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

May 2009 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 8, No. 8

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Contributors Berkley Hart Full Circle.. …………4 The Cascades Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 Folk Dance Festival Johnny Vernazza Parlor Showcase …10 Candye Kane Ramblin’... …………12 Bluegrass Corner The Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Stages Highway’s Song. …14 Deejha Marie Ian Tyson Of Note. ……………17 Jasmine Commerce Matt Commerce Chad Cavanaugh Nathan Welden Gunnar Biggs Folding Mr. Lincoln Four Eyes w/ Mark DeCerbo The Riders ‘Round About ...... …18 May Music Calendar The Local Seen ……19 Photo Page MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat Berkley Hart Hits the RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Jackpot with their New CD Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news by John Philip Wyllie again found the magic formula that remaining 10 songs are originals. All of MISSION CONTRIBUTORS makes this CD a worthy addition to them impress; several of them are their growing library of musical accom - bound to become Berkley Hart classics. To promote, encourage, and provide an ndividually, Calman Hart and Jeff FOUNDERS plishments. Hearing them perform I wish I could tell you which ones. alternative voice for the great local music that Berkley rank among the finest song - Ellen and Lyle Duplessie most of it live will be an added bonus Each time I cue it up a different way, is generally overlooked by the mass media; Liz Abbott writers in America’s Finest City. namely the genres of alternative country, Kent Johnson I given their stage presence, charisma, one pops to the forefront. Fuse their unique talents together and Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and penchant for telling amusing stories, “She’s so Beautiful” is a song we PUBLISHERS you have something really special. bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring and ability to entertain audiences. If have been playing for a while at our Liz Abbott That is why people stand up and take together players, writers, and lovers of these Kent Johnson they ever, God forbid, lost their singing gigs and that has become a real crowd forms; to explore their foundations; and to notice whenever pleaser,” Berkley said expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS this dynamic duo Liz Abbott in a recent phone emerges from SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for Chuck Schiele interview. “But there their in-home stu - alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, ADVERTISING are some other songs blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, dio with a new Kent Johnson on there that have the is published monthly and is free of charge. CD in hand. Letters to the editor must be signed and may be BUSINESS CONSULTANT possibility of being Joanna Schiele Having produced edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed n people’s favorite new o that they will appear. four award-win - t DISTRIBUTION n songs. Personally, I like ning studio a Kent Johnson C All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO “Conversations with Dave Sawyer albums in their e TROUBADOUR are solely the opinion of the C Mark Jackson e the Moon” (a song C

writer and do not represent the opinions of the 11-year history, Indian Joe Stewart : o about loneliness and staff or management. All rights reserved. Berkley Hart has t Dan Long o h longing) and “Scarlet” Paul Cruz continued to P ADVERTISING INFORMATION (a song inspired by a For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488 build upon the STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER women at a Grateful or e-mail [email protected]. You can also find Steve Covault rock solid founda - Dead concert).” information on our website: tion that was laid www.sandiegotroubadour.com WEB MASTER The bluegrass Will Edwards in 2000 with their SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. inspired “Hey Darlene” initial release, Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: WRITERS benefits from the vir - Michael Alvarez Wreck ‘N’ Sow . San Diego Troubadour tuoso fiddle and banjo Julia Bemiss On May 15 P.O. Box 164 picking of B&H insider Peter Bolland and 16, Berkley La Jolla, CA 92038 Jennifer Carney Dennis Caplinger. And E-mail: [email protected]. Hart will debut its Jeff Berkley & Calman Hart Lou Curtiss “God in a Drawer” a WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the Will Edwards latest 11-song voices, these guys could make a living song about hypocrisy was particularly San Diego Troubadour? Go to Paul Hormick offering, Las Vegas with a CD release Frank Kocher doing stand-up with straight man Hart meaningful to me, but like I said, there www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click celebration at Hillcrest’s Swedenborg on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of Jim McInnes in the role of Abbott and Berkley, a are 10 poignant and masterfully crafted Bart Mendoza Hall. Upon hearing it I think you will locations we deliver to. modern-day Costello. songs here. Eleven years in, these guys Laura Preble agree that Las Vegas hits the jackpot. SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW Terry Roland Prolific as they are talented, Berkley are sounding better than ever. Berkley Hart’s Las Vegas album com - If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for Sven-Erik Seaholm Hart does not need to bother covering review, please send two copies to: San Diego José Sinatra bines all the elements that B&H fans Berkley Hart CD release anyone else’s music, but they still get a Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038. Allen Singer have come to expect over the last two special evenings Steve Thorn kick out of reinventing hits from their Friday and Saturday, May 15 & 16, 8 p.m. SUBMITTING A CALENDAR LISTING decade. Intriguing melodies, warm har - D. Dwight Worden youth and performing them in the (doors open at 7:30) Email your gig date, including location, address, John Philip Wylie monies, clever, insightful lyrics, expert and time to [email protected] by Berkley Hart style. In 2002 they cov - Swedenborg Hall Cover design: Chuck Schiele musicianship, and trademark Jeff the 22rd of the month prior to publication. ered the the Band’s “Up on Cripple 1531 Tyler Ave., San Diego Photo: Alan Mercer Berkley and Calman Hart vocals. Tickets are $15 in advance through the Creek” with good results. This time ©2008 San Diego Troubadour. Combining elements of bluegrass, website (www.berkleyhart.com) and $20 at “Stir it Up,” the old Johnny Nash hit, rock ‘n’ roll, folk music, and the door (arrive early Berkley Hart has a is updated and improved upon. The The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , Americana, Berkley Hart has once loyal San Diego following) whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle s s

the classic “Rhythm of the Rain.” “Rhythm” you are.” i t r

was written and sung by group member The Cascades kept up with the times, u C

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Gummoe. The song was recorded in the releasing records for the remainder of the o L

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famous Gold Star Studio in Hollywood, the decade. Loyal fans packed the Red Coat Inn o

y same studio where Phil Spector produced in East San Diego and radio stations always s e t r

his brilliant “Wall of Sound” recordings and played “Rhythm” to promote their impend - u

When the Cascades o Spector did indeed visit the recording ses - ing gigs. They also toured and made select C sions. It was in the sound affects library at TV appearances, but, unfortunately, this Gold Star that the Cascades found the would be the pinnacle of the group’s suc - Topped the Charts crashing thunderstorm tape, which appears cess, although they did chart three more at the beginning and end of the song. times in the lower reaches; “Shy Girl” (#91) Reaching #3 on the Hot 100, it also rated and “The Last Leaf” (#60) in 1963, with by Bart Mendoza and Steve Thorn #1 on the AC chart and #7 on the R&B their final chart appearance and a move to charts. One of the disc jockey’s responsible RCA Records in 1964 with “For Your Sweet for its early airplay was Bill Wade, then Love” (#86). The band released three hat do the Everly Brothers, employed at KDEO. Wade’s description of albums during its original lifetime, with Lawrence Welk, Dan the record’s climb to the top is filled with a only their first, 1963’s Rhythm of the Rain, WFolgelberg, Sara Brightman, sense of admiration for the hometown boys charting at #111. Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and Jason who made good. The group left Valiant later in 1964, with Donovan have in common? They’ve all sung “I felt the record was a hit the first time I Tony Grasso replacing Dave Stevens that the following words: heard it. I originally heard them practice the year. They went on to record for a variety of Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain song in a garage before they went to the labels, including RCA Victor, Liberty, Arwin, Telling me just what a fool I’ve been label and got it recorded.” Wade recalls. Smash, and Probe. Notably, Ray Davies of I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain “When it came the Kinks gave the band a pair of otherwise And let me be alone again out as a single, I unreleased tunes, and one of them, “This And they’re just the tip of the iceberg. kept playing New World” is included in the 1967 teen The above lyrics are the opening line to regardless of film, Catalina Caper , with Gabe Lapano “Rhythm of the Rain,” one of 1963’s top sales – and it (Sandi & the Accents) replacing Gummoe had no sales at in the band. Best of all, the band shows up selling records, ultimately reaching #3 on The Cascades (top row, l to r) the Billboard Top 100 for San Diego’s own David Wilson, John Gummoe. first. It just was - in five scenes! Cascades. Bottom row: Eddie Snyder, Ron n’t selling. The Cascades lasted through the turn of The record wasn’t an overnight smash Lynch, David Stevens “But I stayed the decade, even sporting a young Lou but rather a recording that gained momen - with it. We start - Curtiss on bass for a time. For the Cascades tum throughout the nation after it received and Dave Szabo (piano and saxo - ed to get it was an illustrious if brief career. Gummoe phone), was called the Silver requests, so we went solo in 1967, eventually forming the heavy airplay in San Diego. “Rhythm of the Radio station KDEO’s top 40 list from 1963. Strands. A switch to the name advanced it on group Kentucky Express. 1968 saw the Rain” is a great rock and roll ballad. It’s Note the Cascades’ song “Last Leaf” listed the Thundernotes found them our survey, release of the Cascades second album, What definitive. A clear snapshot of a far more at number 12. innocent time, literally a year before the recording for Del-Fi Records in Goes On , which included events in Dallas changed the way we look at 1961, releasing the instrumental “Maybe the Rain Will Fall” their website and it was a joke,” said Charles the world. single, “Thunder Rhythm,” a out on UNI in 1969. Crew, guitarist with the current Gummoe- Green composition, to little led edition of the Cascades. “They weren’t Nothing else ever matched their wonder - Gummoe While little was heard of ful first hit, but when you climb to the acclaim. Green was replaced by the Cascades between the really a threat to us working or anything; heights that the Cascades did with that sig - Eddie Synder just prior to the early seventies and a “Best they were working the local VFW and nature song back in November of 1962, Cascades signing to Warner because of of” compilation released in Moose Lodge circuit, and not much more.” your place in the rock and roll pantheon is Brothers offshoot, Valiant Records, in 1962, the phone 1999, the group’s signature He notes that Gummoe, with help from Sha- pretty much guaranteed. The quintet’s song with the band rounded out by bassist Dave and card song became a perennial na-na’s Bowzer, an artist’s advocate, are keep - has been used as incidental music in TV Stevens. requests. ing on top of the name situation. shows as diverse as “Happy Days” and the The new line-up’s first single, “There’s a When it While the band might have been count - “Drew Carey Show”, turned up in period Reason,” was released in June of 1962. It reached ed out, the new millennium brought the piece movies such as American Grafitti and was during these initial sessions that the number 20, strongest Cascades activity since 1963. Sad Quadraphenia, and remains a staple of oldies group’s name changed. stores start - to say, David Wilson passed away in 2001, Eddie Preston (who recorded with the The Cascades pose with Paul and radio today. In addition to those named ed stocking Paula (remember them?) while Dave Stevens remains in the area and above, it’s been covered by Jan and Dean, band as Eddie Snyder), a longtime San it in San was heard as recently as 2001 performing Bobby Darin, Johnny Rivers, and dozens Carlos resident, stayed involved with his Diego due to the demand of the local peo - “Rhythm of the Rain” – on his bass! – on a more. It’s even been recorded in six lan - group Eddie Preston Unlimited through the ple. From there it gained national populari - local radio show. However, fans of the band guages! Incredibly, in 1999, the songs writer early 1980s. Preston vividly recalls when ty, became a million-seller, and the number received a huge surprise when, in 2005, a John Gummoe was given an award from and where the name Cascades came from. one record in the country.” short tour of the Phillipines was announced BMI, in recognition of more than 9,500,000 “We were originally called the The song also hit number one in the by a new Cascades, this time out featuring radio plays. According to BMI figures, this Thundernotes and were fortunate enough to Philippines (where the band was a massive Gummoe, Crew, bassist Tony Grasso and makes “Rhythm of the Rain” the ninth most have a manager (Andy Di Martino) who got success through out their career), the U.K., soundtrack selection for both movie and tel - perhaps unusually, Lapano as well. In an played song of the last century! us a recording contract,” Preston remem - Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, and more, evision producers anytime a scene called for odd twist, rumors that the group had per - And it all started in here in San Diego. bers. “We cut our first record, There’s a chalking up enough sales to be Billboard’s innocence. ished in a plane crash, forced them to go on The roots of the Cascades go back to Reason and, while the record was being #3 worldwide single for 1963. It’s said that imitation is the sincerest Philippines national television and sing 1957 and the ship the U.S.S. Jason, AR-8 pressed, we were trying to think of another Preston was in high school when he felt form of flattery, but the Cascades don’t feel accapella, in order to prove that they were where Ohio native John Gummoe met name for the group because the record com - the jolt of having a true worldwide hit too flattered by other groups using the same alive. The revitalized group plans to record David Wilson (drums) and Leonard Green pany felt Thundernotes was rather gloomy. record. “I was so naïve in a lot of areas,” name, including a heavy metal band and and has plans for a DVD as well as more (guitar), using time off to focus on “The name Cascades was given to us Preston admits. “Here you are in high more troubling, another group playing the touring. The concerts were such a huge suc - Gummoe’s and Wilson’s close harmony when our recording producer Barry school and all of a sudden you have the oldies circuit. cess, selling out arenas throughout Asia and singing. The earliest version of the group, Devorzon was washing the dishes and saw a number one song in the country. A lot “One of our guys Googled Cascades and inspiring “retro-mania” in the area for with the addition of guitarist Art Eastlick Cascade soap box.” escapes you, you don’t realize how fortunate came up with a New York group. I looked at reunion concert tours by other sixties-era They hit paydirt with the second single, performers, including the Zombies and Gary Lewis. The prospect of new recordings from Gummoe and friends is a wonderful thing. However, great as that album may be, clearly, it’ll be hard to top what he and the others accomplished at Gold Star Studios 47 years ago. ver the decades – going back to 1963, actually – the Cascades have Obeen one of the most popular American bands to ever make an impact in the Philippines. In P.I., they are huge, in a Beach Boys, CCR, or Eagles type of way. When the news broke in 2005 that the Cascades would be performing in the Philippines, media coverage was intense. There were many advertisements over Filipino television announcing the concert dates and an anthology CD featuring their best-known tunes were prominently dis - played in major record stores in metro Manila. But the true measure of any recording artist in the Philippines is the numbers of songs featured in a karaoke machine library. Although basketball may be the most popular athletic pursuit in P.I., it is not the most popular pastime – karaoke singing is! And the Cascades are featured on their own individual karaoke “sing-along” DVDs, an indication that music-loving Pinoys are still passionate for the songs by the band from San Diego. 4 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle n o s d r a h c i R

