the Heritage. Plain” (sung at the Heritage by Carol at the Heritage by Debby McClatchy and 38. BLUE SKY BOYS : “When the Roses the Heritage by Clair Hart) He also heard a lot of others, including Doug Mike Heinz) McComb and Martin Henry) McKee and Pat Moss, Pat Rusconi, Rick Bloom Again in Dixieland” (sung at the 91. ARTHUR “GUITAR BOOGIE ” SMITH : 6. JOE HICKERSON : “Fiddler’s Green” 68. CLARENCE ASHLEY : “The Coo Coo” Stanley, Rick Cunha, Karen Williams, Big Joe Heritage by the Kern County Boys) “Foolish Questions” (sung at the Heritage (sung at the Heritage by Sara Grey) (sung at the Heritage by Bob Webb) Williams, and lots of others I’m forgetting. An 39. HEDY WEST : “Cotton Mill Girls” (sung by Lou Curtiss) 7. TOMMY JARRELL : “Old Jimmy Sutton” 69. SMITH BALLEW : “I Get the Blues When extra point is some of the songwriters Tom at the Heritage by Pam Ostergren) 92. ERNEST TUBB : “Talkin’ Guitar Blues” (sung at the Heritage by Brian Steeger) It Rains” (sung at the Heritage by Sam was exposed to. Certainly Bob LeBeau had to 40. RILEY PUCKETT : “I Only Want a Buddy (sung at the Heritage by Ray Bierl) be an influence, Jack Tempchin was around, 8. MASON WILLIAMS : “Them Moose Chatmon and Kenny Hall, the California Not a Sweetheart” (sung at the Heritage 93. LARRY MURRAY : “Jamie” (sung at the and a strange song craftsman who called him - Goosers” (sung at the Heritage by Dennis Sheiks) by Curt Bouterse) Heritage by Mary McCaslin) self A Vitamin. There was Robb Strandlund Squier of the Almost Mediocre Jug Band) 70. MIKE SEEGER : “Lady of Carlisle” (sung 41. ETHEL MERMAN AND RAY BOLGER : 94. LOWELL FULSON : “Black Night” (sung down from North County, William Kidd, and a 9. HEDY WEST : “Pans of Biscuits” (sung at at the Heritage by Curt Bouterse) “You’re not Sick, You’re Just in Love” at the Heritage by Sam Chatmon) whole lot more. Some of the Heritage regulars the Heritage by Pam Ostergren) (sung at the Heritage by Carol McComb 71. ROY ACUFF : “Don’t Make Me Go to Bed (like Ray Bierl and Pam Ostergren) were trying 95. BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON : “See That 10. POWDER RIVER JACK AND KITTY and Martin Henry) and I’ll Be Good” (sung at the Heritage by to write songs with varying degrees of success. Wayne Brandon and Clarke Powell and My Grave Is Kept Clean” (sung at the LEE : “Tying a Knot in the Devil’s Tail” 42. MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT : “Candy Man It must have been a learning process for Band) Heritage by Steve Von Lutes) (sung at the Heritage by Ray Bierl) Blues” (sung at the Heritage by Steve Von Tom because from week to week he just got 96. JERRY LEE LEWIS : “What Made better and better. Hopefully he thinks back 11. PINK ANDERSON : “Wreck of the Old Lutes) 72. RAMBLIN’ JACK ELLIOTT : “Sadie Milwaukee Famous Has Made a Loser now and then to those Mission Beach days and Southern 97” (sung at the Heritage by the Brown” (sung at the Heritage by Ray 43. FRANK STOKES : “I’ve Got Mine” (sung Out of Me” (sung at the Heritage by Ray thinks about San Diego. Famous Krudd Family) Bierl) at the Heritage by Ray Bierl) Bierl) 73. DAVE VAN RONK : “Cocaine” (sung at Recordially, 12. JEAN RITCHIE : “Fair Beauty Bright” 44. CHARLIE POOLE AND THE NORTH the Heritage by Dave Campbell) Lou Curtiss (sung at the Heritage by Kathy Larisch CAROLINA RAMBLERS : “Baltimore and Carol McComb) Fire” (sung at the Heritage by Bill Nunn 74. EDWARD J. CRAIN : “Bandit Cole 13. REV. GARY DAVIS : “Ain’t Gonna Die and the Heritage House Band) Younger” (sung at the Heritage by Mary McCaslin) Again” (sung at the Heritage by Steve Von 45. HANK WILLIAMS : “Window Shopping” Lutes) (sung at the Heritage by Martin Henry) 75. BILL BENDER : “The Dreary Black Hills” (sung at the Heritage by Jim Ringer) 14. BARBARA DANE : “Daddy You’ve Been 46. JIMMIE DRIFTWOOD : “Dam Yankee on My Mind” (sung at the Heritage by Lad” (sung at the Heritage by Sam 76. THE PIEDMONT LOG ROLLERS : “The Zoya Smithton) Hinton) Sweet Sunny South” (sung at the Heritage by the Sweets Mill String Band) 15. A.L. LLOYD : “The Handsome Cabin Boy” 47. RAY PRICE: “Crazy Arms” (sung at the (sung at the Heritage by Ray Bierl) Heritage by Kathy Larisch and Carol 77. B.F. SHELTON : “Pretty Polly” (sung at 6. MERLE TRAVIS : “Smoke Smoke Smoke McComb) the Heritage by Grady Tuck and Pam Ostergren) That Cigarette” (sung at the Heritage by 48. CARTER FAMILY : “Carter’s Blues” (sung Bob Webb) at the Heritage by Curt Bouterse) 78. BUKKA WHITE : “Fixin’ to Die” (sung at the Heritage by Dave Campbell) 17. ROY ACUFF : “Unloved and Unclaimed” 49. THE DIXON BROTHERS : “Down with (sung at the Heritage by Wayne Brandon, the Old Canoe” (sung at the Heritage by 79. BURNETT AND RUTHERFORD : “Willie Clarke Powell, and Ray Kellogg) the Old Reliable Egg Preserver Jug and Moore” (sung at the Heritage by Curt 18. SEAMUS ENNIS : “Wild Mountain String Band and Janitorial Service) Bouterse) Thyme” (sung at the Heritage as “Purple 50. HARRY CHOATES : “Jole Blon” (sung at Heather Rag” by Wayne Stromberg) the Heritage by Joel Sonnier) 19. THE CARTER FAMILY : “My Dixie 51. MAYNE SMITH : “They’ll Know Who I Darling” (sung at the Heritage by Kathy Am” (sung at the Heritage by both Ray Larisch and Carol McComb) Bierl and Martin Henry) 20. DELMORE BROTHERS : “The Weary 52. CLARENCE ASHLEY : “East Virginia” Lonesome Blues” (sung at the Heritage by (sung at the Heritage by Grady Tuck) Ray and Ina Patterson) 53. CLARENCE WILLIAMS : “Sugar Blues” 21. JULES ALLEN : “Days of ’49” (sung at the (sung at the Heritage by Sam Chatmon) Heritage by Sara Grey) 54. DUANE STORY : “Hollywood, My Home 22. DOMINIC BEHAN : “The Patriot Game” Away From Home on the Range” (sung at (sung at the Heritage by Jean Redpath) the Heritage by Mary McCaslin) 23. WOODY GUTHRIE : “The Grand Coulee 55. SARA CLEVELAND : “Queen Jane” (sung Dam” (sung at the Heritage by Larry at the Heritage by Virginia Curtiss) Hanks) 56. EWAN MacCOLL : “A Rambler From 24. THE CAROLINA BUDDYS : Manchester Way” (sung at the Heritage “Grandfather’s Clock” (sung at the by Johnny Walker) Heritage by Bob La Beau) 57. CHARLIE POOLE : “Old and Gray and 25. THE STANLEY BROTHERS : “Clinch Only in the Way” (sung at the Heritage by Mountain Backstep” (sung at the Heritage Kenny Hall with the Famous Krudd by the Blue String Grass Boys) Family) 26. WOODY GUTHRIE : “East Texas Red” 58. MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT : “Richland (sung at the Heritage by Ray Bierl) Woman Blues” (sung at the Heritage by 27. PETE SEEGER : “The Water Is Wide Dave Campbell) (sung at the Heritage by Grady Tuck) www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch Laurie Lewis: Music Veteran Emerges from the Shadows in San Diego

