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

November 2008 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 8, No. 2

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Contributors Dixieland Jazz Festival Full Circle.. …………4 Nick Reynolds Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………8 Mighty Joe Longa Mountain Dulcimer Randi Driscoll Flamenco & Latin Jazz Parlor Showcase …10 The Flimz Ramblin’... …………12 Bluegrass Corner The Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Stages Highway’s Song. …15 Tom Russell Of Note. ……………17 Matt Curreri & the Exfriends Kenny Eng Happy Ron Curtis Peoples Hank Williams ‘Round About ...... …18 November Music Calendar The Local Seen ……19 Photo Page

NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

Dixieland mix. And now, like so much American Celebrating Tradition and Variety music, Dixieland is now an international musical phenomenon. The festival reflects this both in its lineup and the enthusiasts who attend the festi - RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR at the Dixieland Jazz Festival val. The Statesmen of Jazz features Antti Sarpila, a clarinetist from Finland, and from the Czech Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Republic Eva Emingerová will be singing with the blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news T High Society Jazz Band. “And we get patrons from by Paul Hormick patrons to enjoy,” says Smith. “Besides Dixieland all over the globe as well,” adds Smith. We’re we will have bands playing all the music that is expecting a group of Dixieland enthusiasts from based on Dixieland, including ragtime, swing, his Thanksgiving weekend, while grand - Britain. They come every year.” pa carves the drumsticks and your blues, and rockabilly.” Rockabilly is the new addi - MISSION CONTRIBUTORS favorite aunt ladles out the dressing and tion to the mix for the festival this year. Raising To promote, encourage, and provide an T FOUNDERS gravy, Mission Valley will be inundated with cor - the rafters with this mix of hillbilly music and alternative voice for the great local music that Ellen and Lyle Duplessie nets, trombones, and clarinets. If you’re around rock ‘n’ roll, which made the careers of Jerry Lee is generally overlooked by the mass media; Liz Abbott the Town and Country Resort, you’ll probably see Lewis and Carl Perkins, will be the Hayriders, namely the genres of alternative country, Kent Johnson featuring local boogie-woogie queen Sue Palmer, Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and a few bowler hats and some striped vests as well, bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring PUBLISHERS because devotees of old-time music will once and the Johnny Cash tribute band the Cash together players, writers, and lovers of these Liz Abbott again be celebrating San Diego’s Thanksgiving Kings. Speaking of Palmer, her Motel Swing forms; to explore their foundations; and to Kent Johnson Dixieland Jazz Festival. Orchestra will be making their first appearance at expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS This year marks the 29th year of the festival, the festival this year. Liz Abbott and for five days – Wednesday through Sunday – Because the festival has grown, the society has SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for Chuck Schiele alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, the old time jazz sounds from New Orleans will added a new performance venue, the Grande Hall blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, ADVERTISING be celebrated by the likes of ensembles such as Foyer of the Town and Country, bringing the is published monthly and is free of charge. Kent Johnson John Cocuzzi Dixie Express, High Society Jazz Band of La Jolla, number of stages to nine. And with the addition Letters to the editor must be signed and may be edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed BUSINESS CONSULTANT the Mission Bay High School Dixieland Band, and of four more ensembles to the performance that they will appear. Joanna Schiele San Diego’s Heliotrope Ragtime Orchestra. The schedule, there will be 22 bands at the festival All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO DISTRIBUTION festival will also feature individual performers this year. TROUBADOUR are solely the opinion of the Kent Johnson such as Carl Sonny “The Boogie Man” Leyland One of the earliest traditions of jazz, the jam writer and do not represent the opinions of the Dave Sawyer and local saxophone wunderkind Cloe Feoranzo. session, was first fostered by the early Dixieland staff or management. All rights reserved. Mark Jackson Hal Smith, who