l l i

Recordially, Lou Curtiss B

: o t o h COPYRIGHTS big jazz fan and may make legislation dance country shows out of WLS in record com - P move a little faster. At any rate it’s Chicago. Of particular interest to me pany that peaking as an archivist and one time for anyone who cares about the was Barndance director John Lair’s came late to who wants to see as much good preservation of any kind of vintage involvement with the National Folk the game but Smusic in the hands of as many music affected by these unfair copy - Festival and the invention of “The has given us people who want to have it, I can’t right laws get in touch with your con - Singing Cowboy,” with Gene Autry as a remarkable help but be concerned about the state gress person and request that they the prototype. legacy, which of the copyright laws in the good examine proposals put forth by the Linthead grew from a old United States and the seeming lack Copyright and Fair Use Committee of Stomp: The label that of any interest in the part of the pow - the Association for Recorded Sound Creation of originally Lou Curtiss ers that be to do anything about it. Collections or the Historical Country wanted to Public Protection and the public Recording Coalition for Access and Music in the record only for Folklore Productions, representing domain are under continuous assault Preservation (HRCAP). Try out Piedmont old timey some of the finest roots music per - by “rights holders” (in most cases www.recordingcopyright.org for more South string bands to become the largest formers in this country, such as Mike corporations). Pre-1972 recordings are information about how you can help. (University indie label in the United States. Seeger and Doc Watson. Mary under the most severe restrictions of No matter whether you collect old of North So You Want Catherine has a web site called “Alive all, because they still mostly fall under folksongs, doo wop 45s, 1960s rock ‘n’ Carolina to Be a Rock and Picking,” which is always worth state laws that bunch recordings of a roll, or vintage bluegrass and country, Press) ‘n’ Roll Star: checking out. The show has several historical nature or various kinds of some of these corporate types want to Patrick The Byrds remarkable features that includes one traditional song and roots music into a keep you from your music. That’s just Huberf Day by Day of the better traditional music events bundle with everything else. People downright wrong and we need to explored 1965-1973 calendars, a guide to New Orleans that with tapes of live recorded material stand up for what’s ours. Get the working class orgins of country (by everyone should read before ever ven - are often scared to make that material involved! music and how artists like Charlie Christopher turing to that part of the country, and public because somehow they think SOME BOOKS I’VE READ Poole, Dave McCarn, the Dixon Hjort. a section called “Disconnected they’ll be violating some copyright ow, these aren’t book reviews Brothers, and others were impacted by Jawbone Ramblings,” which is a general listing law. While this isn’t usually the case, but just suggestions for those this new fangled industrial labor, Press) This of things she’s done, is doing, has all too often folks are led to believe of you interested in various modern technology, and the leap frog - book is about a trail-blazing band and heard, has heard about, has read, etc. that they are breaking the law and N ging growth of mass culture. Lots of its roots and branches. Norwegian kinds of the stuff we talk about here. etc. This is a remarkable lady who, thus stuff that should be preserved, I’d suggest there’s a good bit of materi - information about an era when new music historian Hjort has made a from time to time, has done a radio doesn’t get preserved, and everyone al you might not be aware of in any and old clashed more violently than major contribution to a musical era’s show (also called “Alive and Picking”) loses. one of these books: most others (at least musically). history. on Pacifica Radio’s KPFK. She’s one of What is needed is federal copyright And that ought to keep you read - The A couple those folks who keeps the music alive legislation to bring all recordings ing for a month or two. I’m going to Hayloft of books and flowing for all of us. under federal law, which would bring have to keep passing along this kind Gang: The about two SOME NEW OLD STUFF proper “public domain” laws for of stuff from time to time. Maybe we Story of very REISSUED recordings for the first time. remark - can get some of the local libraries to the here’s no need to review most of Recognizing the significance and need able carry some of these. National the following except to say the for special consideration of traditional recording MARY CATHERINE ALDIN IS Barn notes are mostly pretty good, recorded music, including blues, jazz, compa - ALIVE AND PICKING! T Dance country music, vaudeville, show the discography is pretty complete, Here is nies. First ’ve known Mary Catherine since music, and early popular song (any - and the music should be in everyone’s another it’s Worlds sometime in the late ’60s when she thing of a historical or ethnic nature). library. one of of Sound: used to save tickets for me for vari - Recent changes in the House of The Story I those ous shows at L.A.’s Ash Grove. She’s Representatives whereby the sub-com - great of Smithsonian Folkways (by Richard worked for a bunch of record labels, mittee of the Judiciary Committee, Universit Carlin. Harper Collins) The story of clubs, and radio stations as one of which deals with copyrights, has been yof Illinois Press books. This time it’s Moe Asch and Folkways is a remar- those behind-the-scene’s folk who folded into the full committee chaired about the grandaddy of all the barn kable story. Second is The Never knows what she’s talking about when by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) who is a Ending Revival: Rounder Records and it comes to roots Music. She has the Folk Alliance (University of Illinois always been a go-to type person for Press). This book has a rich, you-are- me in my long run as a folk and roots there feeling about a New England festival promoter. She currantly works

Slim Gaillard: The Legendary McVouty (Hep CD6. The Metronome Series) culled mostly from airshots and tests, also featuring Harry “The Hipster” Gibson, Bam Brown, and Leo Watson. Very mellow and voutoreenie. Little Walter: The Complete Chess Masters, 1950-1967 (HipOSelect B0012636-02) This five-CD set, which every amplified harmonica blower should own, listen to, and then throw your harmonicas away. Ken Maynard: The Lone Star Trail (Bear Family BCD16861) This original singing cowboy only cut eight songs but this whole package is so well put together that it should be in the collec - tion of every cowboy song collector. In the Pines: Old Time Music of North Carolina, 1926-1936 (Old Hat CD1006) This recording features a bunch of tarheel string band songs and tunes by well-known artists (Grayson and Whitter, Clarence Green, Carolina TarHeels) and obscure (Blankenship Family, Cranford and Thompson, Blue Ridge Mountain Entertainers) and it’s all entertaining. Got a Light, Mac? (Buzzola BZCD 014) Vintage songs about smoking and even a couple about chewing. Songs range from vintage jazz and pop tunes to country and cowboy swing, blues and gospel. Maybe the best thing about smoking is singing about doing it or not doing it. Recordially Lou Curtiss www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch Statewide International Folk Dance Festival Line Dancing or “kolo” by Julia Bemiss opened her home in Pacific Heights to peo - Lu was introduced to Scottish country ple outside of the Swedish community who dancing at a conference in St. Andrews, t’s just after 7p.m. on a Tuesday evening wanted to learn more about the music, Scotland, not long after getting out of grad - at the historic Balboa Park Club build - dance, and arts and crafts of Sweden. One uate school, and was hooked. When he got Iing and members of the Cabrillo of the participants was Song Chang, an a job teaching in physics at UCSD, he went International Folk Dancers Club arrive one American of Chinese descent. He found the looking for a dance club and found an by one, greeting each other with hugs and experience warm and friendly and thought International Folk Dance group right on handshakes. The ballroom is spacious and it should be shared among many people, campus. He began dancing with them and airy, with approximately 13,000 square feet not a select few. In 1938 the first San after meeting Georgina, invited her along. of wood dance floor. A bank of open win - Francisco-based folk dance club began, “We met wonderful people, learned all dows gives pleasant breezes. It’s as an ideal known as Chang’s International Folk sorts of dances from every nation, got so we a setting as any. Dancers. Folk dance clubs quickly multi - were able to make our feet follow our Georgina Sham, who teaches with her plied, allowing anyone who was interested brains, and were asked to join performance husband Lu, is dressed in a long red skirt several opportunities to learn the dances groups!” Georgina explained. and a white shirt with a Bulgarian folk and customs of other countries. Were it not She describes folk dancing as more var - design. She greets visitors with open arms for Song Chang, it could be said that folk ied than other forms of dance. Whereas stu - and a welcoming smile. Then she gently dancing might never have made it to dents of more modern dance forms learn takes your right hand and starts walking. Southern California. one dance in many variations choreo - “If you can walk, you can dance,” she More students arrive and join the circu - graphed to one genre of music, folk dancers Couples doing a Scottish set dance says. lar walk. Once everyone has arrived, the learn several types of dance set to many dif - We begin by walking an imaginary out - group begins practicing several dances. Lu ferent genres. Common instruments heard line of a wide circle. She counts, “One, two, stands apart from the students, instructing there is a club meeting open to experienced later. The federation was created to open in folk dance music are fiddles, guitars, three, four,” taking one step per beat. She the class as they move through the steps accordions, and drums. Bagpipes are most then slows or speeds up the steps, adjusting and beginning students alike at the Folk communication and ensure consistency in without music. After a handful of run- Dance Center in North Park or at several how dances were taught and performed in popular in Scotland but are also played in the cadence of her counting. Someone takes throughs, Lu aims his small remote control Sweden, Poland, the Balkans, Hungary, my left hand. I turn and see a string of five classes offered in Balboa Park, not to men - the hundreds of dance clubs spread at his laptop, presses a button, and the tion the many community colleges and uni - throughout California. Spain, and Turkey. or six dancers behind me, all holding hands music begins. Suddenly, about 30 people are This year’s festival will feature two mas - in a line, walking the steps. It seems this versities that offer dance lessons. There is a Many of the same types of folk dances, hand-in-hand, in line, or in circular forma - folk dance for every taste and interest, from such as polkas or waltzes, have existed ter teachers. Viviana Enrique Acosta, artistic introductory walk is too basic, even for tion, stepping, kicking, hopping, grapevin - director of Ballet Folklorico en Aztlan in beginners, but it’s how every class begins Cajun and Zydeco to Irish Ceili and Royal since the early nineteenth century, with ing, pivoting, and waltzing, depending on Scottish Country, even ballroom and coun - only subtle variations from country to coun - San Diego, will teach Mexican couples and it’s a good warm-up. the dance. Many dances include shouts or dances. Yuliyan Yordanov, a native of Lovec, Lu Sham is setting up his laptop while try line dancing. Classes are for all ages and try in how they are performed. Folk dances call-outs. Romanian dances are especially some are geared specifically toward children developed not unlike an oral tradition, Bulgaria, who teaches throughout the cracking jokes with others. It keeps the known for their strigatori (shouts in verse Midwest and resides in Wisconsin, will atmosphere light and fun, which is especial - and families. The cost is minimal: most evolving from generation to generation and while dancing). clubs charge a few dollars per dance class from country to country. Nothing was ever teach Bulgarian dances. ly helpful to beginners who may feel a bit If a beginning dancer is having some dif - Folk dancing, like any other dance form, intimidated initially. He connects his laptop and the first class is free. If you become a written down, and so the dances were never ficulty, Lu steps in, temporarily breaking the member, you get a discount, making it quite copyrighted. is good exercise for the body and mind. to the sound system and puts on a wireless chain by inserting himself alongside the Research has shown that regular dancing headset with microphone, so that his a deal for a fun night out. Despite the organization and structure bewildered student. When he does this a This year San Diego has the honor of that governing bodies provide, it’s important can decrease one’s chance of getting instructions will be amplified for all to hear. few times with me, the thought crosses my Alzheimer’s because of this added “brain Then he opens iTunes, which is chock-full hosting the Statewide Folk Dance Festival, to note that no one person, club, organiza - mind that perhaps my feet need some seri - which runs May 22-25 at the Balboa Park tion, federation, or country has final say benefit.” of folk dance music. In one evening a ous help, and I’m happy for it. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun . Cabrillo folk dancer can travel from Eastern Club and the Folk Dance Center. It’s an over a dance, how it’s performed, or who Georgina, too, is quick to catch the annual event held every year, alternating can teach it. Master teachers are simply “Folk dancing teaches us about other Europe through Western Europe, into North hands of newcomers, and will dance with peoples and, in the long run, it makes the America and on toward Southeast Asia alternate years between Northern and teachers who trained in the country of them often throughout the evening. These Southern California venues. Georgina Sham whose dances they teach. world smaller and more friendly as we learn within the span of three hours. gestures show not only their passion for about each other and how we set movement The Cabrillo International Folk Dancers chairs the festival this year, which will offer Before the 1930s, folk dancing existed folk dancing but also their love of sharing it instruction, dance parties, after-parties, live primarily in ethnic communities cut off to music,” Georgina says. is one of the first folk dance clubs in San with others, especially beginners who might “We find we have a lot in common and Diego, taking its name from Juan Rodriguez music, and…food! from the general American public. Even be wary or shy at first. Georgina and Lu The first international folk dance festival within these isolated ethnic communities, often move in the same way, and we call it Cabrillo, a Spanish conquistador and want to make sure you are comfortable, dancing.” explorer who was the first European to lead was held in 1946, hosted in Ojai, California. dancing was limited. Recent immigrants, relaxed and enjoying yourself, and that an expedition up what we now call the West It was a compliment, considering folk dance wanting to forget the turmoil of their home - you’ll get hooked like they did, like most For more information on the Statewide Coast in 1542, departing from Navidad, first flourished on the West Coast in San lands, readily adopted American customs, every student in the class does, so they’re International Folk Dance Festival in San Mexico. Three months later he dropped Francisco during the mid-1930s, not long largely ignoring their homeland traditions. more than happy to spend extra time with Diego, May 22-25, please visit anchor in what is now known as San Diego before the formation of what was to become This changed when a group of San you. They have a lot of experience and have http://www.statewidefolkdance.com Bay. the International Folk Dance Federation of Franciscans took the opportunity to learn danced for many years, and, despite a 16- International folk dancing has a strong California, North in 1942. The Southern Swedish folk dancing from a woman named year hiatus to raise their children, they presence in San Diego. On any given night California chapter followed a few years “Mama” Gavander in the mid-1930s. She returned to folk dancing, fervid as ever.

6 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch Johnny Vernazza: 40 Years of Playing and Loving It