by Bart Mendoza their gig money, Pitche Blende entered a But from that I learned that to really make it Mamas and Papas fan and I had been work - Detroit area studio in 1968 to cut their lone in music you have to spread your wings and ing with all these name acts, but John 45, “My World Has Stopped / Stop!” (Valley hat is it about San Diego that not stick to one thing. I noticed that all my Phillips just seemed bigger than all of them, 1102). Although the record made little attracts musicians? We have an friends who were “stuck” were doing it for so I was thrilled when he called,” she said. impact outside the Michigan area at the time incredible foundation of native fun and camaraderie but nobody was mak - Phillips had her learn the parts over the next W of its release, it is now considered a certified performers, but so many artists, young and ing money. I wanted to be a full-time musi - six days from the albums, having her then garage rock classic. The single has sold for Laurie Lewis old, eventually make their way here. Indeed, cian and not get stuck working at Denny’s, fly to Las Vegas for a three-week tour. up to $148 on eBay , with both sides appear - many unsung heroes from throughout music so I decided to expand my horizons.” Her During the first three weeks, there were ing on the seminal Michigan Mixture compi - history now call San Diego home. Laurie love of adlibbing during extended rock jams, three “Mamas” onstage as Lewis learned her lation LP. Lewis is a case in point. While not a house - now formed the basis for her move to parts. On November 5, she flew with the “We were all pretty raw,” she said of the hold name – yet – she has led a biopic wor - Dixieland jazz and relocation to Chicago. group to Europe for the first time. “I was so recording process. “I couldn’t stand to hear thy life in the music world. She reels off excited, I forgot it was my birthday,” she myself sing during playbacks; it was all over - BUCKINGHAMS anecdote after anecdote, a few off the record. laughed. Among those eventually celebrating whelming.” Though the band’s dreams of Ever musically restless, by 1975 she Sitting down to a conversation with Lewis is with her that night were Martha Reeves and stardom never materialized, the same would formed a duo with friend Barbara Unger, Les enthralling. Lou Christie. Among the highlights of Lewis’ not hold true for another group of kids cut - Amies. That project ended in 1983 when the MICHIGAN time with Mamas and Papas was a recording ting demos that day. “This guy took us down pair were absorbed into the reunited sixties Born Lori Seamen in Saginaw, Michigan, session, taping new versions of “California the hallway and said, “Do you want to hear hitmakers, the Buckinghams. The two in 1954, Lewis has wanted to be a musician Dreamin’” and “Monday, Monday” in order a real band? Come and hear these guys played gigs with the band, recording an Lewis (3rd from right) in her first band, as long as she can remember. “I wrote an to lip synch on a German TV show. She is sing.” Entering another room in the build - album A Matter of Time and a single, Pitche Blende essay in third grade,” she recalled “and in it, still clearly moved by her time with the ing, Lewis found herself face to face with a “Veronica.” Unfortunately, “they said we I said I wanted to be a professional singer,” group, who made her an equal partner in pre-teen Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, were too ‘edgy,’ and basically they gave Barb Lewis laughed. She considers her childhood every way. On her last day, the band and working on material for Steeltown Records. and I the axe,” she remembered. A week to have been particularly well timed. “I grew crew threw her a going away party. “It was Pitche Blende’s single gave the band sig - later however, Lewis was approached about up in the late fifties and early sixties,” she hard to go,” she admits. “Where do you go nificant local caché and expanded their staying. “It was a difficult decision and led said. “You know, it was rock ‘n’ roll with after that? Back to San Diego and my lounge range to Ohio and Illinois. “We were still in to a falling out with Barb,” she acknowl - groups like the Beatles.” As a child, she took band?” piano lessons and played the guitar as well high school, so a lot of the touring was on edged as singing every chance she got. But it was weekends and during the summer. Concerts She was soon on the road on a 200-date MAMAS PART 2 when her sister Jinny got involved in her would be all day events where you would go Happy Together tour alongside the Turtles, Lewis opted for a change of pace and own group, the Purple Gang, that Lewis see five to ten bands with the MC5 opening then playing major venues, such as Detroit’s began a career as a car salesperson. She also began to get involved in music as a serious up. We played the festival circuit in Cobo Hall. Many other bands joined in on played in a post-Monroe’s group with Eric pursuit. “It was my mom that pushed us Michigan and the surrounding states many the tour at select stops, including the Grass Denton and Bob Davis, but a few months both to be in a band together during the late times.” Roots and the Mamas and Papas. The band into her career shift, John Phillips called sixties, probably to keep us off the streets,” Some of her fondest memories of the era included several Lewis penned tunes in their again. This time McKenzie couldn’t travel to Lewis (2nd from left) with the she laughed. Rock ‘n’ roll was then still involve Bob Seger. “I was absolutely set. When they hit San Diego, playing the Canada. “That went on for a couple of years, Buckinghams, early 1980s strictly the domain of young people, so it’s enthralled with him; he was a total top Embarcadero, she met Gary Puckett, who where I was in and out,” Lewis said. She was not too unusual to find that by 1966, still notch pro,” she recalled. “We considered would play a major role in her life a decade finally asked to stay in late 1989, remaining only 14, she was performing concerts in the him kind of a big brother kind of guy to us, later, backstage. More important, she also until 1993. Soon afterward, with Doherty as area with her new group, Pitche Blende, and met her husband, Chuck Lewis, then a drum the last man standing, the band fizzled out. touring with the likes of Alice Cooper and he was always nice. Sometimes before or tech and stage hand on the tour. She left the Bob Seger. after a show he’d sit down at the piano SESSIONS band in 1985 and the pair moved to San “Our mom was our manager, sort of like singing some blues tunes or doing some In late 1993 Lewis began to have health Diego in January of 1986 initially in the Partridge Family, complete with a school Beatles songs and I’d chime in with some issues and was eventually diagnosed as Lyme bus,” she recalled. The name of the band harmonies. We’d just hang out.” Hillcrest before buying their current home disease, so she decided to give up the life of was chosen by their mother as well. “It had My sister was more the shy type while I in Clairemont. a full-time musician. She continued to play something to do with the dirt uranium is was more out going, the sort of person that MAMAS AND PAPAS worship music for her church and the occa - found in,” sighs Lewis. The promo picture of would just walk up to Ted Nugent and say, Upon arrival, she quickly formed a pair sional covers gig with her sixties cover band the band had their faces on an atomic cloud. ‘Hi, are ya Ted?’ and call him by first name of bands, including Probable Cause. By the Living Stones, “but my health basically PITCHE BLENDE like we were best friends,” she laughed. The September, however, she had landed a dream ripped me from the stage,” she said. “We did some cover tunes like ‘Funky band ended in 1970 when their respective job with the Mamas and Papas, then still She remained active in the studio, howev - Broadway’ and ‘Crossroads,’ but we wrote romantic relationships did. including John Phillips and Denny Doherty er. Having reconnected with Gary Puckett at most of our own music,” Lewis commented. DIXIELAND JAZZ alongside Spanky MacFarlane (of Our Gang a local church in 1990, she received a call to “We did cover a couple of Traffic tunes as Post Pitche Blende Lewis hooked up with fame), actress McKenzie Phillips (sitcom join him at his Palm Springs studio in 1994. well as some obscure stuff, but it was really the Celebration Road Show, based in “One Day at a Time”), and Scott McKenzie This phone call resulted in her highest pro - The new Mamas & Papas (clockwise all about our original music.” Chicago. “I was still part of the rock scene, (sixties “San Francisco” hitmaker). She file recordings to date, when she appeared from top): Lewis, Spanky MacFarlane, With Jinny on bass and Laurie on vocals but a guy in a lounge needed someone to would initially replace a rehab-bound on his Is This Love? album. While the album Scott McKenzie, Denny Doherty, late and a band that included their boyfriends, sing a couple of hours a night. I was under Phillips for a year, making the connection didn’t garner much attention in the U.S., it 1980s the teenagers became favorites on the age but it was good money. His repertoire through Macfarlane. “I was star struck a remains a cult favorite in Europe, particular - Michigan concert circuit and, having saved was far from things that I was interested in. bit,” Lewis admitted. “I wasn’t that huge a ly in Germany.

TODAY In 1997, after 30 years in music, Lewis finally officially released her solo debut, fin - ishing off tracks recorded over the past four years. She continued to work with Puckett through 1999. Meanwhile she also collabo - rated on numerous projects with The Little River Band’s Wayne Nelson through 2002. In 1999 she became an elementary school music teacher at Horizon Elementary School. Due to the illness as well as a desire to get back to making music on a regular basis, she gave up teaching in 2005. “I noticed that my voice was not doing what I wanted it to do,” she said. “And I needed to get out there and start using my chops; you use it or you lose it.” I felt I really had to do something.” She soon joined the duo Harmony Road, with whom she still per - forms today. Lewis also continues to lead worship at her church, but her main focus at the moment is on finishing her second album. Now entering her fourth decade in music, Lewis is thrilled with where her career has taken her, but she has plans for much more. “There is nothing better than what happens in your soul when you play music,” Lewis stated. “There is also a great camaraderie among the musicians as well as a mystique to music in general that’s both wonderful and hard to describe,” she enthused with a laugh. “Besides, I love the hours.”

6 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch t t o b b A

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Jazz at the Athenaeum: The Coolest o t o h Concert Series for 25 Years P by Paul Hormick they would be for a PTA meeting. If you tures and gives demonstrations at universi - didn’t know that you were seeing someone ties and art centers all over the world. a Jolla can be one of the coolest who headlined at Birdland last week, you Crispell was a member of Anthony Braxton’s places to hang out. Cormorants, might feel that you’re in for a school recital. quartet for ten years and has performed or Lseals, and other wildlife gather along Unusual for San Diego, the Athenaeum been a member of the Reggie Workman the rocks and beaches. And the coast offers itself has a bit of history to it. Back in 1894 Ensemble, Barry Guy New Orchestra, the views of the Torrey Pines cliffs as well as the a group of literary-minded La Jollans Henry Grimes Trio, and Quartet Noir. She is sea caves. There are more than enough formed a reading club to enjoy and share one of the few female performers to head - restaurants and shops, and some of the best books. By the turn of the century the club line at the Village Vanguard. night spots in the county have plenty of had transformed itself into a membership A concert on food, drinks, and music. library and constructed a reading room in January 29 by the Jazz buffs have another reason to head the center of La Jolla “village.” Ellen Hoenig Pilc Project over to San Diego’s tony neighborhood dur - Browning Scripps, founder of the newspaper continues the ing these next two months. La Jolla’s dynasty, had recently retired to La Jolla and series. Ari Hoenig Figarova studied piano and always excelled septet a large, almost big band sound. You Athenaeum Music and Arts Library is the served as the first president of the library’s is a drummer of at the instrument. She received her degree can hear elements of Ellington and Woody setting once again for its annual Jazz at the board of trustees. unusual sensitivity in classical piano performance at the Baku Herman when the entire ensemble plays. Athenaeum concert series. This year, 2009, Conservatory before embarking across Over the decades new members were and expression. He The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is located marks the twentieth year that the library Europe to study jazz at Rotterdam added and by the 1910s additional volumes started playing at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla. For further infor - has sponsored these jazz concerts. Conservatory in the Netherlands. More jazz began to crowd the shelves of the reading Ari Hoenig & Jean- music, piano, and mation, go to www.ljathenaeum.org Dan Atkinson programs the series, and room to bursting. Designed in the Spanish Michel Pilc violin at age four. studies were completed at the Berklee has been involved with the concerts since renaissance style, which was popular at the He took up drums School of Music in Boston through an t t their inception, just a year after he started time, a new larger library building was built when he was 12 and was playing profes - exchange program with the Rotterdam o b working at the Athenaeum. Back then and dedicated in 1921. Other architectural sionally two years later. Herbie Hancock, Conservatory. b A

z things may not have seemed too promising additions were made in the following Winton Marsalis, Dave Holland, Pat Well established in a solo career, with i L for a music program. “When I arrived, we decades, including the Athenaeum’s trade - Metheny, Toots Theilman, and Gerry two highly acclaimed recordings under her : o t only had a single room,” he says. At the mark rotunda, which was added in 1957. Mulligan are some of the musicians he has belt, she was inspired to put together her o h time, the city of San Diego administered the When the San Diego Library took over performed with. One of the most ambitious own larger ensemble after she performed in P Athenaeum’s book collection – which the the greater portion of the Athenaeum’s col - drummers in a generation, Hoenig has two a few big band settings while she was city had been doing since 1955 in an agree - lection of books, the Athenaeum retained a CDs of solo drumming, and has performed attending the summer program of the ment with the Athenaeum – and the city small part of the collection, most of which solo concerts in which he displays the Thelonious Monk Institute Jazz Colony in rented the Athenaeum building from the were books on art and music, and rechris - drum’s ability to play phrases and lines, as Aspen, Colorado, in 1998. The result is the membership library organization. The tened itself as the Athenaeum Music and well as keep the beat. septet, which has performed for the last ten Music room at the Athenaeum Athenaeum was, of sorts, another branch of Arts Library. To this day, the Athenaeum Self-taught pianist Jean-Michel Pilc will years. Figarova’s arrangements give the the San Diego Library. Then opportunity remains a membership library, one of the repeat a musical line to fully explore its knocked. “When the library’s renewal came last 16 remaining in the county rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic content; all up, they built their new building on Draper While Atkinson was starting the jazz the while he accompanies himself with Street. We had more room to expand the program, the Athenaeum began a number of splashy voicings and chord substitutions. range and reach of the program,” says other programs, such as art classes. From Born in Paris, he now makes his home in Atkinson. The Athenaeum could go beyond beginner through intermediate and the U.S. and has performed with Kenny being an organization based around books advanced, students can study a variety of Garrett, Lenny White, John Abercrombie, Phil Harmonic Sez alone and become a center for learning and mediums – oil, watercolor, and sculpture – and dozens of other major jazz stars. After the arts. all the way to computer graphics. The performing in each other’s trios for years, In 1989 jazz was also at one of its Athenaeum School of the Arts occupies two Pilc and Hoenig decided to meld their two biggest nadirs in San Diego. Jazz at the studios, one in La Jolla and another on Park ensembles into a single unit in 2006. “Courage,” the Old Year whispers Sherwood was coming to an end, and the Boulevard in University Heights. Small Joining them on bass is Hans Glawischnig. long standing jazz performances at Elario’s classes ensure that students receive a lot of Glawischnig studied at Berklee School of as it ends, in La Jolla were shutting down as well. “So individual attention. Music and moved on to graduate work at there was room for the Athenaeum to fill in The lecture series concentrates on the Manhattan School of Music. Among the “Weary’s the world, and penitent the gap,” says Atkinson. Well-known jazz music and art, but within those pursuits the performers he has worked with are Bobby and sad, pianist and educator Harry Pickens was liv - subjects can range from Bolivian folk songs Sanabria, Maynard Fergusson’s Big Bop ing in La Jolla at the time and served as the to Broadway musicals. The art exhibits can Nouveau, and Phil Woods. “Waiting the touch to make all artistic director for the first series. Pickens be similarly broad in scope, with exhibits of Most people may tapped local jazz luminaries Holly modern art, Impressionists, and photogra - know Michael Wolff mankind friends – Hofmann, Mike Wofford, Mundell Lowe, phy. And the chamber concert series brings from his stint on and Charles McPherson as the lineup. Soon to the Athenaeum classical guitarists, the “Arsenio Hall Yours be the luck and strength afterward, the series began attracting more pianists, and string quartets. Show,” when he to do it, lad!” national and international jazz performers. Music lovers may headed up the band Among some of the great performers to remember Marilyn for the variety talk — Henry Irving Phillips appear at the Athenaeum jazz series through Crispell’s dynamic show. Wolff learned the years are Benny Green and John performance with the blues from his Clayton, Kevin Eubanks, Steve Wilson and her trio at the father when he was Michael Wolff Billy Childs, Oscar Castro-Neves, and Toots Neurosciences a small child in Thielemans with Kenny Werner. Institute in 2002. New Orleans and studied classical piano, Atkinson got turned onto jazz while he She returns to the beginning at the age of eight. He attended was a philosophy student in Germany and Athenaeum this UCLA and UC Berkeley but dropped out to relies on his knowledge and love of the month with a solo start his professional career touring with Marilyn Crispell music in making the programs. Besides his piano concert to Cal Tjader. He has performed with Sonny work with the Athenaeum, he is the direc - open the year’s jazz series. Perhaps one of Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, and tor of Arts and Humanities at UCSD the more avant of the avant garde, Crispell Christian McBride among others. The per - Extension and runs UCSD’s jazz camp. approaches the piano as an instrument cussion section of his Impure Thoughts Keeping in mind the purpose of the capable of extremes. Dense jackhammer Band, which includes Indian tablas, drives Athenaeum when he programs the series, he chords give way to light expressive glissan - the band through straight-ahead jazz and says, “We try to span a lot of different di . The effect can be stark, disturbing, beau - funk grooves to Eastern raga-inspired styles, old school to the avant garde. That is tiful, and sublime. One music critic has said improvisations. Pittsburg-based bassist Rich one of the components of the program, that that to experience one of her concerts is Goods joins Wolff at the Athenaeum, as it be educational. We want to introduce like monitoring an active volcano. Larry well as drummer Victor Jones for a people to new performers and styles.” Kelp of the San Francisco Express sums up a February 12 concert. Stuck way down in the bottom left cor - Crispell performance by saying, “Her The series con - ner of the American map, San Diego is not improvisational approach is so personal, so cludes on February on any major concert routes. Atkinson has explosive, and so devastating that it makes 26 with a concert to rely on networking with other arts and jazz [and most other music] sound like the from the music organizations in Seattle, Portland, archaic language of an ancient people. Netherlands-based and San Francisco to catch jazz performers, There’s also a gentle side that makes even Amina Figarova most of whom base themselves on the East simple melodies seem radiantly beautiful.” Septet. Stunningly Coast, when they tour the West Coast. Crispell earned her degree in classical beautiful, Figarova Because jazz venues are more widespread in piano and composition at the New England plays the piano with the West, performers have a lot of travel Conservatory of Music and is the recipient power and a great Amina Figarova and expenses, and booking them can get of three New York Foundation for the Arts deal of emotional pricey. “No other venue in town besides the fellowship grants, a Mary Flagler Cary range. She grew up on other side of the Athenaeum can afford to bring this caliber Charitable Trust composition commission, world, in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku, but of performers here,” says Atkinson. and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She teaches both of her parents were jazz lovers. Her Concerts at the Athenaeum are a cozy improvisation at workshops and has taught mother was particularly fond of Louis affair. Books and sheet music fill the shelves at Karl Bergen’s Creative Music Studio in Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, along the walls, and chairs are lined up as Woodstock, New York, since 1977. She lec - and Oscar Peterson. From the age of two www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