is the president of the musicians. For those who are interested in actual - Indian Joe Stewart ADVERTISING INFORMATION America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society, ly participating in some Dixieland, strumming a Dan Long For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488 which sponsors the festival, says that it is not the four-string banjo or playing a licorice stick, there or e-mail [email protected]. You can also find Peter Bolland tunes or compositions that distinguish Dixieland, will be an all weekend jam session lead by Bay information on our website: Paul Cruz www.sandiegotroubadour.com rather, it is the sound and approach that the Area cornet player Dick Williams. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Dixieland’s home is New Orleans, but by the SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. Steve Covault musicians take that sets this American music Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: apart. “You can play ‘Happy Birthday’ and turn it early part of the twentieth century it spread to Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra WEB MASTER Saint Louis, Chicago, and the rest of the United San Diego Troubadour Will Edwards into a Dixieland tune,” he says. “Typically you P.O. Box 164 have three horns and a rhythm section. With the States, each adding something new to the WRITERS La Jolla, CA 92038 horns, the trumpet plays the lead, the clarinet Michael Alvarez E-mail: [email protected]. plays the harmony, and the trombone adds the Peter Bolland WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the John Connelly counterpoint.” All the Dixieland bands share this San Diego Troubadour? Go to same approach, yet they all strive to make their www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click Lou Curtiss on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of Simeon Flick sounds distinctive. Smith adds, “No two bands locations we deliver to. Paul Hormick will play the same tune exactly alike.” Jim McInnes SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW Besides the distinctiveness of the Dixieland If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for Bart Mendoza bands, the emphasis of the festival is on variety. review, please send two copies to: San Diego Tim Mudd “There will be much going on for the festival Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038. Andy Robinson SUBMITTING A CALENDAR LISTING Terry Roland Email your gig date, including location, address, Chuck Schiele and time to [email protected] by Sven-Erik Seaholm ERRATA the 22rd of the month prior to publication. José Sinatra ©2008 San Diego Troubadour. D. Dwight Worden In last month’s John Philip Wylie Bluegrass Corner, Cover photo: John Hancock Cover design: Chuck Schiele Nina Gerber (left) was misidentified as The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper. Kathy Kallick.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle

Nick ReyNolds (1933-2008) Gone But not ForGotten

the category of Best Performance by a Vocal Kingston Trio because he didn’t want the work in the late fifties/early sixties, notable Group, it scored a trophy instead for Best pressure anymore,” Harris said. Indeed, while for the inclusion of the complete run of com - Country & Western Performance. touring and recording are still grueling today mercials the group did for 7-UP. The following year the Academy got it by comparison, it’s a cake walk compared to Also in 2007, with John Stewart in atten - right and the group won a second award for what the musical pioneers of the eighties and dance, he received the San Diego Music their album The Kingston Trio at Large in the back had to endure. “But in his later years, he Awards highest honor: the Lifetime category of Best Folk Performance . The plug really did appreciate his legacy; it became Achievement Award. “It really meant some - was pulled on the group’s first era on June 16, more important to him as the years went by,” thing to him,” Harris confirmed. “He was 1967, with a final show at San Francisco’s Harris remarked. Among his later accom - genuinely happy to receive the award, but he Hungry i nightclub before a star studded audi - plishments, he took part in a PBS documen - was especially pleased that the event helped ence. Interestingly, at a time when most acts’ tary covering the history of the trio, while put guitars in schools. He felt that the quality careers revolved around singles, the Kingston Timeless Media released a DVD documentary of music is getting lost, so he was always Trio were very much an album act. During about the group. eager to encourage education in music.” their