by Bart Mendoza guest appearance on that year’s Marshall together. Tucker Band album, Where We Belong actu - Significant during this time frame is hat is it about San Diego that ally ended up charting higher (#54) than that members of the Elvin Bishop Band draws so many great guitarists? his own group. were major media stars, notching up WSure, there is plenty of home - By 1975 endless touring was beginning appearances on TV shows such as ABC-TV’s grown talent, from Mark “Twang” Intravaia to pay off. The album, Juke Joint Jump (#46) “American Bandstand,” “Don Kirshner’s (Eve Selis Band) to Warren DiMartini and companion single “Sure Feels Good” Rock Concert,” and “Dance Party” as well (Ratt), but a seeming legion of six-string (#83) both scored significant airplay as the as an impressive ten times on NBC-TV’s legends have relocated here to soak up sun band began its rise to headliner status. Late “Midnight Special,” including episodes and culture, including such icons as Barney that year, the band released Struttin’ My hosted by and devoted to Bishop and the Kessell (Elvis Presley, Beach Boys) and Greg Stuff (#18) and a lead off single, “Struttin’ band. Another noteworthy episode of the Douglass (Steve Miller, Van Morrison). The My Stuff” (#68), both maintaining an show features Vernazza backing Van latest addition to the list? Bay Area legend upward chart trajectory. Morrison on an impromptu version of Johnny Vernazza. 1976 would prove to be the peak of “Domino.” Vernazza’s time with Bishop. The band was Best known for his lead guitar work Norton Buffalo Johnny Vernazza with Elvin Bishop, including the 1976 num - now a regular on the music festival circuit, Post Bishop, Vernazza concentrated on ber three hit, “Fooled Around and Fell in playing stadiums, and was included on the work with another Bay Area legend, Norton album making number five on the blues Vernazza is now in the midst of record - Love,” Vernazza was born February 27, bill, for the second of three times, at pro - Buffalo and his band the Nice Guys, later charts. The title track is a guitarist’s dream, ing his second album, Jungle Out There . “I’ll 1951, in San Franciso and grew up in moter Bill Graham’s massive Day on the the Knockouts. To date, the union has seen with work from Bishop and Vernazza as be doing all the vocals, and there will be neighboring Daly City. Green music festival. They also appeared in only one album released, 2000’s King of the well as slidework from Warren Haynes and less overdubs, less clutter. My favorite pro - 1973 and 1978. Another key appearance Beginnings: The Sixties Highway , with Vernazza continuing to tour Derrick Trucks. ducers work with a less is more theory,” he was that April when a Sacramento concert The Vernazzas were a working class with Buffalo. Surprisingly, though, he has favorite remarked. was recorded and broadcast for syndicated guitars, including a telecaster he’s played for After more than 40 years of guitar sling - Italian family, that spoke their native tongue radio program, “The King Biscuit Flower San Diego and Modern Days in the household. Music has been a part of 11 years; he sees guitars more as “tools ing, does Vernazza still get the same enjoy - Hour,” giving the group well-timed national Vernazza moved to San Diego in 2001 Vernazz’a life for as long as he can remember, rather than items to collect.” He does allow ment playing the guitar when he plays the exposure. and quickly formed his first solo backing but he came to the guitar in a roundabout that Mike Delany is custom making a new blues? “I get the same pleasure, whatever Everything changed with the release of group, specializing in the blues, the Johnny way. He originally started in grade school as Telecaster for him. type of music I play,” he laughed. “I just a second single from Struttin’ My Stuff , V Band. Though he feels the need to control a singer and voice impersonator. His father This year has been busy for Vernazza. In enjoy playing. For anyone who’s been play - “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” Now a his own music career with his own group, was part of an accordion duo in the 1940s addition to touring, sessions with his band ing the amount of time that I have, there is considered a certified southern rock classic Vernazza admits to preferring side work. “It and ’50s, so it’s only natural that the accor - Fox, celebrates their 40-year-old recording, simply nothing better than playing live. I and framed by Vernazza’s flute-like guitar gives me more time to just relax and con - dion would be his first instrument. That last - released as San Francisco Sessions by still enjoy it as much as I did when I was a riff, it’s notable that the songs not only centrate on playing,” he said. “Being a front - ed for three years until his teacher figured Germany’s R-D Records. He also plans to kid.” scored a number three chart position but man is fun also, but you’ve always got to be out he was playing by ear rather than reading expand studio work – recent productions was also a rare crossover hit, reaching #82 conscious of what’s coming next, it’s more music. The end result, following words and session work can be heard on albums on the R&B charts and rated internationally involved.” He continues his side work play - between father and teacher, was that by Michele Lundeen, Merle Brandon, as well well, making it to #34 in the U.K. ing with Len Rainey during down time with Vernazza got his first guitar right then and Andrej Sifrer, Ron Hacker,, Scarlett Theory,, “As far as a one-hit wonder goes, it’s a his own band. there. Having told his father he wanted a gui - Annie Sampson, and S.E. Willis. great one,” Vernazza opines. “Elvin wrote a “When I started working on my album, tar, he started out on six-string acoustic, At the moment he’s wrapping up work good one. I think we happened to be at Feel Like Goin’ Home [his 2001 solo debut], soon graduating to an electric guitar. on his album, Jungle Out There , with more the right place at the right time, a perfect I knew it was time to finally step out. I had By 1963 the guitar had taken over his touring on tap. He also teaches guitar at storm so to speak. Everything was just realized that I could sing a lot of the songs life. His first notable performance took Camp Pendleton. “It’s the least I can do to about perfect.” that I was having guest vocalists do on place the next year with the group Day give thanks to all the brave men, women, The song ultimately earned Vernazza a the CD.” Blindness, which won the Battle of the and their families that sacrifice so much to gold disc for 500,000 copies sold. The year He cites the weather as a factor in his Bands at the San Mateo County Fair. serve our country,” he said . was rounded out by a new album, relocation to the Carlsbad area but notes Though the group released an album in “If I’m going to be putting all this energy Hometown Boy Makes Good (#70) and that Bay Area overcrowding also helped him 1969, Vernazza did not play on it. Notably, out, I might as well be doing it for myself,” another major guest appearance, on Elvin make the decision. “I hate to sound like an the group also included guitarist Gary Pihl he laughed. “When I came down here I real - Bishop Band singer Mickey Thomas’s debut old person, you know, ‘it aint like it used to (Boston, Sammy Hagar) who followed ized that if I could work off my name and solo disc, As Long as You Love Me . be, but when you get older you do look for Vernazza when the group became Fox. work off of everything that I’ve accomplished Though the Bishop Band continued to different things in life, and things down Ironically for such a well known guitarist, in my career, I could actually do a bit better be a concert attraction, their chart run here were so much calmer and less stressful his short stint with the band (1968-1970) and make more money than I could as a ended in 1977 with a single “Spend Some that it seemed like an obvious move to was as a bassist. The player’s rep easily sideman.” He notes that not much has Time” #93 and an album, Live! Raisin’ Hell make. People down here are just more secured them gigs at the Fillmore and open - changed within the club scene itself, with (#38). The latter is notable for including friendly and outgoing.” ing spots for the likes of Quicksilver bad pay and long hours still the order of the two tracks recorded at the San Diego Civic 2005 saw Vernazza’s guitar playing back Vernazza & Elvin Bishop endorse Electra Messenger Service, but despite taping sever - day. “We used to do 290 shows a year,” he Center on May 14, 1976. “The reason we on the charts, when a disc reuniting him guitars al demo sessions, the group fell apart after a pointed out. “The technology’s gotten better, recorded a live album was that we need to with Bishop, Getting My Groove Back, hit six-month trip to Hawaii and dealings with but the chore of getting stuff together and pump stuff out,” he said. “It was like that the Blues Chart at number nine. local mobsters. He next joined up with a the pay haven’t changed much.” with all the bands in that era. You recorded At the same time his vintage work with gospel group, Gideon and Power, touring a lot in a short period of time because you Bishop keeps getting reissued. A recent nationally, which also resulted in the first of had to release at least an album a year. DVD reissue of “The Midnight Special” many appearances Vernazza has made on Some bands were pumpin’ out two.” includes the Morrison-Vernazza collabora - television when the group appeared on CBS- Vernazza notes the hectic pace and love tion, while the 1976 “King Biscuit Flower TV’s “Sonny and Cher Show.” of good times that surrounded the group. Hour” show was released in 2001. Footage Elvin Bishop Years: TV “Elvin’s band was really wild,” Vernazza of the band was included on a CMT’s Tribute Now an in-demand session player and laughed. “That’s why a lot of those times are to Southern Rock and “Albert’s Shuffle” was backing musician, Vernazza was happy play - just a blur. I don’t recall much about that used in an episode of NBC-TV’s “My Name ing Bay Area venues. “I was doing okay; I time. Sad, but true. That’s why I’ve been is Earl.” Meanwhile, “Fooled Around and was picking up some work doing back - sober for 20 years,” he joked. He considers Fell in Love” has been heard everywhere, ground vocals on things like a commercial Live! Raisin’ Hell to be the favorite of all his from the film Boogie Nights to the HBO-TV’s for Sears, just what ever came up for local recordings. “You listen to any studio album “Entourage.” It can also be found on more stores,” Vernazza said. “A lot of people were and because of production and so on, it can than five dozen international compilations. in the musical Hair ,” he recalled. “And sound dated. But you put that album on 2008 found Vernazza once again collab - friends who were actors would call and say, and it really holds up.” orating with Bishop at a benefit for fire vic - ‘hey, these guys are hiring back ground Vernazza remained through Bishop’s tims in Lake Tahoe and he also contributed singers’ and I’d go make $25 or something. I 1978 album, Hog Heaven , though this would to a new album, The Blues Rolls On . The really don’t remember much about those not be the last time the two performed union continues to yield dividends with the except they were mostly for smaller local busineeses, car dealers, that sort of thing.” Everything changed in 1971. Now host - ing a jam session at a club in San Francisco’s North Beach, former Paul Butterfield Blues Band guitarist Elvin Bishop started to come in regularly. Quickly bond - ing, it was the start of a long and fruitful relationship. Vernazza’a first album with Bishop proved the pairing to be an instant, if quali - fied success, giving Bishop his first (barely) chart hit, 1974’s Let It Flow (#100). The albums single, “Travelin’ Shoes,” managed a respectable #61. In another ironic twist, his www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

Phil Harmonic Sez

“When something goes wrong I’m the first to admit it and the last one to know.” — Paul Simon

8 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

by Laura Preble from the harsh reality of her own past, summer, a European tour, constant audience. Now Candye Kane has Kane plays the lead in her own life media, and even a line of therapeutic matured into an artist who creates art rom the cramped back row story. This musical tour through her his - bra pillows (guaranteed worn by her) because she has a mission. at the Diversionary Theater, tory isn’t exactly a play; it’s more like a available for purchase, this is one “I have been driven to succeed in the small stage illuminated in concert with scenes framing the songs. woman who does not sit still. You won’t music and I have been supported by the red light looks like the beer- Her music fans aren’t cheated; a sizzling hear the toughest girl alive complaining. belief that I have something important soaked platform at a rockin’ band features long-time collaborator and She is the ultimate recycler: she uses to say and to demonstrate: that is, that Fblues bar, not a theatrical performance boogie-woogie keyboard goddess Sue every bit of every experience, grinds it anyone can realize their dreams if they space. A well-worn drum kit, a couple Palmer and Kane’s own son, Evan up, and spits those jagged rocks out as are determined enough. That it’s not so of guitars, a microphone, a wooden

Caleb, on drums. All this is prelude to a diamonds. She is, in her words, a sur - important that you have the best of r e c r stool, all remind me of time spent wait - new album, I’m a Super Hero , her first vivor. She thrives, too. everything but that you do your best e M

ing for some nightly band to take the for the Los Angeles-based Delta Groove With eight albums to her credit, and with everything you have.” n a l A stage in any number of tasty dives (and :

label, her ninth album overall. “It is a former record deals with CBS Epic, In her memoir stage show, Candye o t o I use the word ‘dive’ as a compliment). very raw, emotional project since I am ounder, and legendary blues label h R Kane freely discusses her time spent in P Except I’m sitting in a theater seat. still a bit raw and emotional from my Antone’s, Kane has been through both the adult entertainment industry. “I used Without beer. struggle with cancer less than a year the indie music circuit and the estab - sex as a stepping stone to fame,” she That’s because the world of balls-out ago,” Kane says on her blog. “Making lished route of so-called “real” record tells the audience from the stage. But in raucous bar performance and the the - this CD is a true triumph and victory for deals. Although Kane is a powerhouse a separate interview, she notes, “I have ater are colliding tonight in the form of me and I am so grateful for this performer that the Washington Post always been honest about my back - The Toughest Girl Alive , a staged reading chance.” called “a natural wonder like the Grand ground, but it is frustrating sometimes of a musical, featuring local blues leg - Kane shares a producing credit for Canyon,” she’s had to deal with the since I am 47 years old and have been end Candye Kane, staged by Javier the album with 26-year-old guitar phe - frustration of a neutered music industry in this business for so long. I was only Velasco, a well-known name in local nom Laura Chavez, who co-wrote six of where only the melodic equivalent of in the sex business for four of those 47 theater circles and artistic director of San the 14 songs on the album with Kane; landfill sludge seems to make it the air - years but they are the years that every - Diego Ballet. Chavez also shared the stage for waves. “It wasn’t just CBS Epic but the one dwells on.” What do you expect of an ex-sex- Toughest Girl Alive . I’m a Super Hero whole country music establishment that Although people are fascinated with worker-diva-blues-mama baring her soul also features work by percussionist was/is hypocritical, sexist, and sizist,” her blue movie beginnings, and she rather than of her body? Sharing inti - Stephen Hodges (Mavis Staples, Tom she says. “How have big labels freely discusses them in her memoir mate details of her personal life, emo - Waits) and guitarist Dave Gonzales of changed? Well, this is an even weirder show, she admits that it’s frustrating to tional pain, trauma, politics, family the Paladins/Hacienda Brothers and sax business now with what I call the be pigeon-holed as a “porn star” when memories? player Jonny Viau. Paul Loranger played Mcdonald-ization of the world. In the that part of her life was only a small Her story is, as they say, stranger bass on the entire recording and it also old days, even with payola, you still had slice when compared to the time she’s than fiction. Her mother taught her how features Greg Rutledge on piano. a chance that you could charm some invested as a yeoman vocalist. to shoplift, and she recounts a story of Super Hero is the title of the first radio DJ into playing your records. Now “I guess they think I opened my how, at charm school graduation, she song Kane wrote after her April 2008 that kind of human contact is almost mouth at 30 and suddenly realized I wore a stolen dress. She was accepted pancreatic cancer surgery. “Last year at impossible unless you have big money could sing! The ignorance is astound - into, then ex-communicated from, the this time, I didn’t even know if I would and a publicist.” ing,” she says. “ I have always been a Mormon church. She won big record still be alive, much less making another Yeah, but music is a big part of cul - singer. I became a teenage mom and deals, then lost them. She made a living recording!” she writes on her blog. “I ture now, right? Look at all the quality had to support a child. I did what I had in the adult entertainment industry. She was so fragile when I came home from performing generated by certain televi - to do to survive. I don’t know why it’s a battled a virulent cancer. She endured the hospital and could barely open my sion shows that treat music like a gladi - subject that no one can let go, even 20 teen motherhood, drug abuse, family mouth to speak audibly, much less sing. atorial death match. “Shows like years later. I don’t know why people dysfunction, and the stigma of being an I had 150 stitches in my belly after an American Idol have done nothing to think I cannot do a family style show. I overweight woman in a world where intense, 11-hour surgery that removed help music and have only clouded the have played for ambassadors and presi - that’s not accepted, and yet, she didn’t parts of at least five of airwaves with dents and for children’s street fairs. I just make it, she thrived. She survived. my organs. Frustrated “Every day that I am more crap,” know when to keep my mouth shut and She triumphed. at my inability to sing Kane agrees. when to be candid. It’s a shame that n e s

awake on this planet r

Whatever you expect, you get what normally, I held my “The internet, others can’t figure out how to do that. e d n