by Raul Sandelin photos by Virginia Curtiss

continued from page 3 Greyhound bus depot, Tijuana, his drivers license, his ttsss first job, and his first gig. iiit But, when you listen to Waits’ 20-some aaa albums, you realize that this is a guy who probably lived more fully within the expanse WWW eee of a three-minute song than in any external m aaddd geography. Waits is a poet and a dreamer. His mm ennna world is less about the terrain and more about ooo eerrree the imagination, the word, the story. Waits, the TTT SSSe public figure, is less about growing up in Chula gggooo Vista than he is about the criss-crossing slopes of iiieee dreamscape, some cerebral clash of a cinematic n DDD America, and an apocalyptic carnival ride. nn aaa Unlike Bob Dylan, to whom the younger Waits cer - Yet, Tom Waits did live here and did get his SS S tainly owed a riff or two, Waits was unencumbered and musical start here. San Diego provided the first Petri able to reissue a neo-Beat poetry with Ginsbergian dish where tales of sailors, bars, twisted characters, abandon. As brilliant as Dylan is, he’s always been and exotic lands began fermenting. That was, of hampered by the metanarratives of, first, politics then course, before he went on to win two Grammys and started feeding us asymmetrical doses religion and, through it all, that most oppressive meta - an Oscar nomination and build himself into a pop of freak-show folk music, trapezoidal sea chanteys in narrative of them all: his own legacy culture cult hero. which tattooed midgets sit on three-legged furniture Waits never had his hands tied by genera - …got on the Hollywood Freeway performing insect rituals with their shirts turned inside tional spokesmanship and found and headed north. out. A stunning psychodrama inhabited every Waits album. The rare tugs back to reality were the many from “Frank’s Wild Years” sailors who emerged as Waits’ alter-ego storytellers. Brushing aside the jazz combos, Waits experiment - After gigging around San Diego in the late ’60s ed with lo-fi recording, sampling found sounds and and early ’70s, mostly at the Heritage and places like textures, and cacophonic instrumentation. He and Lou Curtiss’ Folk Arts Rare Records, Waits headed Kathleen adopted a pots-and-pans-in-the-bathroom north to play the Troubadour, meet various figures in approach to percussion and beat-keeping. His song the Laurel Canyon music scene, and land a deal with writing took free-form liberties with the verse-chorus- bridge expectations of Top 40 radio. And, over it all he Asylum Records in 1973. that American figure. threw at us a voice that had lost all of what A&R guys His first albums – Closing Time and The Heart of What’s also so startling about Mule call “pop sensibilities.” Saturday Night – laid the template for his early recog - Variations is its popular accessibility. Perhaps The albums Swordfishtrombones , Rain Dogs , and nition as a talented singer-songwriter not unlike the the A&R guys at Anti wanted to hear Waits’ Frank’s Wild Years were the main thrust of his work many who emerged during the ’70s out of the Bob “pop sensibilities” or perhaps Waits himself in the ’80s. And, critics refer to these three albums as a Dylan -Dave Van Ronk-Arlo Guthrie triumvirate. Couple decided to come in from the avant garde cold. trilogy. Waits, now acquainted with Francis Ford this with Waits’ grittier, barroom entendre , and Waits Many of the songs on the albums are almost dance - Coppola, began starring in films such as Ironweed and himself held down the salt-of-the-earth wing of the singer- able. (The visual oxymoron of all time: dancing to a The Cotton Club as well as writing scores. free to splatter his own sonic songwriter movement while others frolicked in the Tom Waits song.) Waits has ditched the wooden- Somewhere during this time, Waits made friends Rorschach tests however he pleased. The results post-’60s ethereal. spoons-on-plastic-Metamucil-container rhythm section with Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who played on vari - were sometimes too stunning, too intense for an Waits eschewed the semi-rural Laurel Canyon for on many tracks, substituting various ace session drum - ous Waits albums. Waits also made another friend – America that really just wanted to slow dance to the semi-seedy Tropicana Motel. Avoiding the hippie, mers. This allows the band to develop a “groove” that filmmaker Jim Jarmusch – and extended his acting Whitesnake power ballads. But, the select few loved folk-rock clichés of the mid-’70s, he took on a more pops like old dance hall R&B. Waits’ voice also finds a resume under Jarmusch’s direction. him. The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Beat persona and veered toward traditional jazz. He new refinement. If he had projected whiskey for two The early 1990s and the album Bone Machine Johnny Cash and now Scarlett Johansson have all recorded with a jazz quartet instead of a rock band. decades, now he sings like bourbon. Mule Variations found Waits delivering the same experimental song recorded his songs. He is one of those popular per - West Coast jazz celebrities such as Jack Sheldon and fits easily into straight ahead roots. It also earned him structures but with an increased focus on death. formers whose genre is himself; he is simply Tom Shelley Manne sat in. And, he laced his songs with a second Grammy. If he had planned it or not, Tom Behind the lo-fi is a bed of gospel and soul music. And, Waits. quirky musical influences, even performing spoken Waits finally became a rock star. his lyrics refer to the Bible at times agnostically yet at So, where did San Diego fit into this? word pieces à la Jack Kerouac. The third millennium finds Waits prodigious as times with at least a seed of conviction. “I Don’t Like Bob Dylan, the reality of childhood seems to It’s hard to say whether always. The operatic Alice , originally recorded in 1992, Wanna Grow Up” was later be a burden, especially when one’s own mythology runs Tom Waits landed hard on was released in 2002 as was the album Blood Money . covered by the Ramones. The so counter to it. Dylan started out with tales of being success or if success landed In 2006 Waits issued the epic Orphans: Brawlers, album earned Waits his first born in a boxcar. But, as his biographers continued to hard on him. By the late ’70s, Bawlers, and Bastards , a three-CD set that revives Grammy. dig, he quickly accepted the fact that he was in fact a the semi-cuddly image of a many themes from Waits nearly 35 years in the busi - In 1999, Waits changed merchant’s son from Hibbing. Minnesota. At least, lounge singer and piano man ness. There are the avant garde explorations, labels, leaving Island after 16 Hibbing had its rich mining history and stories of north was transforming into a more Americana earthworks, and even covers of the years for Anti Records. He country pain. raucous characterization of a Ramones, Leadbelly’s “Good Night Irene,” and the soon released Mule street urchin, a less-than- classic “Sea of love” Variations . Although some We swore we’d be together comical Harpo Marx. The And, in between it all, Waits proved himself an refer to this album as Bone until the day we died hard touring schedule, espe - exquisite balladeer, placing an emotional, often tear Machine II , there are stark from “Innocent When You Dream” cially after opening to less- jerking melody in the middle of each album. “I Hope I differences indicating a huge than-friendly audiences for Don’t Fall in Love with You,” “The Heart of Saturday shift in Waits’, or Anti’s, But, Waits grew up in San Frank Zappa, was taking a Night,” “A Soldier’s Things,” “Downtown Train,” approach to record-making. Diego, California, that temple of toll on his voice. Cigarettes “Hold On,” “Alice.” Waits again alone at the piano The themes settle into some the endless summer, where neither and alcohol hung from his Waits with Lou Curtiss, 1974 would reset the mood. Which was the real Tom Waits – of those chosen before. There high art nor sports teams can person like stage props. the cubist griot or the tender balladeer? is a new-found focus on rural thrive amid a population whose Waits ended the 1970s with Heart Attack and living and of barns and plowing on both albums. definition of hardship is a bad Vine , his finest song writing collection in the retro-jazz I have no use for the truth There is also a continuation of Biblical themes. But, sunburn or so the story goes. persona. At the same time, Waits was slipping into self- here they are contextualized. Rather than rapturous from “Lie to Me” Furthermore, those who knew parody, part songwriter extraordinaire who could con - voices escaping Waits’ skull, the themes of Mule him during his adolescence jure up tough sweetness in “Christmas Card from a Waits is three things that don’t always square. Variations are imbedded in a familiar web of describe him as a very normal Hooker in Minneapolis” but sadly too distracted by First, he is a brilliant poet, a neo-Beat, raving, mad, Americana. The exact historical references are mud - Southern California kid. He spent “The Piano’s Been Drinking (Not Me).” and as grotesque as a post-nuclear poet should be. died. But, this seems to be an ode to a Depression Era summers surfing. A high school Then, with little warning, Waits exploded into his Second, he is an exquisite composer in a Gershwin or that Waits has been scratching toward for a while. If year book captures him peering own. He signed with visionary if fledgling Island Hoagy Carmichael tradition – melodic, emotional, in Waits leaped out of a certain Dylanesque legacy and through a microscope in science Records, married his wife of now 28 years, Kathleen full control of all 88 keys and the various heart-strings Dylan himself leaped out of the cradle of Woody class. Many of his young adven - Waits’ high school yearbook photo Brennan, his closest musical collaborator, and emerged they control. Third, he is a traditional blues singer. Guthrie, this is a vertical climb along Waits musical tures depended upon rides from reinvented. Now pop music’s Arthur Rimbaud, he Perhaps, the glue that struggles to bind these is his love family tree. If Waits developed a persona rooted in the neighborhood parents. His first brushed aside the love-on-a-barstool formula and of storytelling evidenced by his live oratories as well as singing was done in church, where he probably heard hobo, this again is a throw-back to the glory days of his many story songs themselves. 8 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