heyday of 1958-63, the band scored over Though the Kingston Trio is often over - 20 chart singles including five top tens and a looked in today’s music world, their impact in number one hit. Meanwhile, during 1958- the pre-Beatles sixties is incalculable, and 1969, almost two dozen albums were released; their influence remains. “I think the Kingston 23 of these charted, including 14 top tens and Trio was really important to the music indus - five number ones. In the 40 years since then, try itself,” Harris said. “Their records gave the amount of worldwide re-issues and collec - Capitol Records a lot of prestige when they tor’s editions is staggering. A Reynolds/ were a fledgling label. The money they made Kingston Trio discography would easily fill its from those discs is what allowed them to sign own volume. By 1969 a new version of the lesser known jazz artists and so on.” Indeed, group was making the rounds, although now it’s been said that the Kingston Trio’s hits on sans Reynolds. He would rejoin the group in Capitol led to the direct success of the Beach 1988, finally retiring in 1999. Boys, the very next big act on the label. The Reynolds has had a worldwide influence Wilson brothers clearly benefitted from the on millions of people, but perhaps none as labels increased resources, but “it’s also prob - profound as his nephew, Joey Harris. “He ably no coincidence that in many of their always referred to himself as ‘Uncool Nick,’” early publicity shots, they are wearing the Harris joked. “Beginning in 1968, when I was same striped shirts that the Kingston Trio around 11 years old, I spent three summers at used as their signature look.” my uncle’s ranch in Port Orford, Oregon, near I had the honor of speaking with the Elk River,” he recalled. “It was a beautiful Reynolds numerous times in preparation for Kinston Trio members: Bob Shane, setting, with no TVs or anything like that, just Reynolds, Dave Guard his SDMA Award and found him to be witty his wife and son Josh.” One of Harris’ fondest and charming. But what struck me most was memories is of Reynolds keeping the Two major points of pride for Reynolds how humble he was. Here was a man who turntable going with great sounds throughout were the annual Kingston Trio Fantasy Camp, affected popular culture worldwide and has his stays. “Nick had an extensive collection, which ran for eight years in Arizona, and the done more than most of us could ever dream having been a Capitol Records artist, just issue of an official Kingston Trio guitar of, but he was the nicest, most down to earth about anything cool was sent to him. This is (Martin-0021) in 2007. “He really looked for - person you could ever hope to meet. Nick where I first heard music like B.B. King and ward to the camp,” Harris said. “It gave fans a Reynolds may be gone, but as long as some - Tim Hardin.” Sitting around the dinner table, chance to play with the group on stage, and one can be heard strumming an acoustic gui - playing and singing, this is where Harris got he loved that.” That year also saw the start of tar, his memory will live on. his first profound music related advice. “I was a series of DVDs chronicling the Trio’s TV just old enough to listen,” he laughed. Having played a few duff notes, Reynolds told him, “Joey, there’s nothing more boring than perfec - tion.” Its advice Harris still takes to heart. “Oh yeah, it’s something I’ve thought about often and have passed on to others,” he said. Nick Reynolds Having moved back to Coronado in the early nineties, Reynolds was often seen by Bart Mendoza Asked to return for a one week engagement, around town, especially at any gigs in the the band’s stay at the club would last seven area featuring Harris and occasional musical months. partner Paul Kamanski. Though the past he world l ost a true music legend Quickly drawing major label attention, the decade was relatively quiet for Reynolds, with the passing of Kingston Trio Kingston Trio signed with Capitol Records, there was still quite a bit of activity in the founder Nick Reynolds on October 1. T releasing their self-titled debut in early 1958. background. Coming so soon after the passing of fellow Their first single, “Scarlet Ribbons,” was given In 2005, Collector’s Choice music began a Kingston Trio member John Stewart on a major promotional push with their national major re-issue series that has seen much pre - January 19, it was an especially difficult blow TV debut coming that May. The three made viously unreleased vintage material make it’s for fans of the trio. Like a select group of San an appearance as World War II pilots on CBS way to the public. “He originally left the