Candye Kane always delivers: passion, A guitar and strummed though it has People make lots of assumptions based s i

is a real blessing.” n

raw emotion, and heartache tinged with it daily. I believe in opened the on those four years of my life.” n e D a love of the life that caused the pain in the healing power of door to world - But she doesn’t try to cover up that : o — Candye Kane t o the first place. music and I knew the wide network - part of her life; she has chosen to h P “I wrote Toughest Girl [the song for guitar vibrations would ing, has also diluted become an activist for those who work which the show is named] after going be good for my traumatized body in the market with mediocrity because any - in the industry. “Whenever I have the through my divorce,” Candye recently addition to helping me stay focused on one can record in the privacy of their opportunity, I am vocal about how I said in an interview. “I was feeling sorry music. Eventually, I was able to muster own home. Add to that the piracy and used my past sex work to facilitate my for myself and then started looking back up the strength to sing just a little and I download problems and you can see musical dreams. In this way, I feel I am at all I had been through and realized I wrote Super Hero as a folk song. My how the music industry is failing, like so helping my sisters and brothers in sex had been through much more trauma voice was so vulnerable and fragile that many businesses today. The record work and the community at large to than just my divorce. I wrote the song it was hard at first to project, but I’m industry has lost some of what little look beyond stereotypes and limitations. as a reminder of the rough times I had proud to say that I am back and belting integrity they had. They promote only All of us are more than our bodies, and overcome.” like my old self again. Super Hero has commercial products with no attention more than our jobs. We have dreams The show is “a small production with been revamped as a funky song and it’s paid to originality, in my opinion. There inside of us and all of us should have a a female actress playing the female a fitting name for this recording that are very few outsiders on major labels chance to realize our full potential with - characters in my life and a male actor represents victory over the biggest hur - these days and I think they will contin - out unnecessary obstacles, whether self playing the male ones. It is at times dle in my life. I just hope that everyone ue to disintegrate until they are obso - imposed or culturally or morally dark, funny, and shocking as it chroni - likes it as much as we have enjoyed lete.” implied.” cles my dysfunctional childhood and making it.” So, what’s a true original to do? Kane And, as previously mentioned, Kane journeys through teenage motherhood, The new album is a rebirth of sorts, doesn’t give up; borne originally of “an has also won battles with another formi - adult entertainment, drug abuse and a new project after the staged memoir overarching desire for fame,” her moti - dable enemy: cancer. “Cancer is the abusive relationships, and music, music, reading puts a button on her former life, vation to succeed has transcended that exclusive club that no one wants to music. It is an uplifting story of triumph so to speak. The show is just a fraction need for approval, which sparked her belong to,” she says. “I have had people and survival.” of what demonstrates this extraordinary early entry into both the music and film share incredible stories of survival and And of course, never one to flinch strength. With the new CD due out this industries. Now it’s not all about getting heartbreak with me. I am still answering approval of the industry, or even the 10 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

Candye Kane toughest girl beComes super hero r e c r e M n a l A

: o t o h P n n e e s s r r e e d d n n A A

s s i i n n n n e e D D

: : o o t t o o h h P P

Kane with Sue Palmer

an amazing group that, according to the So! ). There are a few people, though, in website, “supports talented people with the large-sized acceptance movement intellectual and physical disabilities and who don’t want to be judged by how gives them the chance to perform blues they look but are quick to assume that and swing music on stage with a live thin people they see have lived a life of band for the general public.” Candye privilege and luxury because they are Kane spurred the creation of this organi - thin. I am still a body activist now more zation, which has inspired and helped than ever. I know I am lucky to still countless people in a way that is uncon - have a body and to be alive each day. I ventional, but especially wonderful still believe we all have to embrace the because of it unconventionality. “I will n n e e s s bodies we are in, right now, while we r r e e continue my work with that project and d d have them. Cancer has been a blessing n n A A hope to one day bring it here to the

s s i i for me because it has made me reevalu - n n states. We use blues music to teach peo - n n e e ate my life, my role in music, and my D D

: : ple with disabilities how to transcend o o t t o o health. I am better for having experi - h h their daily challenges with song. I teach P P enced this challenge, and, whatever them some songwriting tricks and they happens, I will go out singing and gain confidence and flexibility by swinging, hopefully until I’m in my appearing onstage with a big band. It’s a nineties.” wonderful experience and the best proj - As she says, she’s the toughest girl ect I am involved in.” alive, and it’s hard to imagine anything “Every day that I am awake on this stopping her. “I am making a new CD planet is a real blessing. I hope to con - for Delta Groove featuring my guitarist tinue to inspire people to be self aware Laura Chavez. I am also doing my stage and positive and to fight to overcome play and hope to be able to bring that health, economic and day-to-day obsta - to cities worldwide so I can stay in one cles. I am a fighter and I am grateful for place for a week or two. With blues more time on this planet to perhaps more than 1,000 emails and letters that I kicked the cancer and was back doing clubs closing right and left, I think we inspire others to fight for their own lives received while I was in the hospital and what she loves best: performing. are all going to have to be creative to and their own dreams.” recovering. It was incredible; the out - A byproduct of her cancer treatment survive. I am teaming up also with my Her story is stranger than fiction, and pouring of love and support I received was a weight loss of over 100 pounds. daughter-in-law to-be, British blues perhaps more satisfying. It’s good to from people all around the world. I Since Kane has always been, by her singer Dani Wilde. Dani will appear on know someone who doesn’t give up believe the collective energy of people own description, “big and beautiful,” did some co-bills with me this summer.” even when life throws its worst curve worldwide helped to heal me. That, a the weight loss make a difference? “I Last month Kane performed in ball. Candye Kane takes the curves, puts great surgeon, and some really good have received overwhelming emails of Europe, and one of her gigs was for a them in a feather boa and a push-up luck and determination have made all support from large-sized people world - charity for special needs kids in the bra, and flaunts them in the face of fate. the difference.” wide, including famous activists such Netherlands called United By Music And that’s good for all of us. At last check, Candye Kane had author Marilyn Wann (author of Fat? (http://www.unitedbymusic.eu/). This is

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER

by Dwight Worden Following a great April for bluegrass music in THE BABEL FISH them back into our native recording the San Diego area. ( Bluegrass in the application. Nearly all of the keys in Flower Fields in Carlsbad with Highway 76 n Douglas Adams’ excellent book Bviolin’s Stretch/Reach album were The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Sven-Erik Seaholm on April 4; the Adams Avenue Roots recorded this way, with no difficulties Galaxy , there are myriad crazy and Festival with Chris Hillman and Herb I at all. stretch of silence before it ever begins. amazingly unique characters and con - Pedersen , Shawn Rohlf and the 7th Day In another instance, a previous I export all of these files in stereo cepts introduced. One that remains Buskers , and more on April 25-26; the client wanted to provide tracks to format. This allows me to retain the indelibly tattooed onto this reader’s Stage Coach Festival in Indio with the Del another producer for a remix project. panning info too, even if they want to heart is a creature called the Babel Fish. McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson and The Grascals The producer wanted them in ProTools eventually change that. As I said Your basic intrepid galactic traveler Quicksilver, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky format, but we used Vegas for the origi - before, this allows remixers to start business and Joe Craven is a multi-instru - is confronted with a wide assortment Thunder, Chris Stuart and Backcountry , nal tracks. Additionally (as many of from where I left off, letting them work mentalist of the highest caliber. of languages and dialects not just from and more, also held April 25-26.) you have probably found by now), if subtractively, rather than starting from Two days later, on Saturday, May 16, other tribes and countries, but also April also brought us the first ever SDBS you don’t have the exact same plug-ins absolute scratch. 7:30pm, the Grascals will make their first planets and species, on an almost con - Bluegrass Picnic , sponsored by the SDBS as the source studio, your tracks won’t However, many folks like to do just San Diego appearance at Acoustic Music stant basis. The workaround for being board of directors, which provided free hot include the same processing that was that: start from scratch. In this case, San Diego. The Grascals are one of modern able to overcome such an obstacle dogs and drinks. It is reported that there was employed in the original sessions. how can one program “talk” to another? bluegrass’s top bands, having won the (and, really, to ensure one’s survival) is some fun pickin’, some storytelling, and There are a lot of ways to overcome Well the fine folks at Solid State International Bluegrass Music Association’s to place one of these little organisms in good, old-fashioned socializing among this, but my favorite method is to pro - Logic (www.solidstatelogic.com) have highest award – Entertainer of the Year – in your ear. The Babel Fish just sort of friends. The event was held Saturday, April vide tracks that can be assembled into come up with their very own Babel both 2006 and 2007. In 2005, the Grascals lives in the host’s ear and translates 11, at the Jess Martin Park in La Mesa. a good approximation of what the Fish for us in the form of Pro-Convert won IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year everything it hears into the host’s And, April 17-19 featured the annual Spring actual mix sounds like, just by import - V5 ($699 list, $595 street). Award, along with Song of the Year for the native language, thus alleviating the Bluegrass Campout at the KOA camp - ing the tracks into whatever the end This program does an incredible job groups Me and John and Paul. Before that, need for third-party translation. ground in Chula Vista. This event is always a user’s favorite program is. of allowing multiple users to work on in their first year playing together, the group As concepts go, it’s a fantastic one. highlight for those who attend, with lots of The reason for this is a simple one. the same project by converting from was invited by Dolly Parton to tour with her What if the entire world we live in jamming, a pot luck meal, and great fun in a In tracking, editing, and eventually one format and platform to another. In and to open her shows – not bad for a brand were unencumbered by the constraints beautiful setting. mixing a song, there are a lot of deci - my case, exporting and importing new band! of language? If we were able to com - May looks to be an exciting month as sions and processes made that can Protools sessions to and from Sony In addition to the IBMA awards, the municate more directly, what would well. First up in May, the San Diego define how that track actually sounds, Vegas worked very effectively, as did Grascals won the 2008 SPBGMA (Society for change? How different would the Bluegrass Society is presenting a free blue - like some eq and compression in the subsequent tests involving Wavelab Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association) world be? grass gospel concert at Pacific Beach Baptist case of a bass guitar track. The way that montages and Sonar projects. Bluegrass Awards for Instrumental Group of Questions like these not only lead us Church at 4747 Soledad Mountain Road at 7 processing makes that bass “sit” with There’s no easy way to break it to the Year (for the third consecutive year), through fanciful daydreams ranging pm on Sunday May 3. The SDBS will be pre - the other tracks in the mix might be so the faint of heart, but there are a lot of Bluegrass Band of the Year (for the second from properly executed fast food orders senting several bands emphasizing bluegrass dramatic that you wouldn’t want to parameters to go through, at least at consecutive year), and Mandolin Player of to world peace, but also inspire some religious and gospel music. Admission is free start all over with no processing at all. first. These range from options regard - the Year (Danny Roberts’ second win in three to come up with solutions that apply and there will be a goodwill offering. What I do is mute all of the tracks ing fade types, markers, and automa - years). In 2006 the group also took home to other areas as well. For instance, Friday, May 8 features guitar finger-style and busses except for the track I’m tion envelopes to sample rates, bit Album of the Year for their self-titled debut, how many different computer pro - expert Doyle Dykes with the Kruger exporting, making sure to leave all of depths, and the like, so prepare your - and Song of the Year for Me and John and grams and platforms exist just in the Brothers at Cuyamaca College in the the track and master output levels the self for a bit of trial and error at the Paul. The group earned a Dove Award nomi - area of music? Sure, ProTools has fast Communication Arts Center, 900 Rancho San exact same as they were when the final outset. Once these were all understood nation in 2007 for Bluegrass Recorded Song become the de facto standard found in Diego Parkway, El Cajon, at 6:30 p.m. This is mix was rendered. I’ll solo the bass and addressed, the program worked of the Year for “Did You Forget God Today,” most studios at this point, but if it a special benefit for the Build a Future drum track and export it into a folder like a champ and met every challenge I featuring the Jordanaires, which is included were as perfect as they portend it to be, Foundation, sponsored by Taylor Guitars and that is named with the song title and could think of to throw at it. on Long List of Heartaches. why would there be so many users of Deering Banjos. Tickets are $150/$100. tempo, i.e., “Feel So Bad (119 bpm),” Finally, there’s a way to collaborate The Grascals are: Terry Eldredge, guitar; other programs like Cubase, Nuendo, Call Sunny at (619) 258-3670 for more naming each of these tracks with its with users of virtually any program, Jamie Johnson, guitar; Danny Roberts, man - Logic, Digital Performer, Sonar, SAW, information. song name as well, i.e., “Feel So Bad allowing a level of creative interaction dolin; Kristin Scott Benson, banjo (Kristin is Audition, and, of course my personal Sunday May BD.wav,” continuing with the snare, that was unprecedented until now! the reigning IBMA Banjo Player of the Year); favorite, Sony Vegas? 10 at 7:30pm overheads, toms, and so on, remember - Now if only there were a program Terry Smith, bass; and Jeremy Abshire, fid - The point here is that there are a lot brings star fid - ing to leave its processing untouched that could translate what drummers say! dler Byron dle. Tickets are $20 and available at of languages and dialects being spoken and to make a file that is the entire Sven-Erik Seaholm is an award-winning inde - Berline with http://acousticmusicsandiego.com or call throughout our own musical galaxy. In length of the song. This will help with pendent record producer and recording artist. (619) 303-8176. our quest to venture outside of our the crowd getting it all to line up right. You’ll Find him on the web at SvenSongs.com, own worlds and interact with other pleasing May looks to be a great month for blue - know you’re doing it right if, in the KaSPro.com, and myspace.com/SvenSeaholm Bluegrass grass in San Diego and we hope you all get artists, engineers, and producers, we case of a guitar solo that occurs Etc. to out and do some picking and have some fun. often stumble into the frustrating halfway through a song, you see a long AcousticMusic chaos of conflicting methods and San Diego for nomenclature, if not complete incom - Byron Berline a special con - patibility. cert. Byron Berline has played and recorded There are indeed new technologies with many of the top names in music, includ - and answers being introduced (more ing Linda Ronstaadt, Emmy Lou Harris, and on that later) but first, let’s take a look the Rolling Stones, as well as with the very at some ways of making our digital best bluegrass bands including Bill Monroe audio more “open source,” so that we and his Bluegrass Boys, the Country Gazette can more effectively interact and col - and many others. Bluegrass Etc. is a perenni - laborate with others, regardless of their al crowd pleaser presenting the pyrotechnics native programs, platforms, and work - of mandolin and guitar player John Moore ing methods. and the wizardry of Dennis Caplinger on fid - There are a couple of recent “real dle and banjo, backed up by the steady bass world” examples that can best illustrate and vocals of Bill Bryson. Tickets are $20 and what I mean. all the seats are good. Contact (619) 303- In the first example, there was a 8176 or http://acousticmusicsandiego.com need to collaborate “long distance” for tickets and information. The show will be with a keyboardist in Chicago while we held at the church at 4650 Mansfield just off were in the studio in San Diego. The Adams Avenue. fastest way we found to work, without On Thursday, spending too much time uploading May 14, the and downloading tracks, was to discuss Alison Brown things together first, via Skype. Once Quartet will the basic ideas were conveyed, we sim - perform with ply emailed an Mp3 version of the Joe Craven at entire song, making sure to include the Anthology, song title and tempo in the name of Alison Brown 1337 India the file. Note that there was no trim - Street, San Diego, 7:30pm. Call (619) 595- ming of beginnings or endings to 0300 for tickets and information. Alison ensure that the tracks would line up Brown is one of the top banjo players in the perfectly in time once we imported 12 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