ist. He could do Elvis’ ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’ old black men. That’s why kids from the Burbs donned his first pump organ, a Waits’ favorite on Tom speaks fluent Spanish? Probably due to his dad complete with recitation.” flannel shirts, emulating dust bowl drifters from a many albums. Devoted to his family and being a Spanish teacher. He was always going on a It seems that Waits’ San Diego years heard him more rugged time. That’s why so many kids today friends, he is remembered as a nice boy, jaunt down to Tijuana just to hang around and listen experimenting with his voice. He was imitating the search for street cred, paranoically knowing that this hardly the purveyor of future songs such to people talk and absorb the s likes of Dylan and Elvis while generation really has no street cred. ss stories they told, the stories tt as “16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six.” t listening to the “scratchier” i made up of events happening ii In fact, “nice” is a word that is voices. Waits would later aaa used a lot to describe Tom Waits, both in their daily lives. That was become one of the scratchiest then and now. what he considered fascinating. W singers of all. And, perhaps, WW He always went into restau - eee According to Bobi Thomas, dd rants, bars, clubs and he lis - there was a self-fulfilling m aad Tom’s friend from Hilltop High a prophesy at work. As Lou mm nn tened to people talk. That was een School and the Heritage shares, “In oo rre how he got ideas for songs and Curtiss tells it, Howard Caine, o eer my opinion, growing up in San e an actor in the TV show TT S stories.” T SS Diego was part of what made Tom ooo The trips to Tijuana are “Hogan’s Heroes” who also ggg the person he was. San Diego was a beautiful, iee ubiquitous in the local stories played banjo around town, iie untouched, safe place to live in back in those old days. DDD told about Waits. Mexico seems heard Waits and warned: “He’s n Everybody was nice to everybody else back then.” Pam n going to tear his vocal chords an to have given Tom an early aa Ostergren, a waitress at the Heritage, adds, “When Tom S Napoleone’s Pizza House – not much has changed since the SS taste for the exotic. The clash - apart.” came to the Heritage coffeehouse in Mission Beach, in Bob La Beau remem - early 1970s the mid-’60s, he was instantly loved by all! He always ing of cultures, the cultural bers talking to Tom later on, in had a big smile and positive energy. People just shock, and “magical realism” Waits with Bobi Thomas in the early ’70s 1976, after Waits had done a And, in a way, those are the motions that Tom absolutely loved him!” of the border region, the ability less-than-triumphant tour with Frank Zappa. Waits went through. He was raised a nice boy from a Another quality Tom gained early on was a strong to step from one world into another and return all in According to La Beau, Tom was having trouble with his nice neighborhood who went to a nice high school. Yet, work ethic. He sought out and got a job at Napoleone an afternoon or nighttime drive, seem to have piqued voice and even seeing a specialist, a doctor who had he sought to be something from a prior era. He had a Pizza House when he was only 14. At that young age, Waits’ continual interest in those unknown places worked with Frank Sinatra. retro-vision at a time when the present and the future he’d wash dishes for six hours a night all the way beyond the horizon line. What seems apparent is that Waits was searching seemed timid compared to the heroics of earlier through his high school years. This work ethic later It was inevitable then that this young energetic kid for a “scratchier” voice early on. Then, after imitating decades. applied to his music. Lou Curtiss remembers that “Tom would start putting his ideas to music. the scratchier singers for some time, his voice took on was always working.” He was always writing poetry or Adds Bobi Thomas, “Tom didn’t really start writ - this indelible characteristic. In fact, this might be a Never saw my hometown trying out a new song. He was also gigging every ing on his own for about a year or so after he first metaphor for Waits’ public persona. Those who ’til I stayed away too long chance he got. “If there was a place came to the Heritage. He’d do old Bob Dylan and old remember him early on remember a much different to play, Tom traditional tunes, just whatever the heck he wanted. from “San Diego Serenade” person than the semi-drunken drifter of the 1970s, and would Then, they carted an old piano into the Heritage and many can’t quite align the Tom Waits they once knew It is ironic that both Tom Waits and Lester Bangs play,” that’s when he began to write – melodies and words. I with the author of the shocking songs of the 1980s. were cultivating non-hippie, retro-Beat personal contin - think he drifted more into the craft via the piano.” Nor, do they quite understand why the energetic, funny topographies less than 20 miles apart, Lester in El ues Bob La Beau, who managed the Heritage, remem - bers Waits holding a newspaper article that read “Big Tom Waits of long ago has maintained few contacts Cajon and Tom in Chula Vista, at about the same time. Money in Music.” Agreeing that there wasn’t any with his former San Diego friends. Tom Waits the What does this say about Hippiedom, the Beats, and money to be made in music in superstar isn’t quite the nice boy everybody remembers. San Diego? The opinion of this writer is this: San San Diego, Diego, as so often acknowledged, often lags behind the I don’t wanna be a good boy scout various national trends emitted from the cultural cen - from “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” ters of L.A., San Francisco, and New York. A mid-’60s “Navy town” mentality would have only exacerbated It’s often hard to find vestiges of the old San Diego. this. So, while the national culture was discovering the I have to admit that the El Cajon I wake up in every Hippies in the mid-’60s, San Diego was still defining its day isn’t the natty string of Beat culture, albeit five to ten years behind the national weedy fields curve, and recycling its narratives from World War II. and biker (Later, after the hippie culture had fizzled out in the bars it was country’s bigger cities, it was still peaking well into the Curtiss. Tom even 20 ’70s in more provincial places like San Diego County.) could always be counted on to years ago. The “’60s” came later to San Diego than L.A. or San help fill a bill or play at the many benefits That’s why Francisco. Note the relative short hair in Tom’s 1968 that Curtiss and the folk community held eating at yearbook, a full year after the Summer of Love. around town. So, does this prove that San Diego’s art shouldn’t Given all of this, an image emerges of a be taken seriously, that one young Tom Waits, full of energy, always playing, writ - has to go ing, and telling stories. As would become a Waits’ La Beau told Waits to “go to the to a trademark, Tom’s stories often precede each song in city concert. Those stories are as treasured as the songs Troubadour in L.A. and hoot. He soon wrote ‘Ice Cream Man.’ I believe that was his first like L.A. themselves. This knack for storytelling appears to have to make followed Waits early on. song. Then, he got some kind of contract. I believe Jack Tempchin got one too. They would it? Yes Bobi Thomas: “Tom had the ability to slip into the and no. shadows and overhear the real drama of the city streets, write so many songs a month and get paid. ‘Ol’ 55’ came out of that. Right around that time, Quite whether in San Diego or Tijuana. He’s like the narrator Napoleone one of the waitresses at the Heritage dumped often it is in any story you like, putting his own spin on the facts recently was an instant reminder him. This gave him the impetus to start writing the and the fancies he sees and hears in his own little that, tucked away here and there, rem - love songs.” provinces world.” nants of that old San Diego still exist. Yet, there was still something missing – the signa - that teach San Diego is a great place for storytellers, especially Downtown National City still slogs ture voice. It’s been debated whether Waits’ voice the cultural the many Navy bars around with that San Diego accent. evolved naturally or if Tom deliberately crafted it. Or, is centers the les - National City where Tom and a Napoleone Pizza House, in turn, fits there truth in both? Susan Starr, a classmate from sons. Tupelo, group of friends used to play pool. National City like a pack of Kents on a Buick’s Hilltop, remembers how they would fill a car with kids Liverpool, San Sailors would become a huge part dashboard. It is also the perfect setting for a Tom Wait’s and head up to Torrey Pines. As they ran along the Diego are all of the Waits’ imagery. One of San song: one room filled with young sailors drinking beer beach, Tom with guitar in hand would play “Mr. provincial yet the first two have Diego’s largest naval bases lies a at long tables, another dining area for families and Tambourine Man.” “At the time, he was trying to taken on iconic status at least in popular music. block from Napoleone Pizza. So, neighborhood characters in the back – the pool table, sound like Bob Dylan,” she says. This early affinity for When one considers the cutting edge musical tal - undoubtedly, the romance and the food good, the portions big, the service friendly and Bob Dylan is echoed by many who knew him. ent that has called greater-San Diego home – Zappa, lure of the many navymen pass - real . Sitting in one of the lumpy booths, I experience As Lou Curtiss remembers, “When he first started, Morrison, Chris Hillman, Jack Tempchin, Carlos ing through struck Waits at a an existential moment. It’s nice to feel real once in he didn’t have that voice. He was always listening to Santana, Iron Butterfly, Diamanda Galas, the Beat young age. Another spot that awhile. It’s ironic that we need to fake it in this day the scratchier singers. He’d come by the store and listen Farmers, and of course Tom Waits – one needs to fueled Waits’ penchant for stories and age in order to find that reality . to Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, and Louis Prima.” reconsider the theory that Sun Diego only produces was San Diego’s sister city, But, that is the reality of the post-World War II Suzanne Reed, a regular Heritage musician and sunburns and bland culture. When we add Lester Bangs Tijuana. Waits even wrote an generations – the Boomers, Gen Xers, and now patron, adds that “his voice was getting really ‘gruffy’ and Cameron Crowe into the mix, we realize that San Waits’ high school yearbook photo early song called “Tijuana” that Generation Next. We had to pour on the method acting but he could sing really ‘smooth’ too when he wanted Diego has produced many of the critical edges of that he would sing with another in order to achieve an authenticity that seemed natural to.” universe we call modern popular music. young songwriter: Jack Tempchin. to generations prior. That’s why so many young white Ray Bierl recalls: “He was an excellent impression - According to Bobi Thomas: “Did you know that kids went out and started trying to sing the blues like www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER by Dwight Worden by Sven-Erik Seaholm