Diego musicians, the Kingston Trio sold drama Playhouse 90 . Naturally, the episode records into the millions. Unlike the other “Rumors of Evening” offered an opportunity artists, this trio had a huge impact on popular for the trio to plug their song. It was the first culture, reverberations of which can still be of dozens of TV appearances, though most felt today. Every performer at an open mic were of a musical nature. Among the many night or strumming a folk tune owes them a rare clips making the rounds today are debt of gratitude. Ironically, despite immense appearances the Kingston Trio made on such popularity that saw them charting well into legendary shows as “The Jack Benny the mid-sixties, their music is rarely heard on Program ,” “ The Andy Williams Show ,” “ The TV or radio today, though the impact Perry Como Show ,” “ The Pat Boone Show ,” remains. “The Dinah Shore Show ,” “ What’s My Line?, ” Reynolds’ accomplishments would fill sev - and “The Milton Berle Show .” eral books. Born on July 27, 1933, in Despite the hoopla surrounding their Coronado, it was while at school in Palo Alto debut, it was the trio’s second single, “Tom that the Trio first came together as part of a Dooley,” plucked from obscurity by a Utah DJ group of musical friends that played around who remembered the tune from a live per - campus called Dave Guard and the formance, that captured the public’s attention. Calypsonians, which included Reynolds and Reynolds, Guard, and Shane quickly hit the Guard teamed with Barbara Bogue and Joe media spotlight and became regulars on vari - Gannon. While this combo never released ety programs and magazine covers. The tune anything officially at the time, they did record would hit number one on the pop charts and acetates of at least eight tracks. Replacing number 9 on what was then termed the Bogue and Gannon with Shane toward the “black” charts. It would also go on to sell end of the school year, the Trio’s original line- more than 3,000,000 copies and earn the up was set. Barely a month after they had re- group their sole gold disc for a single, though named themselves after a Jamaican town, they would earn seven gold album awards by they were on their way. Asked to fill in for 1964. In 1959 the song was also made into a comedienne Phyllis Diller that Memorial Day movie, “The Legend of Tom Dooley,” starring weekend at San Francisco’s below ground Michael Landon. Oddly while the song was nightclub, the Purple Onion, the group’s mix nominated for that year’s Grammy Awards in of ballads and folk songs was a huge hit. 4 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 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

THE LOU C URTISS SOUND LIBRARY As my collection grew, I was soon in a posi - some material from Dick that I still treasure the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, P tion to trade with other collectors. I was today and I hope he still listens to stuff he Brandywine, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and a t was in 1969 that the Lou Curtiss also starting to compile tapes of my own got from me (although Dick is pretty heavy whole lot more. The reel-to-reel library kind Sound Library started to grow. I had a from the vintage 78 rpm records that came into video formats these days). Some time of leveled out at about 6,000 reels in about Ifew reel-to-reel tapes before that, Folk through my shop and that gave me more in the early 1970s I got my first transcrip - 2004-2005. By that time I’d also amassed Festivals from 1967 and 1968, and a few material to trade with. It was only a few tion turntable that would play the big 16- about 2,000 VHS tapes with much of that live tapes years until I was in touch with most of the inch transcription discs and started looking being musical in nature (mostly from the of groups I had played in, and so forth. major collectors of a pretty wide variety of for that material to transfer to reel. Some of Adams Avenue Roots Festivals, for However, it was in the fall of 1969 when I stuff. More vintage radio, jazz, blues, all the San Diego Tijuana border stations instance). Today I’m moving onto setting up ran into the Aretha Wong Sound Library of kinds of country and folk material, and became my best sources, particularly XERB a collection of what I have on line and mak - Lou Curtiss vintage old time radio shows and found out odds and ends came my way. In the early in Rosarito Beach, which had been a sister ing the original reels available to the UCLA that there were a pile of old recordings to be 1970s I ran into collector Richard Schurch station of the Texas border blaster station Folk Archives and the Library