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

by Peter Bolland return to the village with your head held high. That’s three yeses.” WHY SUSAN BOYLE MATTERS Susan Boyle matters. She is a walk - ing rebuttal to all the bullies who ever y now 50 million of us have seen walked the earth, preying on the weak, the viral YouTube video of Susan demeaning the different, imposing Boyle’s remarkable performance B their arbitrary definition of “cool” on on the BBC TV show “Britain’s Got the rest of us. The only people who are Talent.” It’s the most widely seen video really cool, the people who define cool, clip in world history, surpassing previ - are the people who are absolutely ous skyrockets, such as “Bush vs. oblivious to the very concept of “cool” José Sinatra completes a self-portrait Shoes” and “Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.” itself. They are so cool they don’t even The footage is absolutely gripping on know what cool is. Even the bullies in Jim McInnes many levels because it holds a mirror the audience were wiping their eyes DELUSIONS OF GLANDURE munity and brother/sisterhood permeated to contemporary culture, revealing and rising to their feet in thunderous Until you’ve been publicly caught with the event as filmed. At least until one by Jim McInnes what is best and worst in us. But main - applause. your hand in the proverbial cookie jar, freak on a bad trip becomes belligerent ly I’m writing about this because every The entertainment industry needs you’ve never known the true meaning of and threatens to make it a real bummer for time I watch it I cry and I’m trying to The Ultimate Music Susan Boyle. As record executives shame. Or so they say. anyone who happens to be near him. So, figure out why. scramble to foist upon us the next Speaking of cookie jars, I’ve read and sage-like Steven Stills, in his flowing sera - Challenge Susan Boyle is an invisible 47-year- cookie-cutter Barbie doll pop star, we reread Proverbs and can state authorita - pe, seems to decide that his own prodi - old woman from a tiny cluster of vil - the people have spoken through the tively that nowhere within its 31 scintillat - gious, inborn vibe of peace will allow him o, the title doesn't refer to the lages in Scotland. She’s the kind of pure democracy of the New Media. ing chapters is there a single (or married) to gently talk this bastard down, to daunting task of me learning woman you look right past – frumpy, And here is what we said: all we really reference to cookie jars or cookie bags or redeem him in the glory of Stills’ glowing how to play a decent guitar solo. unkempt, one of the many, not one of N want is the Real. We don’t care what tough cookies or even Mrs. Fields. And celebrity aura. Suddenly, when the the few. In the years since her father It refers to an event called the Ultimate package it shows up in. We just want who are these argumentative Philistines drugged-out freak lays a hand on the died, Susan shared a tiny apartment Music Challenge, a battle of the bands Truth and Beauty, you know, all that known as “they” anyway? revered musical sage, it’s all that a few with her ailing mother. Then her featuring cover and tribute acts only. stuff Plato wrote about 25 centuries The argument is absurd on its face (or other fellows can do to keep a flailing, mother died. “I live alone with my cat This is a first-class production that ago, “even if in the form of an unlove - on its back or even its butt) and, more suddenly enraged Stills from trying to kick Pebbles,” she told the show’s hosts. happens every Sunday from now until ly husk.” important, shames everyone who repeats Mr. LSD’s psychedelic butt. I’d bet that “I’ve never been married, never been Susan Boyle empowers and encour - it and should condemn to Hell anyone who Steven Stills has been turning over in his June 28 in the Dreamcatcher Lounge at kissed.” ages us with her unapologetic presence. perpetuates its absurd life by ushering it grave ever since, and he hasn’t even died the Viejas Casino. “How old are you Susan?” Simon She exhibits the perfect combination of into print in any form. Except me, naturally, yet. It’s a riveting performance, and my I just got home from emceeing the Cowell asked as she stepped on stage. fearlessness and humility. She demon - since I’m here only to hold it up to its heart has honestly been out to him ever first show (under the auspices of Jack “Forty-seven,” she said. Cowell strates that courage and arrogance are deserved ridicule and perhaps nudge since I first saw the film at the Academy FM, where I am heard weekday after - rolled his eyes. wholly unrelated. In fact, arrogance myself just a wee bit closer to that elusive Theatre back in 1971. “Okay,” he said, barely containing noons...shameless plug). and machismo are usually sure signs of Pulitzer Prize, which I’ve been coveting of To prove to any doubters among you his boredom, “what’s the dream?” My wife and I had a blast, especially the utter absence of confidence and late, even more than that certain item of that I’m not gloating over Stills’ unfortu - “I’m trying to be a professional because the second band was awesome. mastery. Real greatness is humble. She Britney’s intimate apparel. nate lack of decorum and hilarious duplici - singer,” she answered. Cut to a tight I don't know why I had never heard reminds us that it is enough to show No, shame comes in many forms, but ty, I’ll make my Hall of Shame a bit more shot of a young woman in the audi - of Rolling the Stones . These guys were up and simply do our best. cookies just ain’t gonna cut it; that’s one personal. ence shaking her head disdainfully and Most important, Susan’s unintended tub of lard I’m not about to swallow. Back to my own high school days once so convincing as the Stones, I thought turning to her friend in commisera - beauty reminds us in no uncertain My probing into the fetid fundament of again. I’m finally out on a Friday evening they were actually better! The singer had tion. terms of our own unrealized beauty. shame naturally led me to television docu - for the first time with the school’s all-time Jagger down...the mannerisms, the Then Susan Boyle began to sing. The Through her we realize our own mag - mentaries, such as “Life’s Most Legendary (and “virtuous”) Babe, and voice, and the accent. Their drummer song was “I Dreamed a Dream” from nificence. I’m convinced that’s the real Embarrassing Moments,” “Punk’d,” and we’re having a wonderful time. There’s was an older guy, possibly in his late-50s Les Miserables . It is the heartbreaking reason her performance breaks us open. “Joanie Loves Chachi,” where I encoun - palpable animal attraction, the conversa - lament of a wounded-in-love woman or early-60s, who bore more than a Look at the faces of the people in the tered assembly line incidents of unexpect - tion has been involving, even astonishing, whose youth, innocence, and trust passing resemblance to Charlie Watts. audience. Look at the lump in Piers’s ed hits to the groin, weddings besmirched and it feels as if God himself is blessing were repaid with disrespect, disregard They had their Keith and Ronnie clones, throat. Look at the wonder in by stomach contents, and a lot of folks our union. There isn’t a bit of doubt that and pain. And yet there is a note of a bassist sorta like Bill Wyman, two back - Amanda’s eyes. Look at the warmth, whose red faces were caused by their own Sherry is The One. defiance, of transcendence, of victory up singers, an older keyboard player, even the love on Simon’s face. We’ve friends setting loose their own inner Just as Heaven’s gates begin to open snatched from the jaws of defeat. It’s never seen that face on “American Marquis de Sade. and we find ourselves in gloriously ener - and a sax player. not in the words – which are unremit - Idol,” never, not even once. Susan’s What I’ve been hunting down are getic passionate petting, Sherry whimpers Their set included some of my fave tingly dour – it is in the proud clarity bold presence triggers something deep examples that provide a great amount of that I should talk to her, or rather, that I Stones tunes, like “Start Me Up,” “Live and upturned eyes of Susan Boyle’s inside us, something we have kept honest empathy, not laughter, the kind of continue to verbally assess the situation in with Me,” and “Brown Sugar.” magnificence. Looking at her face you well-hidden; a profound and abiding incident that makes you want to run up to which we are happily imprisoned. The The crowd roared its approval when can easily imagine – whether it’s auto - self-acceptance, even self-love. It is a the shamed one, say something like, “Oh, honest, impassioned bons môts that biographical or not is irrelevant – that the set ended. The Jack FM crew meas - love we have been withholding. Her I’m sorry that happened! I think I know escape my engorged lips send her into the song is about her, so perfectly does ured audience response at 110 dB on beauty breaks the anchor chain and we how you feel right now and you have my uncontrollable paroxysms of laughter, she channel its wrenching truth, which the decibel meter! That’s as loud as a jet drift into the light of the knowledge sympathy. Hey, it’ll pass . . .” But you which embarrass me and shame me and the world often mistakes and abuses taking off, or some such analogy. that we are beings of infinite value. know it won’t, so don’t even open your certainly curtail our exercise. It was much beauty in its blind pursuit of vanity The cool thing is that the Ultimate After all the years of drought, suddenly mouth, you freaking liar. Nobody knows it later that I understood that what she was and insignificance. we are awash in love. This is what won’t pass better than the person you’re after were words of a more prurient vari - Music Challenge has a panel of three Three seconds into her performance Susan has given us. That’s why there talking to. And if somehow you get off on ety – the old “talk dirty to me” syndrome – judges, like on American Idol. the mood in the room powerfully are tears. And that’s why Susan Boyle telling lies, you shouldn’t have been let which, at the time, I had yet to apprehend The judges for this season’s competi - shifts. In one of the most spontaneous matters. out of the kennel to begin with. or encounter. tion include a couple of names familiar and explosive moments I’ve ever seen At last, my several hours of scholarship I was quite upset with myself, to say to readers of the Troubadour – singers on television, the audience is swept Editorial note: The best version of the reached their end, having finally found a the least. What an idiot I had been – to Anna Troy and David Patrone. The third away by wave after wave of shock and segment is here: have used on Sherry my favorite line from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5Dg supreme example of an occurrence of such judge is Edwin Decker, who writes the awe. People leap to their feet, their the Tyrone Power version of The Mark of Qi2oqA&feature=related royal embarrassment, that the shame is wonderful “ Sordid Tales ” column in San chairs no long able to hold them. surely alive and gnawing away over four Zorro , even if it had perfectly summed up When the song ends, Piers Morgan Diego CityBeat magazine. Peter Bolland is a professor of philosophy and decades after it did the hidden word in my feeling at that moment! (Don Diego, is the first judge to speak. “Without a The sound and production values are humanities at Southwestern College and singer- “embarrassment” proud. disguised as a padre , confesses to gor - doubt, that was the biggest surprise I first class at Viejas. The shows run like songwriter-guitarist of the Coyote Problem. You That hidden word is, of course, Mbar , a geous Linda Darnell, “You’re more lovely, have had in three years of this show. can complain to him about what you read here at contraction of the ancient Mishbar , which more radiant than a morning in June.”) clockwork – five bands per night, each When you stood there with that [email protected]. www.thecoyoteproblem.com eventually corrupted into Ishtar and That Sherry quoted me perfectly accu - performing a 20-minute set, followed by cheeky grin and said ‘I want to be like is the ethereal home of the Coyote Problem. became the title of a shameful film, star - rately to her girlfriends became apparent a 20-minute intermission. Shows begin Elaine Page,’ everyone was laughing at ring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman. the following week and throughout the at 6:20pm every Sunday and end by you. No one is laughing now. That was But that’s beside the point, and I hope this ensuing ones when again and again I’d be 10pm. It’s the perfect time slot for a stunning, an incredible performance. in the hallway and the random babe, entire paragraph embarrasses me enough Sunday evening’s entertainment...catch Amazing. I’m reeling from shock…” whether I knew her or not, would stop me, to delete it from this column’s published a few bands and get to bed before Then it was Amanda Holden’s turn. draft. If it doesn’t, then I truly have no repeat the line, and walk away giggling. “I’m so thrilled, because I know that 11pm! Of course, you must be 21 or shame. What ultimately erased all my shame everybody was against you. I honestly older. The supreme masterpiece of shame was when I finally understood that which think that we were all being very cyni - occurs within the rather elusive, rarely shame itself had so jealously kept from Here’s the coolest part...there's no cal, and I think that’s the biggest wake seen 1970 film Celebration at Big Sur . It’s me: the certainty that each of these concu - cover charge!!!!! up call ever. And I just want to say, a documentary of a folk-rock festival that piscent young ladies were simply doing I hope to see you there. that it was a complete privilege listen - took place up north, when the peace-love- something admirable. They were, of ing to that. It was brilliant.” hippie vibe was at its zenith, the perform - course, only speaking the truth. Simon Cowell rounded out the ances far less formal, and a sense of com - panel with his usual panache, ending his remarks by saying, “Susan, you can www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song Deejha Marie takes a Carpet Ride on her Own P

by Paul Hormick h o t o :

P

hroughout the history of popular a u l

music there have been times when a H o r

great performer emerged from a m i

T c

great ensemble, as when Smokey Robinson k stepped up from the Miracles, when Diana Ross went without the Supremes, and when Cher dropped the “Sonny and” from the beginning of her moniker. In like manner, local singer Deejha Marie is stepping into the limelight on her own. “I’ve been singing for 20 years and this is my first solo CD,” she says as she holds her brand new, fresh off the press, disc Carpet Ride in her hands. “I’d been on a few other discs, but it’s always been with me singing in a trio or as part of a band.” Less of a breakaway from performing with her ensembles than a personal fulfill - ment, the disc is the culmination of some long-time efforts and recent collaborations. Deejha Marie Marie had been writing songs for a few years, but without much success. Most of down here in Balboa Park. Well, I was out voices, they managed to sound like a full the tunes remained half finished, needing a of work and broke. So I figured, what do I choir; their rhythm and bounce was so bridge or having an incomplete chorus. have to loose? I called up my husband, strong, it felt like a band was playing Some had been sitting on the shelf for five Douglas, and said, ‘We gotta do this!’ We behind them. years. Then, about seven months ago, a few got together with my daughter, Sharifa, and Not only a singer, but a big music fan personal inspirations transpired in Marie’s rehearsed a couple tunes as an a capella too, Marie followed a number of local per - life and she was also caught up in the trio. We auditioned, and a week later they formers, one of which was Sue Palmer. excitement of the Obama candidacy. called us back to perform on the show!” Palmer and her band, Tobacco Road, were Inspiration flourished and the time was ripe For you youngsters and folks with weak performing regularly at Croce’s, the bastion for finishing the tunes and releasing a CD. memories, “The Gong Show” was the beta of the Gaslamp District, which is owned When Marie made up her mind to wrap version of “American Idol.” Long before and operated by Ingrid Croce. During one things up and start recording, Joe Woods Colin and Paula, there was Chuck Barris of Tobacco Road’s sets one night, Palmer stepped in with a helping hand. Woods and and a panel of B-grade celebrities who agreed to let Pieces take the stage for a song Marie had met and fell in love about three judged amateur acts for their talent. or two. The trio filled the nightspot with a years ago. A bassist and veteran of the local Comedians, singers, and just about anybody high-energy version of “Route 66.” “Right music scene, Woods has performed with else who wanted to use up a small portion there Ingrid came out from the kitchen and Zajj and the Johnson Project. He helped of their 15 minutes of fame gave it their came right up to us. She hired us on the Marie with finishing and polishing up the best shot for a trophy and a cash prize. If spot,” Marie remembers. Unusual for an a tunes; he also did most of the heavy lifting any of the celebrities thought an act was capella group, Pieces was given a slot for a when it came to arranging the music. His truly bereft of talent, they banged on a big full evening’s performance once a week, a bass holds down the bottom line on the CD, gong, and the act was eliminated from the gig that they held for years. and he also contributed with backup vocals competition. Marie’s relationship with Palmer has and some keyboard work. “When we auditioned, they asked me been fruitful in other ways. For years she has The subject matter for the songs’ lyrics the name of the band, and we’d never been the vocalist for the Motel Swing came from Marie’s personal experiences, talked about that. So I just said ‘Pieces.’ Orchestra, Palmer’s boogie-woogie/swing/jazz such as finding love, losing love, and find - That’s the name we went on the show ensemble. She performs regularly with the ing it again; and all are a mix of soul and with,” Marie remembers. “Well, we went on band and is the featured vocalist on all the R&B, with a little hip-hop thrown in. Over the show and we won! I still have the tro - band’s CDs. Speaking of CDs, Marie plans a the weeks and months Marie and Woods phy. I know it’s just some painted CD release for her new disc on Sunday, May worked the songs over and over, refining Styrofoam, but it might as well be gold to 3 at Dizzy’s. When It comes to encouraging the tunes or rewriting the lyrics. “Every day me.” Following the success of “The Gong folks to attend, Woods is the one to speak we were working with the tape recorder,” Show,” the trio began performing around up. He says, “This disc is all original and says Marie. Though most of the composi - Southern California, creating a lot of excite - soon to be classic.” tions took their time gestating, a few of the ment in the early nineties. With only three tunes were formed almost instantly. “She wrote the blues number on the spot!” Woods says about the tune “So Blue, So Good .” Marie is self-effacing about this one. She says, “Well, you know, the blues is just a certain structure; it’s about the same all the time. So I didn’t have to work on that. And the words, once we started, just came to me.” Perhaps a larger assemblage than my entire high school graduating class, the line up of talent that Marie and Woods garnered for Carpet Ride includes some of the finest musicians in the San Diego area. Marie was brought in by the Motel Swing Orchestra’s boogie-woogie queen Sue Palmer and trom - bonist April West. The saxophones of Kamau Kenyatta, Johnny Viau, and Daniel Jackson grace a few tunes. Marie’s daughter, Sharifa Muhammad shares in the back - ground vocals. There are a few guitar play - ers, maybe not enough to shake a stick at, but even still, Willie Lee Brown, Mark Eppler, A.J. Petersen, and Steve Wilcox sup - port the rhythm and wail on the rock and blues licks. Domenic Emhambre plays key - boards, and Paul Ruiz plays trumpet. Born in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania and spending most of her formative years in Europe, Marie has made her home in San Diego for the past 20 years. It was here that she began her musi - cal career. She says, “I heard that they were having auditions for “The Gong Show” 14 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song Ian Tyson Takes the Gravel Road Less Travelled