SWISS ARMY MIC ENJOYING BLUEGRASS IN SAN DIEGO Miramar Road. As of this writing SDBS has very common urban myth is Sven-Erik Seaholm yet to fix on a replacement location, but rest that the Eskimos (or, more cor - assured, the fourth Tuesday Featured Band Arectly, Inuit peoples) have an instruments to capture, but again the Night will continue. alarmingly high number of words for V87 had no problem capturing the Check the SDBS web site for updates and snow. You know, the stuff that every - true sound of these instruments as to see who is playing: one wants around the holidays but they sounded in the room. www.socalbluegrass.org. In January, it is the then wants gone right after New In fact, there are three or four proj - Brombies. Year’s day…or maybe that’s just cer - ects I’ve been working on that have The fifth Tuesday of the month from tain relatives. The point is that being used the MXL V87 for every one of the 6:30-9:30 p.m. is bluegrass jam night at Old in and surrounded by snow 24/7, it’s overdub sessions . This would include not so far fetched to imagine they Time Music located at 2852 University all of the lead and background vocals, would (even though they really don’t ). As we enter a new year, here is a run - Avenue in North Park. The group meets in an application that this mic is partic - Similarly, musicians by and large down on the many opportunities in San the back of the store and informal jamming ularly intended for, as evidenced by are not the wealthiest group of folks. I Diego where you can enjoy bluegrass music is the rule for the evening. multiple references to it online as a mean, after we’ve spent our hard- on a regular basis. What better new year’s If Tuesdays don’t work for you, rest broadcast mic. earned cash on limousines, cham - resolution than to commit to yourself that assured, there are other opportunities as Herein lies the rub, for while it is a pagne, and five-star accommodations, you will get out more and enjoy more blue - well. fantastic vocal mic, it’s also easily the there’s very little left in the budget for grass! erated by his fingers hitting the skins weakest of its talents. This is mostly Every Thursday is jam night at Today’s things like instruments and micro - Every Tuesday is bluegrass night in San were captured wonderfully, even due to two factors: the slightly exag - Pizza at 481 Santa Fe Drive in Encinitas, phones. This is why I’m quite positive Diego. Here is where you can get out and do when dragging his hands across the gerated high end that can create trou - hosted by banjo player and SDBS Board that we muso-types have more words some picking to liven up your Tuesdays: tops of the congas! Due to the V87’s blesome sibilance for some voices and member Jason Weiss. Activities start at for inexpensive than our friends to the On the first Tuesday of every month cardioid pickup pattern, there was an abundantly large low end bump 6:30pm and go until 9pm, with a break for north have for that cold white stuff from 6:30 to 9pm you can join the North San plenty of isolation, even with no baf - created by it’s unique proximity pizza in the middle. The public is welcome. the falls from the sky of their seem - Diego County Bluegrass and Folk Club for fles up. effect. In fact, I found that in order to The activities are a hosted jam session ingly endless night. their monthly open mic and featured band The session eventually included tame the bassiness of some voices and where players can play solos or not, as they The real challenge, in light of these presentation at the Round Table Pizza in djembe and dumbek, both instru - instruments, I was placing the mic a prefer on a variety of classic bluegrass tunes. circumstances, is to find not just Escondido. Visit their website at: ments one might select a different good three feet away from the source! And, while not necessarily strictly blue - words but actual products that repre - http://northcountybluegrass.org for all the Old Time Music Store hosts an old mic for, but we stayed with the V87 It should be noted that this did not grass, sent low price in conjunction with details. There is no admission charge and the time fiddle jam with uniformly excellent results. make the sound too “roomy” in most every first and third high performance. public is welcome. You will find good pizza, Shakers are a real test of a mic’s cases, but it certainly does warrant Thursday of the month from 7 to 9:30pm and Well, thanks to the fine folks at lots of parking lot pickers and great music on ability to accurately capture transients keeping it in mind. hosts the San Diego Folk Song Society on MXL Microphones stage. in the high end. Usually, you’ll find The only other caveat of mine the second Sunday of every month from 2 to (www.mxlmics.com), there seems to second Tuesday of every month that inexpensive mics are made with (besides wishing for the pad and low The is 6pm. be another one: The V87 Low Noise cheaper components, resulting in cut switches) was the inability to bluegrass night with the San Diego Condenser Microphone ($399.95 harsh high end or blurry imaging, but remove a mic cable while the V87 is Bluegrass Society at Fuddruckers restaurant List, $199.95 Street) . the Mogami cabling seems to be help - in its shock mount. Instead, one must in Grossmont Center, located at 5500 The V87 is a single pattern (car - ing quite a bit here, resulting in a carefully unscrew the mic (which Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa. You will dioid) condenser mic, so it requires wonderful shimmer in the top end as twists the cable unnecessarily) and find a top-notch open mic, bluegrass phantom power. It has an internal well as a very realistic picture of the push the barrel connector through. karaoke, pick up bands, and great outdoor FET preamp and transformer, which jamming are ongoing from 6:30 to 9pm. To instrument. This is a bit ridiculous and a glaring in simple terms means that while it is Emboldened by these outcomes, I sign up to play, send an email to: The California Old Time Fiddlers oversight on MXL’s part. Still, it was essentially a solid-state microphone, decided to stay with this mic on as [email protected]. Or, space per - Association, District 7, also meets in San easy enough just to leave the mic in the mic actually emulates some of the many different sources as possible mitting, sign up on site with the emcee. Diego from 12 to 4pm three times per month. its mount connected to the cable, characteristics normally associated and I never did find one it wasn’t The third Tuesday of every month is On the first Sunday of the month you will even though this will shorten the life with much pricier tube models. suitable for. SDBS’s bluegrass night in the South Bay, find them at the Moose Lodge in El Cajon. of the elastic bands in the shock Additionally, it’s wired with high-end Acoustic guitars had a beautiful held at Fuddruckers restaurant at 340 Third On the second Sunday they are at the Wells mount. Mogami cable and comes with an balance of low mid punch and high Avenue from 6:30 to 9pm. Hosted by SDBS Park Center at 1153 East Madison in El On balance, the price and perform - elastic shock mount and a cool metal end sheen, allowing me to set them board member George Noble, Jr., you can Cajon. And, on the fourth Sunday, you can ance of this microphone is tilted so pop filter that attaches to the body of prominently in the mix. expect pick up bands, open mic, and lots of join the fun at Terrace Estates, at 1815 squarely in your favor that it would the mic. On electric guitar amps, the mic jamming. George may even entice you into a Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley. seem almost absurd not to own at There are no external switches, like gave a very in-your-face aggressive - little bluegrass karaoke. That’s a lot of opportunities to get out and least one. I may go back for seconds a -15 dB pad a 80 Hz low-cut filter for ness to the tone, but always with the play bluegrass or enjoy a nice listening expe - or thirds! The fourth Tuesday of every month is instance, so these functions will have right amount of low-end chunk. rience. And, you will meet nothing but nice Sven-Erik Seaholm is an award-winning inde - SDBS’s Featured Band Night. Held at the Boll to be supported by either your exter - I used it as a room mic for drums people! So, we are blessed in San Diego pendent record producer and recording rtist. Weevil restaurant on Miramar Road until nal mic preamp, or the input section and guitars and found it to be a very with such great acoustic music opportunities Find him on the web at SvenSongs.com, December of 2008, SDBS is currently looking of your mixer. flattering compliment as well. KaSPro.com, Lynda.com, and – I guess it’s because we are in the southern for a new location as, sadly, the Boll Weevils I must preface the following with Sitar, esraj, bells, and tambourines myspace.com/SvenSeaholm. part of California, with bluegrass being a have gone bankrupt and are closed except the following disclaimer: I have some are among the more challenging for a few stores, not including the one on southern thing! experience with MXL mics, and I do own a couple. They are good perform - ers, but due to each model’s idiosyn - crasies, I have used them in fairly eso - teric applications. For instance, I have one that has a beautifully extended high end, but it doesn’t take a very loud signal at all to distort it, so it is usually used in a supportive role with other more hearty mics or on very quiet sources. Suffice it to say that while my hopes were high, my expec - tations were somewhat lower, even though I was encouraged by the mic’s ability to handle levels up to 133dB. My first experience with the V87 was scheduled to be on a vocal ses - sion, but at a session that came up before that, an unscheduled percus - sionist showed up halfway through. He set up some congas in the same room with the other performers which included drums, bass guitar, and violin. Not wanting to slow things down with an elaborate setup, I simply set the mic up in between the two congas about a foot above them and a foot back, angled down at the players hands. I was both relived and impressed by what I heard back: the congas were full and round, due to the generous low end the mic exhibits, but there was also plenty of great highs too, so the transients gen -

10 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Hosing Down Radio Philosophy, Art, Culture, & Music by José Sinatra Daze StAgeS

by Peter Bolland 6. Find Teachers In all the hero myths, there are always men - TEN WAYS TO DEEPEN YOUR tors. Luke had Obi Wan. Frodo had LIFE Gandalf. Buffy had Giles. In each case, the teacher was a familiar person the hero had he party’s over. We’ve taken down overlooked and underestimated. Who are the lights, recycled the wrapping you overlooking and underestimating? Tpaper, and returned the battery-pow - When you are on the right path, the right ered reindeer sweater we got at the white people come into your life. Be ready and elephant office gift exchange. Hey, it was step toward them. They need you too. You fun while it lasted. The holidays consumed fulfill each other’s purpose. us. Now it’s back to the business of living José Sinatra completes a self-portrait the rest of our lives. 7. Accept Help Feeling a little disconnected? Are you You are never more powerful than when you admit your limitations. But humility is not SECRETS OF THE NEW SHROUD about to excrete was in essence not only her skittering over the surface of things unable or unwilling to take hold? Feel like you’re the same thing as humiliation. Get that fig - Thank you very much for tuning in.I would - own but Jackson’s as well – a singularly missing something? Want to get down to ured out. See a therapist if you’re confused. n’t be here, on this page in this brand-spank - humble declaration to my mind, even if you by Jim McInnes the sweet stuff? Here are ten ways to dig Join a sangha. Build a community of like- don’t ask – the chills that tickled the back of ing-new year, without the interest your eyes down deeper into the significance of your minded, conscious, positive people around my neck and both my arms made me wonder betray at this moment. Or the patience of the 2009 Will Be Fine own life. you. Let this raft of souls carry you to dis - publisher or maybe, even more important, my momentarily if I hadn’t been suddenly infect - 1. Slow Down tant shores. When you open yourself and mom and dad who, on a spring day in a time ed myself. But the choking tears in my heart elcome to 2009, my friends. For a seed to take root, it has to hold still. Is show your vulnerability, you draw out the argued that it was all just honest human long ago, invested in my cells and bade them Doesn’t it feel good – like a there any stillness, silence, or emptiness left innate kindness in others. Ask for help and emotion, and I felt honest for the first time in multiply. The yield insisted on an early matu - Wfresh start, with powerful in your life, or have you filled it all with accept it. We inspire each other with our days, and as a man, truly hu . rity date toward the end of autumn, and the gasoline and a clean windshield? pomp and circumstance? Step out of the honest admission of powerlessness. And Why wasn’t I recording this, I pondered long story ends here for the time being. This YES!!! Except for the economic melt - incessant stream of doing and sink down then miracles start to happen – miracles is a rather contrived way of putting my cards naively. But who needs to watch something down and high unemployment, this year into the pool of being. The good news is that lonely, isolated, and prideful people can on the table in order to create a false sense like this again, when it is destined to replay should be awesome! you don’t have to create depth and signifi - only imagine. of trust between us, so that you’ll be dis - in one’s soul forever? And it’s so much green - In a business like broadcasting, still cance in your life. It’s already and always 8. Face What Needs Facing posed to believe me when I advise you that er when it’s in the soul . . . having a job at the end of the year Is there. You only have to slow down enough Start telling the truth about who and what this month’s Scripture may contain material of As the camera came in for a closeup, a considered a major success. That’s my to sink into it. you are. Without drama and the need to an adult nature. No, make that demented reverent silence permeated the studio as goal again this year. 2. Read Good Books place blame, simply admit the facts. Without an honest recognition of the prob - adult. And an adult will remain demented Scarlett Johansson pulled the Kleenex up to Fan Mail Good books are like a lit match in a pool of lem, no healing can take place. Life’s too until he is willing to face the truth and ask it her celebrity nose . . . and America held its My November article about Idyllwild gasoline. Set aside 20 minutes a day for short to stay sick on purpose. Let the truth to tango. We are adults here, aren’t we? If breath. As one voice, our silent souls began garnered my first fan mail as a writer! reading – maybe first thing in the morning set you free. we’re not, well, one of us has some growing to plead, “Yes, Scarlett. Do it. Don’t hold Dottye Foxworthy, whose husband, when your mind is still open, unformed, up to do, don’t I? back. Make us proud. Yes, give us a salvo of Douglas, is a very successful pop lyricist and available. The best books don’t indoctri - 9. Cultivate Discipline It’s exciting, one of the most bearable your celebrity snot.” (and who once had a song on one of the nate, they liberate us from all doctrines. Honor and recognize your part in the cre - aspects of existence, to be alive during such Thanks for sticking with me up to this old KGB Homegrown albums, as I recall), Like shafts of light in a dark forest, they ation of your own life. Yes, once you plant the seeds, they grow by themselves. But you a momentous time as this. So much hap - point. It gets better. told me that she actually enjoys reading illuminate our own hidden knowing. They have to earn the seeds, hoe the rows, amend pened in our country last year that I’m con - When the blasting, cathartic sound came about what’s on my mind each month. give us to ourselves. “Every writer,” said Lu the soil, and dig the irrigation channels. We vinced 2008 will hold a future stature more from her pert nose, I think that maybe we all She also agreed with my assessment of Chi in the second century A.D., “is an entrance into the mystery.” What are the do not create water, but we do create the closely approaching that of 1968 than any lost a little bit of our innocence. But it was Idyllwild and the Silver Pines Lodge in great books? That’s your search, my friend. openings through which it can flow into our other (though I pray 2009 eclipses them both, bound to happen. And, like another famous particular (heaven on earth!) Turns out that my birthday and their wedding fields. All of this requires scheduling, goal and in a happier way). Scarlett in a long, long book, this movie-god - 3. Listen anniversary are the same as well. setting, and hard work. Cultivate new For me, witnessing that one supreme dess Scarlett trumpeted her existence at Most of us spend a great deal of energy Thanks, Dottye! We so rarely get let - maintaining our story. We talk a lot about habits. Studies show that if you do some - moment that clutched the hearts, minds, spir - length, even as she verified our own. ters of any kind in the mail these days. To our past, our problems, our resentments, thing for 21 days in a row it will become a its of all who will never forget where they The audience sighed and cheered, read one praising this free-association I habit. First comes discipline; then comes applauding her remarkable talent, as Ms. and all of the reasons why things didn’t were when they saw it can only serve to lay down every month not only made naturalness. Most people try to skip the first Johansson coyly opened the anointed tissue work out the way they were supposed to. remind me that I’ll never forget where I was me tumescent with pride, it also, in my stage and go right to the naturalness. Their and examined her findings, commenting that Every chance we get, we tell ourselves and at that moment either. Which indelibly con - mind , anyway, validated me as a writer! anyone else who will listen about our griev - fields are fallow. firmed my status, however briefly, as an actu - there were remnants of her own lipstick in Jazz 88.3 FM ances and fantasies of entitlement. Instead 10. Surrender al part of humanity. there, too. I was amazed that Jay didn’t call I’m somebody now! I’ve been reward - of dwelling on your own story, lean into When the work is done, let the infinite cre - It’s one thing to read about great speech - for a closeup of Scarlett’s offerings but soon ed for almost three years of freelancing someone else’s. Listen, really listen. This is ative energy of the universe take care of the es . . . and another to witness even one in understood his reasoning: why cheapen the at Jazz 88.3 with my own regular time harder than it sounds, that is until you real - rest. The farmer who tugs anxiously on his dignity of something so precious when the real life. Pity those among us who had some - slot. I’m spinning straight-ahead jazz ize how easy it is. When you really listen to seedlings is sure to uproot them. Let things only person who truly deserves to bask in its thing better to do that evening in the latter every other Saturday, from 9am to 2pm. someone, you bring a wordless presence unfold in their time. Surrender to what is. glory would be someone who’d be willing to part of the year and will go to their graves Although it’s only for ten hours a month, into the room. You both feel it and are You don’t have to run the whole world any - pay a lot of money to do so? having missed one of the most momentous it gives me ample opportunity to keep healed by it. You don’t have to do a thing. more. Quit trying to control everything – statements on the worth of mankind since It was Scarlett herself who suggested that up my DJ chops. 4. Let Art Open You what other people do, how they drive, what God last said, “It is good,” or words to that the soiled – forgive me – anointed relic be Jazz 88.3 has finally posted pictures of Make time in your life for great art. Educate they say, how they live their lives. Accept as effect. put up for bid on eBay. The audience went the air staff on its website (jazz88.org.) I yourself about what that means if you need deeply as you can the truth that below the As the speech began, I was struck by the wild in agreement, and I’m told that the ensu - warned the photographer that a good to. See important films. Listen closely and inevitable conflicts of life lies a hidden har - feeling and importance of the words. They ing bidding was fierce. With banks collapsing picture of me has yet to be taken. with full attention to good music. Read mony, a deep unity, and that everything is, after all, okay. Give your ego the year off. didn’t seem rehearsed and came forth as sim - and debts mounting and people losing their I was right again. poetry. Attend a dance performance and sit Live in the timeless presence of this ple, verifiable truth: “Ladies and gentlemen, jobs, health, homes, the lucky bidder, along as close as you can. Go to the theater. Stand moment. Allow grace to well up through please welcome the lovely Scarlett with Scarlett Johansson and Jay Leno, can in front of great paintings. Do any of these the cracks in your old way of thinking. Johansson.” I can’t recall Jay Leno ever serve to remind us about the good that can things and feel your smallness disappear. There are deeper waters. Let them rise. be found in Capitalism. Feel yourself pulled into larger orbits. Let sounding so sincere. Drink deeply. And feel your own life deep - In the words that I wish speechwriter Jon great art usher you to the head of the table And, indeed, he was not being in the least ening as well. deceptive; out walked the lady herself, Favreau would put down as the preamble to at the sacred banquet of your own life. Let it challenge you, strain you, teach you, feed Peter Bolland is a professor of philosophy and humani - enveloped in the frisky germs of a nasty cold, President Obama’s inaugural address: “Our you, remake you, break you open with tears ties at Southwestern College and singer-songwriter-gui - germs she had spread around the green room national nightmare is finally over!” of remembrance. Let it heal you and draw tarist of The Coyote Problem. You can complain to him earlier and was now ready to share with the about what you read here at [email protected]. you in from the cold. Let it make you glad pervert with the most money (in addition to www.thecoyoteproblem.com is the ethereal home of The you are a human being. Coyote Problem. her host, bien sûr ). 5. Cultivate Your Spirituality The interview that followed traced the ori - Spirituality has little to do with religion, gin of the germs she was hosting. Not with - dogma, or theology, although many people out a sense of awe, she laid the blame on the find it through those things. Spirituality is The Hose is offering five-minute private actor Samuel Jackson. Actually, blame isn’t just an awkward word we use to describe an viewings of the iconic, preserved Kleenex at fitting here; her dreamy smile and affection - experience – the experience of something nominal cost. In his dreams. The incident ate voice seemed to define it as more of gift larger and more beautiful than ourselves. It described above, however, actually happened. – almost a blessing, and at once were con - may well up as you contemplate the eternal firmed all of my suspicions that interracial God bless and help us all. laws of nature or the sudden rise of the relations in this country have finally taken a Scarlett Johansson’s new album, on moon. Or when it hits you that we, like the small, noticeable forward step. I gotta tell which she covers the songs of Tom Waits, is moon, are beings of light. Our bodies are you that prior to this I was getting a little not titled Sounds Like Waits but It’s Snot . It is literally composed of the food we eat, and worried. called Anywhere I Lay My Head . the food we eat is made by photosynthesis, When Leno offered her a Kleenex, Scarlett that is, by the sun. Therefore, we are literal - made it clear that the celebrity snot she was ly made of light. Try contemplating that and not feeling spiritual. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song Terri Hendrix’s Music Finds Its Own Acre of Land