of Congress PASSING THROUGH had out there in that format. I started get - who had been busy compiling a similar XERA in the 1930s. At XERB I found origi - through this grant we have from the This week I heard about the passing of ting involved in groups like the Renfro kind of tape library and we started to trade nal ETs by the Carter Family, Mainers Grammy people. I’m not transferring any - two fine Southern California musicians who Valley Tape Club, the Ralph Stanley Tape material extensively (probably widening Mountainers, Cowboy Slim Reinhardt, the thing to reel these days although I have spent many years bringing good sounds to Club, the Nostalgia Tape Club, and others. both our collective tastes). I know I got Delmore Brothers and Wayne Raney, the about 5,000 long play records and about folks around our area. I met Jay Waelder at Maddox Brothers and Rose, Stuart Hamblen, 3,000 78s & 45s, many of which need to at a party sometime in the early 1970s, picking Tex Williams and Smokey Rogers, and lots least be part of the digitization project I’m a mandolin and playing good time music. more. From other radio stations I got Pappy involved with, and I still pick up those 16- He played at some of the old San Diego Cheshire’s Hillbillies, the Hollywood inch discs when I see them, always hoping Folk Festivals and did a concert or two for Barndance, Patsy Montana’s WLS shows, to find something that I didn’t know existed me as part of a group called the Rhythm Spade Cooley at the Riverside Rancho (got (and, moreover, that other much more in Rascals (along with W.B. Reid and Agi Ban), that from Smokey Rogers old sidekick the know individuals didn’t know existed playing vintage string swing jazz. Jay intro - Tommy Turman), Tex Ivy and the Texas either). That’s always a real kick. duced me to Robert Crumb who came down Ranch Boys, lots of Merle Travis, Hank I’m still always looking for those items to one of his concerts at Folk Arts, and his Penny, Wesley Tuttle, Bob Wills and his that fit into the various projects I’m into, music helped define an era in San Diego’s Texas Playboys, and others. especially live material from festivals, coffee musical growth. I met the other musician, Each year I’d add a bunch of live con - houses, and concerts over the past 50 or 60 Clabe Hangan , at San Bernardino’s Penny certs from my own Folk Festivals and make years or so: folk music, jazz, country music, University sometime in the mid 1960s. contacts with people who had related mate - blues, and bluegrass. What ever you might Clabe was a sociologist, a folklorist, and a rial. I also got material from other festivals think needs preserving. You can call me at musician. Born in Arkansas in 1934, Clabe that I’d either go to and record or somehow Folk Arts Rare Records : 619-282-7833 any got his degree at the University of Redlands find someone who had the material. I did a day from 9am to 5pm. Don’t throw it away. and settled in Pomona where he became lot of recording at the Sweets Mill Festivals Check with me first. involved with the Riverside Folksong in Central California east of Fresno; I got Society. Clabe did regular programs in San recordings from the Philadelphia Folk Diego, playing for Sam Hinton at UCSD and Festival, the University of Chicago Festival, at the Heritage Coffeehouse in Mission Beach. He also played at Folk Arts Rare Records in the 1970s and at the San Diego Folk Festival. More recently Clabe appeared at the Adams Avenue Roots Festival and the Adams Avenue Street Fair with his group the Hangan Brothers, a couple of guys who made a lot of good music and brought a lot of sunshine to San Diego folks. We’ll miss them. Recordially, Lou Curtiss

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch e l e i h c S

W hat, W hen, W here, and How M uch? k c u h C

: o t The Ballad of Mighty Joe Longa o h P by Chuck Schiele Doug Kershaw and the Ragin’ Cajun Fiddle pletely ripped off. They managed to knock Player all over the U.S. and Canada. I also over the wedding cake and roll onto it. They he first time I saw Joe Longa – aka recorded a 45 with Gary Wilson and the Blind also knocked over one of the buffet tables with Mighty Joe (a moniker that is under - Dates in ’78 at Accusound Studio, with John all the food on it. Hotel security intervened, Tstood when you witness his music. I Hildebrand as engineer. In ’78, with Bottino called the cops, and we left as soon as we use the word “witness” intentionally, because and Haney, we would also back Tomcat. I could. Everybody really liked the band. with Mighty Joe, total witnessing requires both played several punk shows with Gary and the CS: Love it. What gear do you