Road , and last year’s, Yellowhead to hard to walk out of the shadow of that. we’ve written songs together. He has his Yellowstone and Other Love Stories . But, finally, I was able to move on. own ranch out in the urban West there near El Paso. We’ve enjoyed writing Today Tyson remains a country renaissance Tell me about that reinvention. together and speak the same language. cowboy singer-songwriter who spends his If you’re familiar with my contemporary time writing songs, recording, and occasion - music, you can hear what I mean. Some It seems like the two of you write in a ally touring. He has recently released a of the reviews of my new album, seamless way. beautifully illustrated children’s book, La Yellowhead to Yellowstone, have been Yes, we’re very much akin. Like twins. Primera: The Story of the Mustangs. His really nice and point out that the songs What I hear is almost two sides of the collaborations with songwriter Tom Russell are an extension of old Scottish-Irish bal - same soul. lads that had been transported to the have yielded two widely acknowledged clas - Yes, that’s right. Tom and I are blood cowboy culture. There’s a connection sic songs, “Navajo Rug” and “Canadian brothers. Whiskey.” San Diego’s Acoustic Music there. Listening to my solo work, it’s easy What do you think about country music Series will have the honor of hosting a rare to imagine those immigrants as they first today? concert on May 22; his affection for the experienced the fenceless west. Ian Tyson venue is clear in the song, “Blaino’s Song” It seems that your theme as a writer is I can’t say I listen to it much. I love real (from Yellowhead to Yellowstone ): consistently about the vanishing West. country music. It’s hard to hear it in by Terry Roland tual wife, Sylvia Fricker, they would become today’s country music. My influences are The tall palms of San Diego Yes, that’s right. It’s certainly covered in known as Ian and Sylvia. They were inno - mostly drawn from the country of the Silhouetted in the rain most of my songs. It’s a big part of what I vators in the urban folk renewal of the early ’50s and ’60’s. Ian Tyson is the real deal. What others have In a church almost celestial do. There’s a sense of solitude that many ’60s as well as country-rock pioneers with Do you listen to any other kinds of music? imagined, Ian has lived. From a rodeo-rid - We sang the old songs once again of us feel who are from these parts of the ing youth to a broken-hearted gentleman their band, Great Speckled Bird. With songs world. The more populations come in, Yes. I’m really eclectic. I love Miles Davis like “You Were on My Mind,” recorded by In the following interview, Tyson talks more and a prairie poet. He is a cowboy histori - the less this culture will survive. For and his music from the ’60s. Also, I like We Five; “Four Strong Winds,” made popu - about his music and his life and times. Mark Knopfler, the lead guitarist for Dire an, a northern-sky storyteller and although younger people today who are in the lar by Bobby Bare; and the ever classic San Diego Troubadour: In today’s culture ranching culture, this way of life is really Straits. He can really play. he was born and raised in Canada, he’s as “Someday Soon,” memorably recorded by we’ve lost touch with the importance of under attack. The lifestyle starts to disap - We’re looking forward to seeing you down American as a buffalo. He’s a romantic and Judy Collins; they were able to influence the storytelling. We depend on mass media, pear because of the population increase, here in Southern California. a realist, a rancher and a true singing cow - direction of popular music during the ’60s. television, and movies to tell stories for that big, empty, romantic West disap - I am too. We’ll be flying into San Diego boy, riding out on a what he calls a fence - In the early ’70s, after Ian and Sylvia split, us. Do you think you’ve had some influ - pears. You know, in California, there’s a and then renting a car from there for a less plain; he’s the one Gene Autry only professionally and personally. Tyson left the ence in helping storytelling to stay alive? lot of open country, especially at the trip up to northern California. It’ll be like wished he could have been. Tyson’s songs music scene to pursue the real life of a cow - Ian Tyson: I’m not sure if I have. I know I northern end of the state. But, the West old times. are strewn with story, lore, and legends. In boy on a ranch in a small town south of have listeners and fans from all over the you and I love and grew up with can’t Ian Tyson performs at Acoustic Music some ways he personifies the quietly disap - Alberta. He fulfilled his dream of raising world. They’ve been very faithful. I’ve sustain itself. It gradually is becoming San Diego on Friday, May 22, 7:30pm. pearing prarie wind-song. Still, he takes horses and even took part in trail drives. He released ten western albums with 90 per - something else. The venue is located at 4650 Mansfield daily walks along his own personal gravel also returned to the rodeo. In the mid-’80s, cent of the songs mine. Back in the eight - So you think this thing we call the West St., San Diego 92116. Phone: (619) he was re-discovered by way of the Elko ies, the Elko Nevada Cowboy Poetry and all that comes with it really depends road to his cabin at the end of a box canyon. 303-8176. Or visit www.acousticmusic - Cowboy Poetry Festival, which met once a Festival in Northern Nevada really helped on the open space? There he continues to write his songs about sandiego.com for ticket information. lovers, wolf packs, wild horses, rodeo chil - year in Elko, Nevada. This inspired the this along. It’s like I had two careers. Yes, that’s right. And really, that’s the life forming of a new country-rock band and dren, adventures on a Navajo rug, and the There were the Ian and Sylvia days and I’ve lived. There had to be wide open renewed interest in writing, recording, and then this new music which had no asso - joys of Canadian whiskey. spaces. The more encroachment on this, performing. The result is a body of work ciation to ’60s music. It was kind of nice. the less wilderness can live. And, actual - As we talked in a recent phone interview, a that is as good and influential as any in the But, I’ve found a way to bring back the ly, I had the experience of the fenceless significant word kept coming into our con - history of North American music. Ian and Sylvia music as well in my recent West in the wilder parts of northern versation: space. In 1909, his Welsh immi - When Tyson began recording again, he shows. It’s like you can’t just drop all of Nevada. There were only the wild horses grant father first stepped on to Canadian inspired the New Traditionalist movement in that, it has to be in there somehow. Does out there. It was really something to see soil and experienced the reality of that west - mainstream country radio, launching the that make sense? that and be a part of it before it disap - ern prairie wide-open space. It’s easy to for - careers of Randy Travis, George Straight, Yeah, you came to embrace your early pears. get that there was a time when the untamed and Garth Brooks. With these and other music? For me, some of the best country songs frontier was considered another planet to country music superstars, it’s easy to hear I wouldn’t say embrace. That’s not the written in over the past 30 years have the uninitiated city-dweller. Tyson’s father echos of Ian Tyson. However, going directly right word. I’d say I’ve accepted it. been yours. Some, like “Canadian was this kind of person. But he stayed and to the source is the most satisfying. This has During those years, I was identified with Whiskey” and “Navajo Rug,” were written the blood and yearning for the wilderness proved true with a long list of now-classic the name Ian and Sylvia. My acceptance with Tom Russell. Tell me about your was passed on to him. He described it as the albums, including Cowboyography , 18 happened after I’d reinvented myself in friendship. unfenced West, the place where wild horses Ian & Sylvia in the early days Inches of Rain , Songs Along a Gravel an authentic way. I came to be so identi - Yes, Tom is a good friend. Of course, roam free – the now disappearing wild land fied with that period of my career, it was where man and beast dwelled in harmony. These are the topics of Tyson’s finest songs. Tyson is among the finest and underrated rated of North American singer-songwriters. After years in the rodeo circuit, beginning when he was 18, he left it behind due to an injury. It was then that he began his musical career at age 24. With his partner and even -

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 15 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

Jasmine Commerce Somewhere in Between

by Tim Mudd

No matter how many ways you sell it with words, beauty in recorded music is always betrayed by its production. Firing-up Jasmine Chad Commerce’s debut EP, ‘The Book’ wastes no time in displaying its professional sheen as well as her immense talent as Cavanaugh both a song-writer and singer. Doing everything right, the opening track firmly The CoffeeHousE belongs in rotation with the best of today’s Hot Adult Contemporary radio. If RebellioN a track like this can’t grab the attention of even the most discerning A&R rep, there’s little hope for the rest. Moving by Jennifer Carney forward, this ‘Little E.P. That Could’ navi - Here’s some old news: San Diego is a gates a healthy variety of musical styles town teeming with incredibly talented which somehow sit comfortably side by singer-songwriters. It must seem intimi - side. From the modern beach fire ballad dating to newcomers trying to make ‘Somewhere In Between’ to the surpris - their mark, but 2008’s SDMA Best New ing French Swing of ‘Ne Jouez Pas Avec Acoustic Artist nominee Chad Mon Coeur,’ Commerce sings with such Cavanaugh remains undaunted. He’s incredibly authentic Parisian diction, recently released his debut album, The Edith Piaf would likely be impressed. CoffeehousE RebellioN , and appears deter - These days, the appearance on an elec - mined to add himself to the distin - tro-pop number on any record appears guished roster of talent in San Diego and to be a requirement and although ‘Fool beyond. to Fall’ could be a Postal Service b-side, The CoffeehousE RebellioN is a straight - our protagonist intimates Jenny Lewis a forward acoustic singer/songwriter EP little too well. Unfortunately, this track indebted equally to Sublime and Jason also provides the low-point of the E.P. Mraz. Cavanaugh is a one-man band with the mock-Freestyle of Dookati; how - who plays guitar and some minor per - ever its placement at track 4 does pro - cussion throughout, giving the album a vide good re-focus for the final word of hushed, coffeehouse-ready sound. His ‘Love Is The One Thing.’ Imagine Stevie vocals are warm and his lyrics are Nicks fronting U2... A strong voice set uncomplicated and honest. His rosy amid huge production, which fully songwriting is a testament to his passion defines Commerce’s comfort zone as a for what’s good in this world and, per - recording artist and provides a great fin - haps most important, what he feels is ish to an excellent debut. right. A former soldier, Cavanaugh seems intent on making his songs a musical Matt Commerce safe harbor amidst the turmoil of life. He encourages the listener to find content - Closer Than You Realize ment in the simple things as he has. The opening track, “Ride Back to Your by Tim Mudd Hear,t” is a wonderfully fun tune to start things off. Its island-inspired melody I’ll be the would make it the perfect summer single first to to lodge itself in your brain. Another admit that standout is “The Coffee Song,” which I’m jaded. I features unique, layered guitar work over see another a chug-chugging rhythm. “House Ain’t a record with Home” is the consummate breakup song another with all the usual talk of rattling around songwriter an empty house and losing shared holding friends. Its tempo flows seamlessly into another “She Don’t Know,” a fawning ode to a acoustic guitar and my first thought is, new lover who just doesn’t see how “Oh boy, here we go with another wonderful she is. “Give Up Everything” JackSonOvan JohnMrazReiter speaks of dreams that are slipping away wannabe...” Matt Commerce’s debut E.P. and the need to have someone to hold provided one of the most pleasant aural onto. The up and down vocals give this surprises I’ve experienced from a local song a unique sound – it almost reminds artist in quite some time. Opening with me of a down-tempo Cat Stevens tune. the pre-brawl Saloon of ‘Back In The “Dead Man Walking” is a bluesy, Game’ through the rolling summer of snarly song that departs from the sunny ‘Only With You,’ Commerce could be tone of the rest of the album. It rails Warren Zevon and we could be in Los equally against bill collectors and the Angeles circa ’73 but as an Englishman entitled; it’s a sharp contrast to the hip - I’m also hearing only the best elements pie-like ethos of “All I Have to Give,” of Billy Bragg and possibly Joe Strummer where Cavanaugh sings about the need in their less-anxious moments. The lonely for harmony and peace: “…give unto prairie comfort of the title track centers you, you give back to me/ there ain’t no the record with perfectly written form need for greed ‘cause our souls are set until you realize it’s only a cruel trap of free…” and the chuckle-worthy line, false-security before being sprung by the “…in the days of our lives, there’s only good-time roll of ‘Running From The one life to live.” Police.’ I’ve never entertained criminal The CoffeehousE RebellioN is a heartfelt thoughts but if I ever decided to rob a album that is as sweet as vanilla ice bank I’d absolutely want Matt cream: pleasing to most musical palates Commerce as an accomplice. Saving the but could, perhaps, benefit from just a best for last, ‘This Very Minute’ closes bit more flavor. However, if you’re an this strong debut with reassurance and acoustic music fan looking for something hope for these pervasive and economi - pleasant and upbeat to add to your col - cally trying times; intentional or not, it’s lection, you’ll enjoy this. Chad poignant. Honest in every way, Matt Cavanaugh shows great potential, and if Commerce has delivered a timely record his extensive, ultra-local performance of the purest songwriting with the time - schedule is any indication, he’ll be mak - less humor of someone who’s not afraid ing music here for a long time to come. to be himself.