by Terry Roland So, when young singer-songwriter, Terri It’s been nearly 12 years since Marion Hendrix sought her muse, she began the Williamson passed away. Since that time n folk music, blues, bluegrass, and Zen, road to her mentor, Marion Williamson. At Terri Hendrix has been busy making the there has been a long standing tradition the reader’s first glance, because of the best- kind of music she learned during those Iof the teacher-student relationship. selling New Age writer of the same name, goat-milking days. She has also put into Imagine, if you will, ancient Zen students one may ask, what does she have to do with practice those important life lessons learned and masters playing mandolins and fiddles folk music? Indeed, Marion Williamson, in as well. Starting from scratch at open mic rather than discussing Koans and ringing Texas Hill Country music, located near San nights, where she first met Marion bells. Or how about mystic hermits living in Marcos, was known for her edgy blues play - Williamson, to DAT demos, regular local caves for decades studying the Travis pick ing and picking as well as her philanthropic tours in her beat-up Toyota pickup carrying and writing songs for high-lonesome support of independent music. Hendrix’s her own PA, being her own underpaid road - singers. In those diamond-rare moments of story sounds like something out of The ie, building a fan base through her website Terri Hendrix folk music history picture Bob Dylan sitting Karate Kid . She finds herself on and, finally, after multiple record label rejec - in a living room with Woody Guthrie who Williamson’s farm, caring for goats and tions, she formed her own Wilory Farms doing bookkeeping. In exchange, Hendrix records and released a string of critically is advising Bob on his songwriting. You rather than goats. But, this is what she did. times contradictory lifestyles we live, while found her most important mentor with and commercially successful independent could start about anywhere in music and With nine solo independently released trying to find comfort provided in world whom she learned her distinctive musical albums. spiritual history to find these kind of puz - albums, nationally and internationally suc - religions: skills in songwriting, guitar playing, and Along with winning a songwriting zling but lasting relationships. Musicians, cessful, including one platinum selling harmonica playing. Hendrix also received Grammy for co-writing the Dixie Chicks’ My friend Kathy is a spiritual kind craftsmen, philosophers, and artists main - album, Hendrix points to her audience, those Koan-like left lessons only the best “Ol’ Jack Slade,” Hendrix has continued to She jumps in her jacuzzi to clear her mind tained these relationships, sometimes called whom she regards as friends, to her success. Zen masters can offer. As much a part of her build her reputation as a consummate song - She keeps a statue of Buddha by her hot tub mentoring, for centuries. The last century The sales from each album provided the musical instruction and daily goat tending writer, instrumentalist, and performer, play - When her soul gets cold she gives his belly a has shown a long lineage of these relation - necessary funding to pay for the next practice, Willamson instilled in her the ing guitar, mandolin, and harmonica. Her rub. ships: Son House to Robert Johnson, the release. character to thrive in a competetive world fan base extends from coast to coast in Perhaps the strongest song on Spiritual mysterious Tee Tot who taught Hank Hendrix’s latest effort, Spiritual Kind , of watered-down art and money-driven America and has begun to spread to Europe. Kind is her tribute to her mentor, Marion, Williams his blues, Woody Guthrie to Bob brings home the life lessons learned from music promotions. Not bad for the 31-year-old native who called “Acres of Land.” Returning to her Dylan. MarionWilliamson. It opens with the Celtic was told by a record executive when she teacher, she sees in her the music and the influence of “Life’s a Song,” which brings us was 20 she had a mere five years to “make life that always returns her to the earth, a much needed positive message for today’s it” in the music business. She was told she even as it keeps emerging from the same woes. could never have national, let alone interna - source: it’s the place of the garden, of daily tional, success without record label support Life’s song that keeps on singin’ ordinary living, the wisdom of the cultural and a national distribution deal. But she Life’s a song that never ends elder and the teacher who taught her to didn’t have an ear for anyone who told her We pass it on to our sons and daughters stand and be strong in a world that would she would be anything less than successful. Then it starts all over again. just as soon ignore an artist who would dare It seems for this gifted 20-year-old song - choose her own path and actually find suc - On the title song, “The Spiritual Kind,” writer, she would have to pave a new road cess outside of the mainstream music world Hendrix seems to answer Iris Dement’s for success, not only the one less traveled of mediocrity and compromise. agnostic gospel song, “Let the Mystery Be,” but perhaps the one never traveled. Who with an unabashed, wry, and humor-filled knew that goat milking would lead to a suc - Don’t miss Terri Hendrix performing with homage to modern emergent faith in all of cessful mentoring friendship with Marion Lloyd Maines on Saturday, January 31, its variety of forms: Williamson, talent development a thousand 7:30pm at the San Dieguito United Methodist light years from any music executive’s pre - I’m a little bit Catholic and little bit Jew Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas. For tentious and stuffy office and from the arro - I’m a little bit Baptist and Episcopal too. further information, contact the San Diego gance of a music industry that could use far Folk Heritage at (858) 566-4040 or One line neatly summarizes the current more than a decade learning to milk mules www.sdfolkheritage.org outlook on spirituality among the some -

Creative Stitchery by Liz Abbott

for information: 619/298-8488 [email protected]