play? Blind Dates where everyone hated us. We went eyes and both ears). MJ: Organ and piano. Korg Digital Grand to NYC in ’79 and headlined at CBGB’s for two The first time I saw Mighty Joe, he was on Piano through a Centaur amp. I have two 145 nights of insanity. his knees. Kicking ass. It was one of those Leslie speakers, a Wurlitzer electric piano, “Woah!” moments where you forget what you CS: Oh, man! three accordions, one stereo. Penncrest combo were just thinking about and stop in your MJ: Then the band called it. organ. Maxi Korg Synth, cajun chord organ, tracks, staring. He was up there as a Mental in and lots of other weird stuff…. Joey Harris’ band just havin’ a ball, playing the CS: You said you really didn’t take lessons. How livin’ rip out of a Hammond B3 as the dudes does the music come to you? Where do you rolled through rocker after rocker. (I suggest begin? you all see this band by the way… there is something missing in today’s music that MJ: The music is always there. You have to Might Joe Longa remains in a band like Joey’s. I don’t have the keep out of its way and let it emerge. The space to discuss this here. Just go and see more you think while playing, the less real MJ: It was 1988. I was playing with Buddy baby. And all drinks are half price for the rest them if you feel what I’m talking about.) music you will get. You have to clear your Blue and the Jacks. It was the end of July and of the night.” The crowd went wild. I rushed Since that time we’ve gotten to know each mind and suspend your ego – and allow the we had a SOLD OUT show at Rio’s. home and to the hospital. Our daughter, Lita, other more and more, usually hanging in an energy to encompass you. was born. alley near a backstage door when we’re on the Mighty Joe with Tomcat Courtney at the OB CS: Wow. CS: Ah, Rio’s. Buddy booked my band there once. Street Fair, 1986 He was impressed that I got 23 people in the door She now shreds on lead guitar, watch for same billing. Somewhere along the line, MJ: Say you come to a raging river. You can try on a Tuesday, around midnight. I asked him, her in the future. Mighty Joe and I figured out that we’re both In 1980 I did a stint with King Biscuit to go straight across, fighting the current, or “Really?” CS: Why do you play? from upstate New York, so we’re always saying Blues Band, the Branded band featuring Vic dive in racing down stream with the current, to each other, “Hey, remember that band Duke Gross. I was also playing with Tomcat every easily reaching the other side. Just get out MJ: We didn’t go on ’til midnight so I was MJ: To maintain my sanity and spread good Jupiter?” and stuff like that… We would both Thursday at the Texas Teehouse in OB. The before you go over the waterfalls. And practice home until about 11pm. My beautiful wife feelings and fun to everyone. kill to go to a real East Coast clam bake, which Blind Dates morphed into the Swinging Dates, at least two hours every day. Jeanne was pregnant at the time. Just as I got CS: What do you listen to? the West Coast is incapable of. Ironically, we up to go to the gig, we thought she was going a trio that played all summer at the Surfer CS: Ah, there it is: it begins with a killer work MJ: KSDS 88.3 FM, especially blues with T. live four blocks from each other in the same into labor. I called the doctor and he said, Hotel in Pacific Beach right on the boardwalk. ethic. You’ve seen the world of music undergo a Tomcat Courtney, Pharoah Sanders, Captain neighborhood in Ocean Beach. Both of us “Don’t sweat it.” But I totally freaked out and By ’82 we were called the Untouchables. formidable revision in how things get done. Beefheart, and Bonnie Raitt being “OBecians,” it made sense to go get Jeanne told me to just go do the gig like I In ’85 Buddy Blue called me and told me he You’re still in the game. What do you think about some fish tacos at the Southbeach, our favorite always did. Reluctantly, I drove to the club. CS: What inspires you? was starting a blue-eyed soul group and need - the changes you’ve seen along the way, and how neighborhood beach bar. He walked on over to The place was rockin’ to the roof, totally sold MJ: Honest people. And a good performance of ed an organ player. That started the Jacks with you survive the grueling side of music biz. my house, and from there we hoofed it to out. I made my way to the dressing any kind of music Chris Sullivan on bass (Penetrators and MJ: I still like vinyl versus digital sound. Don’t lunch. room/kitchen and saw Buddy. He said, “Hey CS: I heard that Ted Nugent hunts big game in Farmers) Jack Pinney on drums (Iron lose it, man “Man, I’m starving,” he said, offering a big