16 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Nathan Welden Gunnar Biggs Foldinig Mr. Four Eyes/ The Riders Live Your Song Footprint Lincoln Mark DeCerbo 200 Miles from Everywhere by Will Edwards by Paul Hormick Within My Reach Anthology 1977- Sometimes music is all things to all The string bass is at the center of any 1990 by Mike Alvarez people – catchy, insightful, toe-tapping, jazz ensemble. It is often depicted as the by Frank Kocher and artistic. Think Stevie Wonder. Trying backbone instrument, the one on which If you can imagine U2’s Bono Folding Mr Lincoln is the name of the to accomplish this difficult task makes the jazz pianists and horn players hang by Steve Thorn fronting the E Street Band with a couple pop music a huge hit as often as it cre - their riffs, licks, and lines. This image is group built around the married of the Heartbreakers sitting in, you might ates artistic disasters. Refreshingly, as a only partly correct. The relationship of singer/songwriters Harry and Nancy There are two possible approaches to have some idea of what the Riders sound musician who openly states his detach - the bass – and for that matter the rest of Mestyanek. Though they have been com - take when listening to this anthology. like. Their brand of rock is firmly rooted ment regarding fame and fortune, the rhythm section – to the soloist is bining their talents since 1973, Within My Four Eyes’ core audience from yesteryear in Americana, but their excursions into Nathan Weldon focuses on his art first. supportive, but that support comprises Reach is their debut disc. The CD features will find pleasure in recalling the power other styles reveal their versatility and He sticks to his guns and at the same the interactive creativity among and the two performing in a variety of styles, pop band in their salad days. The yet-to- sense of musical adventure. Lead vocalist time makes a great-sounding record between the instrumentalists. most often soft pop-rock with some tasty be-converted will find music of two or and primary songwriter Tom Cusimano filled with catchy melodies, insightful Bassist Gunnar Biggs has assembled a folk and country influences, through 14 three decades ago sounding quite vibrant. has a way of savoring certain syllables lyrics, and toe-tapping rhythms. dozen duos and trios, the ensembles tunes that show their skills as writers and For the former audience, these audio that is right out of the U2 bag of tricks. Live Your Song has a strong romantic that showcases most clearly this interplay collaborating partners. Harry wrote 11 of recordings will tap into the memory His guitar playing is tasteful and melodic, undercurrent. Depending on your tastes the bass has with other instruments, for the songs here, Nancy two, and the pro - banks of the days when Four Eyes was fitting perfectly into the mood of each this could be a virtue or a vice. I’m his disk Footprint . The tunes run the duction by San Diego’s Jeff Berkley makes running from one venue to another in song. Keyboardist Rami Jaffee favors the reminded of Bruce Springsteen’s “Human gamut from straight ahead jazz, to the most of each song’s potential. Using San Diego County. Four Eyes arrived on Hammond B3 organ, giving many of the Touch” from the early 1990s. Many of Colemanesque tinged explorations, to a a cadre of strong session musicians the local scene in the ’70s when many of songs the same plaintive feel that can be Springsteen’s fans at the time felt that little backwoods-inspired picking and fid - (Berkley on guitar; Dennis Caplinger on its supporters – this writer included – found in the most famous Bruce the album didn’t “rock” hard enough, dling. A lot of folks throw five or six CDs banjo, fiddle, and mandolin; and Sam became of legal age. Turning 21 in 1975 Springsteen recordings. Equally at home like “Born to Run” or “Born in the USA.” in the carousel and hit the shuffle but - Johnson on upright bass are prominent), had greater significance for me than on the piano, he can pull off crisp licks But, in retrospect, the album was about ton. Don’t dare do that with this record - the blend of instruments lets the vocals moseying up to the bar for a cold one. It on the ivories that add another tonal romance and romance doesn’t exactly ing. There is variety enough on this disk. have the spotlight while lending just the was a musical epiphany, emancipation color to their palette. Completing the “rock.” It flows. Live Your Song flows and The most classic pairing of the bass in right twang to the country and folk from the stadium and festival seating, lineup is bassist Lavalle Houser and it’s also a romantic record. Plus, Weldon a jazz setting is the piano duo or trio. pieces, and kicking up the tempo on the which were themselves unfortunate Jimmy Olson on drums. They are as rock walks a line with his subject matter, shar - Biggs chose pianist John Opferkuch for rockers. byproducts of Woodstock and Altamont. solid a rhythm section as anyone could ing a perspective that men (not just three tunes on this disk, and their pairing “It Happened Just the Other Day” I hit the club circuit immediately and by ask for. women) will relate to – discovering that works exceptionally well. From beginning starts things off, a catchy pop tune with the time Four Eyes gained a following, a The album opens with “Someday love can still let you wander. to end, the musicians’ support for each Harry singing lead that blossoms into fertile local scene had developed, inhab - Soon,” a mid-tempo rocker with a The opening track, “Kite in the other is unwavering throughout their choruses with soaring backing vocals by ited by the likes of the Penetrators, rhythm similar to the Tom Petty hit “Free Wind,” feels vulnerable and optimistic at playing and soloing. Peter Sprague joins Nancy. Harry is not an overpowering Fingers, DFX2, and the Puppies. Three Falling.” As the songs unfold, one can the same time – a feel-good song that Biggs for three selections. The major vocalist, but his delivery has an immedia - days of peace, love, and music? Thanks, hear other influences. Bruce Springsteen’s makes you want to get in the car and keyed “Islandia” has a quiet, reflective joy cy that creates a personal connection but no thanks. On any given night, I forte for storytelling is all over the place, drive to the beach with your sweetheart. that contrasts with the mysterious ambi - with the listener on this song and others gladly paid the $5 cover and checked notably in the tracks “Coalinga” and It’s a great start and sets the mood for an ence that the bassist and guitarist evoke on the disc. For the traditional folk song out five cool local bands. “Toby’s Song.” This latter tune features a album that plays like a comfy house con - in “Where You From.” And Sprague’s “The Cuckoo,” Nancy takes the mic for a Four Eyes played at My Rich Uncle’s piano solo that would have made Bruce cert. “Courtney’s Song” chronicles the Latin grooves are among his strongest rousing, Appalachian-style hoedown, fea - (SDSU area), the Spirit (Bay Park), and Hornsby proud. “All I Ever Need to See” turing her impressive vocal chops and the moment-to-moment autobiographical and well displayed in “Slim’s Tune.” The the Skeleton Club (pre-gentrified down - is a heavier guitar-based song with a realizations and reflections of a groom best pairing of the bass with another ace talents of Caplinger on fiddle and town). Heck, I even recall a memorable sprinkling of the Stones thrown in for on his wedding day. “Dad I Never Had” instrument is when it performs with the dobro fills. Harry is back to rock things up night at the Grossmont College Cafeteria good measure. “Give Anything” starts off pays homage to the bittersweet strains human voice. In the hands of Biggs and with “Pretty Soon,” a mid-tempo pop where they opened for the Pens! heavy but takes a surprising turn with its and victories within a single-parent fami - singer Lisa Hightower “Peel Me a Grape,” churner that makes good use of From the earliest band practices, gospel-inflected verse. Things get quieter ly – a particularly moving and original the one tune on the disk that wasn’t Hammond organ and layered guitars. Four Eyes have been the vehicle for Mark with “Too Far Away Tonight,” a starkly song. composed by Biggs, becomes less of a Nancy’s original “Rain Down” is a soft, DeCerbo’s songs to be heard. Whether emotional piano song with subtle accom - There is a clear sonic consistency in joke and more of an imperative, with nei - spiritual ode that follows. Like many of it’s the pristine sounds of “Dis-engaged” paniment by accordion and mandolin. Live Your Song – a quiet strength. Songs ther musician pandering the humor of the tunes here, it sounds like it would (that was the way the title was spelled However, things don’t stay that way for like “Tumbleweed Tales” and the title the song. sound good performed with just acoustic on the original Killer-Fish Records label, a long. “Wasted Heart” starts as a beautiful track, “Live Your Song,” feel like a cross Three tunes with reed player David guitars, but the understated performance bright yellow 45 RPM slab of vinyl) and acoustically driven song but it builds as it between Jimmy Buffet’s “Come Monday” Borgo are performed without piano, gui - on the disc is perfect. Harry keeps things “Contagious,” or the rawer demo mate - progresses. This is perhaps the launching and James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.” They tar, or other chordal instrument; in a spritual vein for the more brisk “Lay rial that appears on the anthology, pad for the album’s latter half when the make us feel a longing, even for the although the tunes may have a key cen - It All Down,” with the Hammond back DeCerbo’s propensity for creating seduc - band really stretches its legs artistically. moment that we’re in. However, some of ter, they are harmonically loose and aboard along with banjo for a tune about tive opening hooks and sing-along cho - After the country-rocker “Sunday these tracks could inspire even more allow for great tonal explorations. “B’s inspiration. “On Wings” takes flight with ruses delighted record buyers and club Letter,” they launch into “Annie’s emotion. I would have liked to hear Treat” recreates the funk fusion of Back a full band, with banjo and organ again patrons alike. Charade,” a song with roots in vocal harmonies in more of these songs; Door. Biggs even sounds a lot like Colin pushing things forward while the pair Although there have been the Alternative and New Wave rock. Its verse it seems natural to have male and female Hodgkinson, with those almost trade - sings the disc’s catchiest song with mem - inevitable personnel changes in the line - brings to mind the Clash classic “Rock harmonies with Weldon’s amorous sub - mark funky double stops (albeit on an orable harmonies. ups over the years, the lengthy liner the Casbah.” Houser even throws in ject matter. Also, at times I wished that upright bass. Hodgkinson played an This disc took a long time to become notes (available online at some funky slapping and popping on his the emotional gravity of these songs electric bass in Back Door.) “Girl Born on a reality, and no moments are wasted. foureyesmusic.com) gives kudos to bass, imparting an added measure of were supported more completely by the Saturday” pairs the flute and bass for a The music here is friendly and accessible DeCerbo’s musical brothers-in-spirit. This energy. Another surprise is their foray production style. The songs only really poignant lament. Based on a five-tone and (especially after a few listens) keeps large alumni group’s roll call is long over - into reggae rhythms on “Cherry Sweet.” began to soar after I listened to the motif, the interpretation is filled with bouncing in the listener’s head long after due: Jeff Becker, Joe Longa, Steve Characterized by many dynamic shifts, album a handful of times. sensitivity, sadness, and finally release. being heard. Bidrowski, Chris Creasman, Barry Scott, this song develops into a “Freebird”-style This album stirs with deeper merits. And “Hip Hopcrisy” uses a riff on the “All the Way to Redwood” is a sing- Butch Bottino, Fred Dunsmore, Geoff guitar rave-up. I certainly didn’t see that Weldon’s performance (on tape and in bass as the starting point for some of the along country stomp that is two minutes Macareg, John Chatfield, Mark Spriggs, coming, but it works fabulously! The cli - person) always hits the mark. His voice is more far-reaching tonal explorations of fun. The disc’s title cut is a ballad that Lee Knight, Bob Sale, and Chris Drake. max of this collection is “Angels Can’t clear, his songs are well crafted, and his from the saxophonist and bassist. ranks along with “On Wings” as the Gentlemen, take a curtain call and a bow. Carry Roses,” a spirited alternative rocker delivery is precise. He rarely gets too As Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile have highlights on the disc, a personal testi - The CD concludes in the year 1990; with a shuffling beat that allows the misty-eyed (as singer-songwriters have shown through their corroboration, pair - ment from Harry about how he will happily, the Four Eyes story does not. Riders to display their turn-on-a-dime exhibited a capacity to do) and he suc - ing the bass and mandolin can lead to “Change the world/Within my reach.” It The band found a new following after ensemble skills. It’s very exciting and per - cessfully avoids bogging down his songs delightful and surprising results. features a stirring melody, very memo - creating a buzz at the International Pop fectly placed in the sequence of songs. with narrow, “only-I-know-what-I’m-talk - Mandolinist Bill Bradbury joins Biggs for rable hooks, and flawless production that Overthrow music festivals in Los Angeles They finish with “Take Away,” a moving ing-about” stuff. Live Your Song conveys the Celtic/bluegrass “Zanesville gives his vocal a heroic feel. and San Diego and positive critical piano ballad that brings them back to real life and real feelings. Nathan Weldon Breakdown,” an extremely fun tune that The overall feel of Within My Reach is reviews followed the release of 2005’s their Americana roots after some very artfully reminds us that romance is well gets toes a-tappin’. something like being invited into Harry Sweet on the Vine CD. adventurous excursions into other styles. deserving of its prominent place as one Biggs is an exceptional musician. and Nancy’s living room to hear their Whether the listener is getting an This is a band that has distilled its influ - of music’s primary themes, to be sung Besides his remarkable sense of time, his labor of love, one that took a while to get introduction to Four Eyes or a sentimen - ences into a very coherent and focused about and reflected upon. playing has a full, strong sound. The here but is well worth the wait. tal reacquaintance, Anthology musical statement. other musicians on this disk deliver high 1977–1990 is one of the best local music quality work as well. Drummer Duncan collections to appear in quite some time. Moore is responsible for turning many of www.myspace.com/ blindspotrecords sd these compositions from duos to trios. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 17 MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