12 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

John Katchur Paul Nichols Anna Troy Nathan The Spring Beauty and the Life’s Good for Wait Another Day James Collection Terrible Things Grins by Josh Damigo The Bear In Between The Anna Troy Band is easily one by Mike Alvarez by Mike Alvarez of the hardest working bands in San by Bart Mendoza by Julia Bemiss On his album Beauty and the Acoustic blues is in good hands Diego. Their latest CD Wait Another Terrible Things , John Katchur has syn - with Paul Nichols as he ably demon - Day completely captures the “indie- It’s a testament to the overcrowd - As it turns out, you can’t judge a thesized a lot of musical influences strates on Life’s Good for Grins . His rock-with-a-pinch-of-blues” style that ed nature of today’s music scene CD by its cover art, either. On first into an appealingly listenable collec - command of the genre is immediate - makes their shows worth going to that there are currently not one, but look I swore it was a jazz album. tion of songs. His sound and vibe ly apparent from the thick harmoni - night after night. After seeing the two musical Nathan James roaming With a band name like the Spring In remind me very much of the music I ca strains and jangly acoustic guitar band perform at least half a dozen the western states, guitar in hand. Collection, an album with a title Between heard on the radio while growing up riffs of the title track, which happens times, I have still never found myself Aside from the six-string box howev - , and a CD cover that’s a in the ’70s. Artists like Jackson to open the album. He has a strong, disappointed in their skills. After er, they’re polar opposites. The local photograph of band leader Joe Browne, Al Stewart, James Taylor, expressive voice that he uses to great hearing their new CD, it is easy to James is an award-winning North Mendoza pulling vinyl LPs from a bin and Bread come to mind, although effect, taking great care to inject say that if you’re a fan of Anna Troy County bluesman. Meanwhile, the at San Diego’s Record City beneath his tasteful use of heavier guitar each word with its intended feel. live, you’ll be a fan of this recording. Iowa City version of Nathan James, the gazes of several black-and-white sounds serves to distinguish him Nichols has a lot of range in emotion The listener can expect a solid per - the subject of this review, is an up photographs of musicians, it certain - from such, well, distinguished com - as well as pitch. As he lets us know formance of original rock without and coming singer-songwriter. ly appeared to be a jazz album. The The Bear pany. At times, flashes of the Eagles in “Human Music (Country’s Gone any of the normal San Diego pop is his debut disc. cover art even includes a retro or Procol Harum bubble to the sur - Rock)”, this recording was made as fluff. According to his press, James is “Stereo” logo. face. And it’s all good to these ears. organically as possible, with a con - The main, interweaving theme of perennially touring, the kind of artist I took a closer look at the photo - Katchur excels as a producer and scious effort to eschew a lot of mod - the CD seems to be sort of a “step that plays for the joy of it. The graph, specifically the record bins: arranger, very intelligently piecing ern studio technology. Anyone listen - up and be a man” message that is album shows clear signs of this, with Eric Clapton, the Beatles, and in together a lot of sounds into a ing to this CD should be able to laced with an annoyance in herself a confidence that belies the fact that Mendoza’s hands, the Byrds, which meaningful and rich sonic tapestry. deduce that it isn’t the result of pro - for actually falling in love with this this is a first effort. Full of introspec - might explain this album’s folk-rock He plays most of the instruments duction wizardry. If there is any guy in the first place. Using strong tive songs about relationships and sound. In Between (except for the drum kit) and is very doubt, the liner notes reveal that and almost overly harsh vocals and the human condition, the best tune has a baker’s dozen proficient with all of them. There is everything was recorded live in the lyrics, Troy is able to fiercely throw on the CD is the uptempo piano bal - songs, many of them written by an intelligent blend of guitar and studio without overdubs or any one strong song after another, which lad, “Here’s to Love.” Set to a nice Mendoza. The final track, “Christmas keyboard sounds, topped off by his other studio manipulation. will leave you numb to your ordi - groove from drummer Eric Stickler, with You,” was written by Mendoza gentle, warm vocals. Instrumental “Baja Babes” is an upbeat song nary, run-of-the-mill songwriter. This the song has a nice late period Elton and his brother Bart. Not many solos are melodic and perfectly com - whose tongue-in-cheek delivery per - CD is a great way to send subliminal John feel about it, complete with songs can make Southern California plement the songs in which they fectly conveys the bawdy good times messages to your boyfriend that Dee Murray-ish bass lines from Kyle feel very Christmasy, but this one has appear. There is no showboating, Nichols sings about. After that, it’s you’ve just about had enough, and if Christopher. Also affecting is “Los the sound of a mellow holiday spent even though it’s obvious he’s a time to switch gears on “Magical he doesn’t shape up, he’ll need to Angeles, Goodnight,” which really at the beach. skilled player. He has a keen ear for Time,” a melancholy number with a find a new girl to listen to his ridicu - shows off James’ voice to good Mendoza’s vocals are consistently incorporating background harmony whistled intro and a walking blues lously weak attributes. effect. Going from solo ballad to a mid-range but on a cover of the vocals into his songs. Sometimes it’s beat. Throughout the album he Troy’s sound is very diverse and slightly more uptempo rock full- Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me,” his a single harmony line while at others explores a lot of territory within his hard to define. In some songs she band ballad, it has a dreamy quality falsetto has an almost country west - it’s a huge lush choir of voices. chosen genre, including roots, road - sounds similar to taking British singer alongside a simple melody that will ern pop feel that harkens Roy The songs are interesting and house boogie, and ballads, which he Duffy and injecting her with some linger with you for days. Orbison. well-written, often taking unexpect - does with great confidence and skill. heavy funk and blues, while in oth - A minor quibble? This is a radio Many of Mendoza’s songs are nos - ed twists and turns, but nothing He sings with a strong voice and ers, it’s more like a deeper, bluesier friendly album that would slot in talgic and tinged with regret, but sounds forced. It all makes musical plays guitar with a sure hand, often version of Anya Marina. In Troy’s well around songs by John Mayer et there’s also hope and the unceasing sense and flows very nicely. The doing complex but complementary song “Out of Luck,” the band cap - al. However, the use of profanity in a opportunity to continue moving for - album starts gently with “Sweets lines simultaneously. He has mas - tures her audience with a great gui - few spots, such as the song ward. There is an earnestness in his and Saints,” “Dreams of Home,” and tered a number of techniques for tar riff and beat that can get even “Lifeguard,” would automatically voice as well as an awareness of life “Yesterday’s Gone,” all folky acoustic guitar, from crisp acoustic strum - the harshest critic’s toes tapping, limit airplay. I don’t mind the odd turning out not exactly as one had songs, before revealing its harder ming and energetic picking to his and it’s this same style of writing four letter word (or its equivalent) in hoped or planned, and how much of alternative rock side, featuring heav - expansive slide technique, using that echoes through the speakers in music per se – think Pink Floyd’s life is lived in the “in between,” as in ier electric guitar sounds and rhythm them to create a variety of textures each song. While she claims her “Money” for an essential use of an the album’s title track “Here I am/not grooves. This change is especially and moods. His voice is no less ver - influences are strictly her mentors expletive – but here it sounds forced exactly where I thought I’d be/I’m in apparent with the power pop num - satile, going from high falsetto to (Bart Mendoza, Robin Henkel, Greg and more of a shock value thing. a place/I never did foresee/can’t say ber “Dark Night.” It’s almost as if growling blues. All of these tools Douglass, and Dan Papaila, to name Maybe it’s integral to James’ artistic it’s bad/but it’s not exactly good/ Katchur is telling a story with the allow him to express the artistic a few), many people would probably vision, but as Elvis Costello and oth - somewhere in between/like in an music as well as the lyrics. depth he has achieved through liken her sounds to a harder blues/ ers have proven, there are more unspoken word.” This is not to say that the progres - maturity and experience. rock version of Ani Difranco. clever ways to word things. A minor “A World of My Own” could easi - sion is linear, because like all well- While there is no doubt that Troy’s strongest songs on the quibble. “Lifeguard” is also notable ly be mistaken for a Beatles cover. It’s crafted tales there are diversions and Nichols is an accomplished song - album are “Out of Luck,” as the lone song that could be not, but its melody hints at the bass interludes. A case in point: the writer, masterful guitarist, and “Childhood Friend,” and “The Way termed a rocker. While a decent line of “Ticket to Ride.” Mendoza instrumental “Warcraft” has an expressive vocalist, there were times You Dream.” And while all the songs enough tune, it stands out among and his band capture the sound so almost menacing bass and drum when I found his lyrics to be self-ref - have great potential, truly capturing the eight songs here and isn’t as expertly that it fools the ears. rhythm that is the basis for some erential in the extreme. So much so her style or trying to put her into a good as the ballads. “Photographs of Me and You” killer keyboard and electric guitar that they sometimes detracted from category is nearly impossible. The album closes on a high note, chimes with keyboards even though solos, but it’s followed by the spa - his superb musicianship. Tracks like She is very much embraced in the with “On Your Side,” a song that the guitar chord structure sounds cious “Now or Never” and the con - “Human Music,” “Labor of Love,” San Diego community and makes will be sure to get crowds to wave similar to others throughout the templatively mellow “Do You Love and “Danger! Danger! Artist @ sure to spread the love back to her their lighters in the air when James album. On first listen many of the Me?” But fear not, because the Work” are great songs, but their good friends. Reading her “Thank makes it to the big stages. And songs sound oddly similar, but with remaining two tracks are the heavy-handed approach to the cre - You” on her CD cover is like reading based on the evidence presented more careful and repeated listenings Beatles/Badfinger-influenced title ative process sometimes had the a “Who’s Who” section from the San here, he will. Nathan James really this initial response fades. This is clas - track and the grand finale “Alone in effect of drawing one’s attention to Diego Music scene. has an excellent voice and a knack sic rock with catchy melodies and the Mystery,” which for some reason the artist and his techniques and not All in all, Wait Another Day will be for writing wistful melodies. If you’re riffs, a steady backbeat, and plenty of reminded me of the Wings classic to the art itself. The most engaging seen as another clever and strong a fan of the singer-songwriter genre electric and acoustic guitars thrown “Band on the Run.” Not so much for songs are the ones where Nichols showing for Troy’s career. Anyone in the slightest, you’re going to love in the mix. any musical resemblance, but more steps away from this preoccupation who purchases this CD will more this album. In the fashion industry spring and for the sense of emotional liberation and just lets fly. The affecting ballad than likely crave another dose of her fall collections have a way of taking it evokes. “Gentle Touch,” the humorously musical genius in the near future. the old and making it new through John Katchur is rightfully known fatalistic “Crushed By Fate,” and the the years. But with this Spring as one of the local music scene’s Southern-inflected “Use ‘Em or Lose Collection, trends are rare and its most creative voices. With Beauty ‘Em” are good examples of what he originality is one that should never and the Terrible Things, he has craft - can accomplish when he turns his go out of style. ed an album that sounds fresh and attention outward. All in all, this is a new while simultaneously paying solid album played with great skill homage to some of the best pop and heart. x music that came before it. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