sunday • 17 MAY CALENDAR Sea Chantey Festival w/ Adrienne Nims & WEEKLY Raggle Taggle/The Jackstraws/Ken Graydon/ Crew/Euterpians/Westlin Weavers/Gilman Napa St., 9pm. Carver , Star of India, San Diego Embarcadero, every sunday friday • 1 11am-5pm. every wednesday Randall Shreve/Reese Browning , Lestat’s, 3343 Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, Adams Ave., 9pm. The Riders , Temecula Music Festival, 30875 Chuck Schiele & Friends , Newport Ave., Scott Paulson’s Paper Theatre Festival , Lower DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Ocean Beach, 4-7pm. Level, West Wing, Geisel Library, UCSD. May The Blokes , O’Sullivan’s, 640 Grand Ave., Rancho Vista Rd., 12:45pm. Bluegrass Brunch , Urban Solace, 3823 30th Christopher Dale & Friends , Handlery Hotel, thru July. Carlsbad, 9pm. Dixie Express Jazz Band , Lafayete Hotel, 2223 St., 10:30am. Shady Side Players , Jada Sailing Yacht, H&M El Cajon Blvd., 1pm. 950 Hotel Circle N., 5pm. Daniel Jackson Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 11am. Landing, 2803 Emerson St., 2pm. S.D. Folk Song Society Mtg. , Old Time Music, , Paul Nichols’ Pro-Am/Pro Jam Invitational , Heloise Love , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. saturday • 9 2852 University Ave., 2pm. Open Blues Jam w/ Chet & the Committee , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main St., El Cajon, 78, Julian, 6pm. Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main St., El Cajon, 5:30pm. Coastal Communities Concert Band , Carlsbad 2:30pm. Zzymzzy Quartet , OB Peoples Food, 4765 Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival w/ Robin Community Church, 3175 Harding St., 2:30pm. Scandinavian Dance Class , Folk Dance Voltaire St., 6pm. Henkel/Patty Hall/Chris Clarke/Lou & Virginia Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., Center, Dancing Unlimited, 4569 30th St., Curtis/Tanya Rose/Allen Singer , Old Poway Acoustic Alliance w/ Joe Rathburn/Veronica 4pm. 7:30pm. Backwater Blues Band w/ Charles Burton , Park, 14134 Midland Rd., 10:30am-5pm. May, & more , Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Coyote Bar & Grill, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr., 7pm. Open Mic , Kensington Cafe, 4141 Adams Tomcat Courtney , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, Gator by the Bay Music Festival , Spanish Ave., 4pm. 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. 6pm. Chad Cavanaugh/Carol Durant/Jenn Grinnels/ Landing Park, Harbor Dr., 10:30am. Traditional Irish Session , The Field, 544 5th Open Mic , Thornton’s Irish Pub, 1221 Kev w/ Tom Baird , The Living Room, 2541 San www.sandiegofestival.com Rusty Jons/Rebekah LeBeau/Alicia Lockett , Swedenborg Hall, 1531 Tyler Ave., 7:30pm. Ave., 7pm. Broadway, El Cajon, 7pm. Diego Ave., 7pm. Mark Jackson Band , Old West Chili, Grub & Paul Nichols , Gio’s Restaurant, 8384 La Mesa A.J. Croce , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Open Mic , E Street Cafe, 125 W. E St., Charles Burton & Danny DiCarlo , Blues Jam, Brew Roundup, Town Square Park Murrieta, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Pal Joey’s, 5147 Waring Rd., 7:30pm. Blvd., 7pm. 1pm. Gunnar Biggs CD Release , New Village Arts Joe Mendoza , Surf & Saddle, 123 W. Plaza Open Mic , Across the Street @ Mueller Shady Side Players CD Release , shadyside - St., Solana Beach, 8pm. College, 4605 Park Blvd., 8pm. Theatre, 1787B State St., Carlsbad, 7:30pm. players.com for details, 2pm. monday • 18 Vienna Teng w/ Ben Sollee & the Paper Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Open Mic , Skybox Bar & Grill, 4809 Variety Night , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. Blue Monday Pro Jam w/ Chet & the (88.3 FM). Clairemont Dr., 8:30pm. Raincoat , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. 78, Julian, 6pm. Committee , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Billy Watson , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Del José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 June Fisher , Templar’s Hall, Old Poway Park, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Bacon St., 9:30pm. Mar, 8pm. 14134 Midland Rd., 7pm. Cactus, Twang & Whyte , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. every thursday Rhythm Jacks , Hennessey’s Tavern, 708 Fourth The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , Carrie Rodriguez w/ Romantica , Anthology, Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 8pm. 10pm-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Chet & the Committee Open Blues Jam , Ave., 9pm. 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. Curtis Peoples/Josh Hodge/Tony Lucca , Carlos Olmeda , Swedenborg Hall, 1531 Tyler Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Friendly Grounds, Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Ave., 8pm. tuesday • 19 every monday 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee, 6:30pm. David Maldonado , Anthology, 1337 India St., Wayne Shorter Tribute w/ Gilbert Castellanos/ Charles Burton Blues Band , Skies Lounge, Four Zapf Dingbats , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, Joe Rathburn’s Folkey Monkey , Milano 9:30pm. Brian Levy/Kevin Kanner/Mikan Zlatkovich/ 873 Turquoise, 7pm. Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Rob Thorsen , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Dr., 7:30pm. Ruthie Foster , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Open Mic , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 7:30pm. Open Mic , Turquoise Coffee, 841 Turquoise Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. St., P.B., 7pm. saturday • 2 Christopher Dale Trio , Rock Valley House Pro-Invitational Blues Jam , O’Connell’s Pub, Concert, University City, 8pm. wonder - 1310 Morena Blvd., 8pm. Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star The Posy Sniffers , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 [email protected]/858-452-1539. wednesday • 20 KPRI Homegrown Hour w/ Astra Kelly , Dublin Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Square, 554 4th Ave., 8pm. Traditional Irish Session , Thornton’s Irish Lisa Sanders/Adam Levy/Geoff Pearlman , Eve Selis Band , Birch Aquarium @ Scripps Kev , Plaza Bonita Mall, 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd., Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. The Blokes , Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub, Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, 8pm. National City, 7pm. Inst. of Oceanography, 2300 Expedition Way, 850 Tamarack Ave., Carlsbad, 8pm. Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s, 3015 Bob Schneider/Jason Shannon/Charlie Mars , La Jolla, 6pm. Shana Morrison , Dark Thirty House Concert, Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Songwriter’s Showcase , Larry’s Beach Club, Juniper St., 8pm. Lakeside, 7:30pm. [email protected] Charles McPherson w/ Gilbert Castellanos , 1145 S. Tremont, Oceanside, 8pm. Jazz Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern Yoshida Bros. , Anthology, 1337 India St., 9:30pm. Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Billy Vera & the Beaters w/ Katie Melua , St., 9:30pm. Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. New York Dolls , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. every Gilbert Castellanos New Latin Jazz Quintet , sunday • 10 tuesday Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Aaron Bowen/Bhi Bhiman , Lestat’s, 3343 Traditional Irish Session , The Ould Sod, 3373 every friday Dr., 8pm. Gator by the Bay Music Festival , Spanish Adams Ave., 9pm. Adams Ave., 7pm. California Rangers , Larry’s Beach Club, 1145 Drew Andrews/Mauren Parusel/The Paddle Landing Park, Harbor Dr., 10:30am. Open Mic , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La S. Tremont, Oceanside, 4:30-9pm. Boat , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. www.sandiegofestival.com thursday • 21 Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. West of Memphis , House of Blues, 1055 5th Dennis Quaid & the Sharks/Grizzly Circus , Byron Berline w/ Bluegrass Etc. , Acoustic Open Mic , Beach Coast Grille, 710 Seacoast Ave., 6pm. Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Music SD, 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. John Foltz & Charlie Recksiek , Milano Coffee Dr., Imperial Beach, 7pm. Acoustic Mayhem w/ Sven-Erik Seaholm & The Blokes , Hennessey’s Tavern, 708 4th Ave., Lou Evans/Megan Combs , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Chet & the Committee All Pro Blues Jam , Jesse LaMonaca , Bondi, 333 5th Ave. 6pm. 9:30pm. Ave., 8pm. Barbara Nesbitt , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Coast The Harp, 4935 Newport Ave., 7:30pm. Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Avett Brothers/Magnolia Electric Co. , Belly Up, Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Jack Tempchin & Friends , Calypso Cafe, 576 Turquoise St., P.B., 6:30pm. (except May 15) 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Brett Bixby/Derren Raser/The Speechwriters , N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. sunday • 3 Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Open Mic , The Royal Dive, 2949 San Luis Rey Open Mic , Bella Roma Restaurant, 6830 La Rd., Oceanside, 8pm. Jolla Blvd. #103, 8pm. Shady Side Players , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper tuesday • 12 St., 10am. Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo , Prado Open Mic , Egyptian Tea Room & Smoking friday • 22 Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. PhilFest Benefit & Fundraiser for Phil Boroff Diane Moser Benefit w/ Charles McPherson/ Shep Meyers , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. w/ Chris Acquavella/Nate Jarrell/Walt Daniel Jackson/Mark Dresser/Peter Sprague/ Glen & Jennifer Smith , Wynola Pizza Express, Richards/Middle Earth Ensemble/Kev/The Rob Thorsen/ Dave Millard/Mitch Manker/ 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Open Mic , Portugalia, 4839 Newport Ave., every saturday Wrong Trousers/Bruce Patterson/Bernie Pearl/ Duncan Moore , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary O.B., 9pm. Bruce Patterson/Billy Davis , Old Time Music, Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 7pm. Paragon Jazz Band , Coronado Public Library, Jay Dancing Bear , The Living Room, 1018 640 Orange Ave., 7pm. 2852 University Ave., noon-9pm. Sue Palmer/Lady Dottie/Cynthia Hammond/ Rosecrans, Point Loma, 8pm. Peter Pupping Quartet , Rancho Buena Vista Carol Chaikin , Saville Theatre, SD Comm. Kev , The Living Room, 2451 San Diego Ave., Blues Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern Adobe, 640 Alta Vista Dr., Vista, noon. College, 14th & C St., 8pm. 7pm. St., 9pm. Mas Grande , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Clay Colton & the Bad Blokes , Hennessey’s Ian Tyson , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 2pm. Tavern, 2777 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad, 9pm. St., 7:30pm. Nathan James & the Fremonts , Belly Up, 143 S. Rondi Charleston , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Cedros, Solana Beach, 4pm. Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Deejha Marie CD Release w/ Sue Palmer/ wednesday • 13 Alyssa Jacey/Donovan Lyman/Macek , Lestat’s, thursday • 28 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Willovealot/Daniel Jackson , Dizzy’s @ SD Zapf Dingbats , Serra Mesa/Kearny Mesa Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 6pm. The Blokes , O’Sullivan’s, 640 Grand Ave., Barbara Nesbitt , Indulge, 4550 La Jolla Village Library, 9005 Adro Dr., 6:30pm. Carlsbad, 9pm. Dr., 6:30pm. Superstrings , SD Bluegrass Society Benefit, P.B. Melissa Morgan , Anthology, 1337 India St., Baptist Church, 4747 Soledad Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Joe Rathburn w/ Sabrina & Craig , Milano 7:30pm. Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Highlight Bomb/Ther Somatree , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 8pm. saturday • 23 Graham Parker w/ Tom Freund , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. thursday • 14 Clay Colton & the Bad Blokes , Coyote Bar & Grill, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr., 3pm. Trombone for Two w/ Mike Fahn & Scott Kyle , monday • 4 Joe Rathburn & David Beldock , Milano Coffee Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Lillian Palmer w/ Shep Meyers Quartet , Rock Dr., 7:30pm. Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Bottom Brewery, 401 G St., 3pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam w/ Chet & the Alison Brown Quartet w/ Joe Craven , Laura Roppe/Love You Moon/The Painkillerz , Committee , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Urban Acoustic Playhouse Episode Two , The Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Marquee, 835 25th St., 6pm. Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovia Circus of Those Guys w/ Charles Burton , The Kraken, Cactus, Twang & Whyte , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Dreams , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield Mark Jackson Band , Wynola Pizza Express, 2531 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Cardiff, 9pm. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 8pm. St., 7:30pm. 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. MiGGs , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Scott Feiner & Freddie Bryant , Dizzy’s @ SD Robin Henkel Band w/ Horns , Coyote Bar & Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Grill, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr., 6pm. tuesday • 5 Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind , KIFM Jazz Fest, friday • 29 Those Guys w/ Charles Burton , The Kraken, Gaslamp Quarter, 6pm. Gone Tomorrow , NCBFC Mtg., Round Table 2531 S. Hwy. 101, Cardiff, 9pm. Ken Graydon & Stan Kruml , Templar’s Hall, Old Mountain Tribal Gypsies , Wynola Pizza Pizza, 1161 E. Washington, Escondido, 7pm. Phil Bellante/Thomas Lyons/Tim Mudd , Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd., 7pm. Arturo Sandoval , Anthology, 1337 India St., The Flatlanders , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Roy Zimmerman , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 7:30pm. Charles Burton Blues Band , Skies Lounge, Four Podunk Nowhere Music Video Premiere , Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Dr., 7:30pm. friday • 15 Shamey Jays CD Release/Joey Harris & the Mentals , Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., North Park Vaudeville & Candy Shoppe, 2031 El Kev , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, 8:30pm. Cajon Blvd., 8:30pm. wednesday • 6 Julian, 6pm. Bushwalla/Rob Deez , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Middle Earth Ensemble , Old Time Music, 2852 Lillian Palmer w/ Shep Meyers & Dave Marr , Ave., 9pm. University Ave., 8pm. Lighthouse , Friendly Grounds, 9225 Carlton Hills Gio’s Restaurant, 8384 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Kev , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. Rd., Santee, 7pm. Eric Bibb , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield Kim Divine/Kim Garrison , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Arturo Sandoval , Anthology, 1337 India St., St., 7:30pm. sunday • 24 Ave., 9pm. 7:30pm. Diane Schuur , Anthology, 1337 India St., The Blokes , Hooley’s Tavern, 5500 Grossmont Manual Scan , Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., 9pm. Stewart Lewis/Jake Walden/Tom Goss , 7:30pm. Center Dr., La Mesa, 6pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Berkley Hart CD Release , Swedenborg Hall, Candy Dulfer , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Franklin Lounge/Michael Tiernan/Colin 1531 Tyler Ave., 8pm. saturday • 30 Armstrong , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana North County Cowboys , Tony’s Sports Bar & Robin Henkel Band w/ Horns , Lestat’s, 3343 artistic handcrafted stringed Beach, 8pm. Grill, 270 Harbor Dr. S., Oceanside, 8pm. Adams Ave., 8pm. Trails & Rails , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. instruments by Owen Burke Charles Burton Blues Band , Elks Lodge, 1393 Windsor Rd., Cardiff, 8pm. Stepping Feet , Anthology, 1337 India St., monday • 25 7:30&9:30pm. on display at the thursday • 7 Rhythm Jacks , Hennessey’s Tavern, 708 Fourth Ave., 9pm. Fred Sokolow , Old Time Music, 2852 University Joe Rathburn w/ Bill Brackett & Jeff Lee , Charles Burton Blues Band , Riley’s, 2901 Nimitz Ave., 8pm. Andrews Gallery Josh Damigo CD Release , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Blvd., 8pm. Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Berkley Hart , Frogstop House Concert, San Jacqui Naylor , Anthology, 1337 India St., Ave., 9pm. Sue Palmer & the Blue Four , Patrick’s II, 428 F 1002 N. Coast Hwy. 101 St., 8pm. Marcos, 8pm. [email protected] 7:30pm. Steve Gerber: A Night of Music & Poetry , Encinitas Joey DeFrancesco Organ Trio , Dizzy’s @ SD saturday • 16 Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 7:30pm. tuesday • 26 The Riders , First St. Bar, 656 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Opening Reception Mas Grande/Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi , Tibetan Cultural Festival , Seaside Ctr. for Encinitas, 9pm. Saturday, May 30, 7pm Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Dr., Encinitas, 1:30pm. Charles Burton Blues Band , Skies Lounge, Four Fiffin Market , The Field, 544 5th Ave., 9:30pm. Band in Black , Hennessey’s, 2777 Roosevelt The Blokes , O’Sullivan’s, 640 Grand Ave., Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Dr., 7:30pm. St., Carlsbad, 9:30pm. Carlsbad, 2pm. Sue Palmer & the Blue Four , Patrick’s II, 428 F [email protected] • www.owen-burke.com Chris Clarke & Plow , Wynola Pizza Express, St., 9pm. sunday • 31 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. look for Ukulele Owen Burke on the web friday • 8 Tom Baird & Friends w/ Greg Campbell , Charles Burton Blues Band , Mission Bay Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7:30pm. wednesday • 27 Marina Deli, 1548 Quivera Way, 2pm. Grand Canyon Sundown , Wynola Pizza Amnesty International Fundraiser w/ Joey Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. The Grascals , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Paragon Jazz Band , The Orchard, 4040 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Harris/Sara Petite/Dee Ray/Grand Canyon Doyle Dykes & the Kruger Bros ., Comm. Art Hancock St., 6:30pm. Sundown/Chuck Schiele/Billy Midnight , The Ctr., Cuyamaca College, 900 RanchoSan Diego Berkley Hart CD Release , Swedenborg Hall, Benefit Concert for Grossmont Music Dept. , Ould Sod, 3373 AdamsAve., 4pm. 1531 Tyler Ave., 8pm. Pkwy., El Cajon, 6:30pm. Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Joni Mitchell Tribute w/ Robin Adler/Dave Leon Russell , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Allison Lonsdale (6-8pm) Cotton Fever/The Robin Trower/The Riders , House of Blues, 1055 Blackburn/Barnaby Finch/Dave Curtiss , Dizzy’s Bruce Betz , BookWorks, Flower Hill Mall, Del Unloaded , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Fifth Ave., 8pm. @ SD Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., Mar, 8pm. Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys , Casbah, 2501 Dave Booda/Jen & Abby , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams 7pm. Rick Ruskin , Old Time Music, 2852 University Kettner Blvd., 8:30pm. Ave., 9pm. Dat Phan’s Variety Show , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 8pm. Ave., 9pm.

Charles Burton Blues Band , Tio Leo’s, 5302 18 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MAY 2009 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR the local seen

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Paul Hormick Aaron Bowen & Lee Coulter on the Craig Yerkes Stage Bernie Leadon, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen www.sandiegotroubadour.com 19