JANUARY CALENDAR WEEKLY David Patrone , Clay’s @ Hotel La Jolla, 7955 thursday • 1 Eve Selis Band , Rock Valley House Concert, Children of the Revolution , Dark Thirty House every sunday La Jolla Shores Dr., 7pm. University City, 8pm. [email protected] Concert, Lakeside, 7:30pm. [email protected] Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, Scandinavian Dance Class , ClaFolk Dance DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Center, Dancing Unlimited, 4569 30th St., Old Tyme Fiddle Jam , Ole Time Music, 2852 Gilbert Castellanos New Latin Jazz Quartet , Robben Ford , Anthology, 1337 India St., 8:30pm. 7:30pm. University Ave., 7pm. Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Culinary Ctr. 200 Harbor Robin Henkel Band w/ Horns , Lestat’s, 3343 Bluegrass Brunch , Urban Solace, 3823 30th Dr., 8pm. St., 10:30am. Folk Arts Rare Records Singers’ Circle , Bayou Brothers , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Kadan, 4696 30th St., 6pm. The Blokes , O’Sullivan’s, 640 Grand Ave., Ste. Daniel Jackson , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 11am. A, Carlsbad, 9pm. Tomcat Courtney , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. friday • 2 monday • 19 4pm. Open Mic , Thornton’s Irish Pub, 1221 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir , Traditional Irish Session , The Field, 544 5th Broadway, El Cajon, 7pm. Buick Wilson Band , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, sunday • 11 Ave., 7pm. Solana Beach, 5pm. Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, noon. Open Mic , Across the Street @ Mueller Paragon Jazz Band , Casa de Oro Cafe, 9809 Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind w/ Jim Lair & Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Open Mic , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. College, 4605 Park Blvd., 8pm. Warren Bryant , Fallbrook Library, 124 S. Rd., 7:30pm. Camp Rd., Spring Valley, 6:30pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Open Mic , Dublin Square, 544 4th Ave., 9pm. Mission Rd., 2pm. Joe Mendoza , Surf & Saddle, 123 W. Plaza Gene Perry’s Salsa Jazz Orchestra , Anthology, Peter Sprague Trio , Carlsbad Village Theatre, The Blokes , Hennessey’s, 4650 Mission Blvd., 1337 India St., 7:30pm. S.D. Folk Song Society , Old Time Music, 2852 2787 State St., 7:30pm. St., Solana Beach, 8pm. University Ave., 2pm. Pacific Beach, 9pm. Robert Parker , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Del Mar, 8pm. Jean Isaacs Modern Dance Theater , (88.3 FM). Anthology, 1337 India St., 5pm. tuesday • 20 José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 every thursday Mod for Marq , Across the Street @ Mueller Bacon St., 9:30pm. College, 4607 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Denise Donatelli CD Release , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Wine & Culinary Ctr. 200 Harbor Dr., 7pm. Sue Palmer & the Blue Four , Patrick’s II, 428 F The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak , Patrick’s II, St., 9pm. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. 428 F St., 9pm. Staring at the Sun CD Release III w/ The 10pm-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Shambles/Echo Revolution/Christopher Paragon Jazz Band , St. Paul’s Manor, 2340 The Blokes , Molly Bloom’s, 2391 S. El Camino Cash/The Shakeups , House of Blues, 1055 fth Fourth Ave., 6:30pm. Real, San Clemente, 9:30pm. Ave., 7pm. wednesday • 21 every monday Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Friendly Grounds, 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee, 6:30pm. Ruby & the Red Hots , Humphrey’s Backstage David Lindley/Robin Henkel & Nathan James , Open Mic , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 7:30pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 9:30pm. Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Eve Selis Band , Anthology, 1337 India St., Joe Rathburn’s Folkey Monkey , Milano 7:30pm. Pro-Invitational Blues Jam , O’Connell’s Pub, Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Jesus Diaz , Anthology, 1337 India St., 8:30pm. 1310 Morena Blvd., 8pm. Buick Wison Band , Humphrey’s Backstage Open Mic , Turquoise Coffee, 841 Turquoise saturday • 3 Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Songwriter’s Showcase , McCabe’s Beach St., P.B., 7pm. Club, 1145 S. Tremont, Oceanside, 8pm. monday • 12 North Mississippi All Stars/Hill Country Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star Hot Rod Lincoln , Valley View Casino, 16300 Review , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Nyemii Pass Rd., Valley Ctr., 4pm. Beach, 9pm. Nathan James , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, every tuesday Traditional Irish Session , Thornton’s Irish Charmaine Clamor (7:30pm)/ Janiva Magness 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Bill Magee Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, 8pm. Anthology, 1337 India St., 10pm. 9pm. Traditional Irish Session , The Ould Sod, 3373 The Blues Invaders , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Adams Ave., 7pm. Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s, 3015 145th St. Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Juniper St., 8pm. 9pm. Open Mic , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La thursday • 22 Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. Open Mic , Skybox Bar & Grill, 4809 Staring at the Sun CD Release II w/ Anna Troy tuesday • 13 Clairemont Dr., 9pm. Band/Folding Mr. Lincoln/Emily James-Kanis , All Pro Blues Jam , The Harp, 4935 Newport Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Elliott Murphy/Jann Klose , Acoustic Music Joe Rathburn & Tom Boyer , Milano Coffee Co., Ave., 7:30pm. Jazz Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Jack Tempchin & Friends , Calypso Cafe, 576 St., 9:30pm. 7:30pm. Jim Malcolm , Holy Trinity Ocean Beach, 2083 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. sunday • 4 Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Sunset Cliffs Blvd., 7:30pm. Open Mic , E Street Cafe, 125 W. E St., every friday 9pm. Kaki King , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Encinitas, 7:30pm. Jean Isaacs Modern Dance Theater , California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, Anthology, 1337 India St., 5pm. Len Rainey & the Midnight Players , Open Mic , Channel Twelve25, 172 E. Main St., 4:30-9pm. Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter El Cajon, 7:30pm. B.B. King , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 6pm. wednesday • 14 Island Dr., 8pm. West of Memphis , House of Blues, 1055 5th Open Mic , The Royal Dive, 2949 San Luis Rey Ave., 6pm. The Outlaw Collective , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & A Fifth of Blues , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Rd., Oceanside, 8pm. Culinary Ctr. 200 Harbor Dr., 7pm. Chuchito Valdes , Anthology, 1337 India St., Acoustic Mayhem w/ Sven-Erik Seaholm & 7:30pm. Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo , Prado Jesse LaMonaca , Bondi, 333 5th Ave. 6pm. Happy Ron’s Seedy Release Party II , Lestat’s, Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Sue Palmer Motel Swing Quintet , Croce’s, 802 David Patrone , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friar’s Rd., friday • 23 Shep Meyers , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. Len Rainey & the Midnight Players , Patrick’s II, 5th Ave., 8pm. 7pm. 428 F St., 9pm. Chris Clarke & Plow , Serra Mesa Library, 9005 Hot Rod Lincoln , Valley View Casino, 16300 Open Mic , Portugalia, 4839 Newport Ave., Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. Nyemii Pass Rd., Valley Ctr., 4pm. O.B., 9pm. Aero Dr., 8pm. Open Mic , Bella Roma Restaurant, 6830 La The Soul Persuaders , Humphrey’s Backstage Vronica May & the To Do List , Humphrey’s The Blokes , Hennessey’s, 2777 Roosevelt St., Jolla Blvd. #103, 8pm. monday • 5 Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Carlsbad, 9pm. 6pm. Open Mic , Egyptian Tea Room & Smoking Marc Broussard/Jessie Baylin & Josh Hoge , Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Robin Henkel Band , Elks Club, 7430 Jackson Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. every wednesday Blue Largo , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Dr., San Carlos, 7pm. Villa Musica’s Project Cabaret , Belly Up, 143 S. Richie Havens , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & Music at Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , every saturday Cedros, Solana Beach, 7:30pm. Newport Ave., 4-7pm. 9:30pm. Blues Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern Jack Tempchin , KPRI Night @ Dublin Square, thursday • 15 Robert Parker , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Christopher Dale & Friends , Handlery Hotel, St., 9pm. 554 4th Ave., 8pm. Del Mar, 8pm. 950 Hotel Circle N., 5pm. Matthew Reveles , Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Robin Henkel , Wine Steals, 1243 University Hugh Gaskins & the G String Daddies , Paul Nichols’ Pro-Am/Pro Jam Invitational , Blvd., 8pm. Ave., 7pm. Thornton’s Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main St., El Cajon, A Fifth of Blues , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Old Tyme Fiddle Jam , Ole Time Music, 2852 8:30pm. 5:30pm. University Ave., 7pm. Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , Tio Joe Rathburn & Jerry Gontang , Milano Coffee Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 9pm. tuesday • 6 Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Buick Wilson Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. John Jorgenson Quintet , Acoustic Music S.D., Missy Andersen , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. 4650 Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 7:30pm. thursday • 29 BluSD Fundraiser , Humphrey’s Backstage The Knitters/The Farmers/The Cheap Leis , saturday • 24 Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8:15pm. wednesday • 7 Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Joe Rathburn & Chris Del Priore , Milano Mod for Marq , Across the Street @ Mueller Anna Troy Band/Old Palominos , Beauty Bar, Nathan Welden & Suzanne Reed , Cosmos Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. College, 4607 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Cafe, 8278 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Bill Magee Blues Band , Humphrey’s 4746 El Cajon Blvd., 8:30pm. Brian Wilson , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., The Blokes , O’Sullivan’s, 640 Grand Ave., Ste. Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Otis Taylor , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Robin Henkel , Iva Lee’s, 555 N. El Camino Real, 7pm. A, Carlsbad, 9pm. 7pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8:30pm. San Clemente, 7pm. Rebecca Jade Quartet , Anthology, 1337 India Coryell Auger Sample Trio , Anthology, 1337 3rd Degree Blues , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Tim Flannery w/ Barbara Nesbitt , Mission St., 7:30pm. India St., 7:30pm. Theatre Playhouse, 200 N. Main Ave., Hoenig Pilc Project , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., saturday • 31 Fallbrook, 7pm. New Acoustic Generation w/ Owen Roberts & La Jolla, 7:30pm. Lady Dottie & the Diamonds , Valley View the Doghouse Brewer/Michael Tiernan friday • 16 Louden Wainwright III , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 7:30pm. Casino, 16300 Nyemii Pass Rd., Valley Ctr., 4pm. Trio/Veronica May & the To Do List/Kyle Robin Henkel Band , Coyote Bar & Grill, 300 Phelan , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, Lady Dottie & the Diamonds , Valley View Fountains of Wayne (7:30pm) /The Clumsy friday • 30 Carlsbad Village Dr., 6pm. 8pm. Casino, 16300 Nyemii Pass Rd., Valley Ctr., 4pm. Lovers (10pm), Anthology, 1337 India St. Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise Buick Wilson Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines , San Dieguito Shelle Blue , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. St., P.B., 6:30pm. United Methodist Church, 170 Calle St., P.B., 6:30pm. Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Stanley Clarke , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 Bobby Caldwell , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. Sara Petite & the Tiger Mountain Boys , Old thursday • 8 & 9:30pm. sunday • 25 Time Music, 2852 University Ave., 8pm. George Winston , North Park Theatre, 2891 ESP Quintet , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Culinary Meet the Fiddle w/ Celia Lawley , Borrego University Ave., 7:30pm. Jean Isaacs Modern Dance Theater , Ctr. 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Bobby Caldwell , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 Springs Library, 652 Palm Cyn Dr., Borrego Anthology, 1337 India St., 5pm. Barbara Nesbitt Band , Handlery Hotel, 950 & 9:30pm. Springs, 1:30pm. Fred Eaglesmith , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 7:30pm. Backwater Blues Band 15th Anniversary All Hotel Circle N., 8pm. Joe Rathburn & Larry Robinson , Milano Coffee Star Revue , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Chase Morrin , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Beach, 7pm. Del Mar, 8pm. Poncho Sanchez , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 Griffin House , Anthology, 1337 India St., 8:30pm. & 9:30pm. The Blokes , O’Sullivan’s, 640 Grand Ave., Ste. A, Carlsbad, 9pm. Shelle Blue , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Rob Carona w/ Alex Woodard/Gayle Skidmore , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Marcia Ball w/ Billy Watson , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Sue Palmer & the Blue Four , Patrick’s II, 428 F monday • 26 St., 9pm. Johnny V Vernazza , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Jukeville , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. friday • 9 saturday • 17 Chris Aquavella , Old Time Music, 2852 University Ave., 8pm. Happy Hour w/ Candye Kane , Belly Up, 143 S. Tim Flannery w/ Barbara Nesbitt , Adobe Falls House Concert, 7pm. Res: [email protected] 145th Street Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Cedros, Solana Beach, 5:30pm. 9pm. Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise Peter Rowan , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 St., P.B., 6:30pm. Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 7:30pm. Al Kooper , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Marilyn Crispell , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La tuesday • 27 Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 7:30pm. Jolla, 7:30pm. Poncho Sanchez , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 Tom Baird & Friends , Rebecca’s Coffeehouse, The Brombies , SDBS Mtg., Boll Weevil & 9:30pm. 3015 Juniper, 7:30pm. Blue Note 70th Anniversary Tour , Anthology, Cathryn Beeks Ordeal/Christopher Dale/Citizen Stanley Clarke , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 1337 India St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. Band/Barbara Nesbitt , Cottonwood Golf Club, & 9:30pm. Franklin Lounge/Nate Donnis/Matt Comerce , 3121 Willow Glen Dr., El Cajon, 8pm. Dix Bruce & Jim Nunnaly , Old Time Music, Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Billy Watson , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Del 2852 University Ave., 8pm. Sue Palmer w/ Blue Largo , Patrick’s II, 428 F Mar, 8pm. The Young Jazz Trio , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & St., 9pm. Hugh Gaskins & the G String Daddies , Culinary Ctr. 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Thornton’s Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, Zac Harmon , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 8:30pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 9:30pm. wednesday • 28 Bill Magee Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Len Rainey & the Midnight Players , Patrick’s II, Sacha Boutros , Anthology, 1337 India St., 9pm. 428 F St., 9pm. 7:30pm. Sue Palmer Motel Swing Quintet , Croce’s, 802 saturday • 10 sunday • 18 5th Ave., 8pm. Led Kaapana/Mike Kaawa , Belly Up, 143 S. Lady Dottie & the Diamonds , Valley View Peter Sprague w/ Leonard Patton , Serra Mesa Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Casino, 16300 Nyemii Pass Rd., Valley Ctr., 4pm. Library, 9005 Aero Dr., 2pm. The Soul Persuaders , Humphrey’s Backstage Robin Henkel w/ Billy Watson , Miramonte Jean Isaacs Modern Dance Theater , Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Windery, 33410 Rancho California Rd., Anthology, 1337 India St., 5pm. Stephanie Schneiderman , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Temecula, 5:30pm. Danny Paisley & Southern Grass/Gone Ave., 9pm. April Verch , San Dieguito United Methodist Tomorrow , Carlsbad Village Theatre, 2808 State Bill Magee Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, St., 5pm. 9pm. 7:30pm. MLK Birthday Jazz Fest , Humphrey’s Trace Bundy , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Mansfield St., Nomal Heights, 7:30pm. 6pm. David Hidalgo & Louie Perez , Poway Ctr. for Valhalla High School Jazz Band Benefit , the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Rd., 8pm. Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Culinary Ctr. 200 Harbor Dr., 6pm. 14 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JANUARY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR EN the local seen NS

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John Sebastian in Poway Matt Silvia & Cathryn Beeks www.sandiegotroubadour.com Future Troubadour reader Oliver Edwards 15