Butterfly, Jerry Raney and the Shames). man, you look trashed! What the hell is wrong his off-time; and Michael Jackson rides the ferris smile as he crosses the street. In ’87 we recorded Jacks Are Wild on with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I wheel in his back yard with five-year-old boys. “Good to see you, Joe.” ( we shake.) Rounder records. I also recorded with Mojo explained to him the situation and he immedi - What do you like to do when you when you’re He hands me a tape “from the old days” Nixon that year. In ’89 I recorded with Skid ately produced a bottle of Jack Daniels. We not playing music? and we start talking. Roper and played at Mojo Nixon’s wedding each took a couple big slugs and he ordered MJ: Eat, sleep, drink…. BBQ, and BBQ. “Man, I brought you this tape….” me to leave the bar and go back home. As I with Country Dick as the preacher in the mid - CS What’s in the future music of Mighty Joe? I was like: “Wait! Wait. What? … tape as in dle of a go-kart track in Chula Vista. was leaving, he announced over the PA, “I cassette tape?” have some good news and bad news. The bad MJ: If you can prop me up, I’ll play. I have CS: …So with all this giggage, was there ever a “Uhh, yeah, uh... there’s stuff on here from news is we’re not going to play tonight; the four questions: where, when, how long, and time where some chick came in dressed as an ’64, man….” good news is Mighty Joe’s wife is having a how much? alien, danced on the tables, and knocked your And Joe started to tell me stories, begin - beer into your amp? ning there – gigs, tours, the folks he’s played with. Before ya know it, we were settled in MJ: Oh God, is she still around? Yeah, weird with tacos, beer, fish and chips, and a pile of stuff happens at gigs. I was in the Copenhagen band, and we were playing a wedding recep - jalapeño shrimp poppers. The Jacks in 1988: Mighty Joe, Chris tion at the Bahia. During the reception the CS: I don’t know where you began your music? Sullivan, Buddy Blue, Jack Pinney bride’s ex-boyfriend showed up drunk with a Did you go to school or something? big wet spot on the front of his pants. He went CS: Whaddya have to say about the San Diego MJ: I grew up in Endicott, New York. Both my up to the groom and started yelling profani - music scene? grandfathers played harmonica. One was ties. From there, the bride’s father jumps him, MJ: I really like the weather here Polish and the other was Czech. My Czech tackles him onto the floor, started rolling CS: [laughs] Okay, let’s try this one: most pop gave me a chromatic harp when I was a around, and then some of the wedding party rewarding moment in music? kid and showed me a couple of weird folk joined the rumble. One girl’s gown was com - songs. I played drums in a marching fife and drum corps early on. I did trumpet from third to sixth grade in school. My mom always had a radio or a record playing and was always singing. They got me a VOX Continental organ in seventh grade from my cousin, Dave. He had a great band called Basket of Flowers that actually recorded a single around ’66 and played all around the tri-state area. One day his bass player missed practice so he showed me the bass parts to “Louie Louie” and “Farmer John” and I got to play with his group. Phil Harmonic Sez: I was hooked! I never took any lessons, but when I heard Jimmy Smith and Otis Spann records in high school it was all over. I learned Said old Gentleman Gay, “On a Thanksgiving Day, if by listening. you want a good time, then give something away.” Ronnie Dio (Corning, NY) and his group the Elves used to play at our junior high — Marion Douglas dances. I also knew Mark DeCerbo (Four Eyes) from the boy’s choir at school. I also did a few gigs with Gary Wilson. In college I was a DJ on the radio and played in a country west - ern band. CS: How’d you get to San Diego? MJ: In ’75, me and my buddies moved to San Diego. DeCerbo had already migrated here. We started a band called Copenhagen and played Webb’s (now Winston’s) and the Elbow Room (now 7-10 Club) along with every dive bar, military base, and keg party possible. I also met Tomcat [Courtney] that year. In ’77 we recorded a 45 and then I went on tour with

6 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch In the Mode: Playing the Mountain Dulcimer by Andy Robinson and is strummed or plucked. and play harmonics. You can use a capo, Most mountain dulcimers are shaped bend or mute strings, finger-pick, and play he mountain or “fretted” dul - somewhat like a stretched-out violin, leads. You can play with the dulcimer held cimer is a delicate-sounding although elongated teardrop and rectangle against the body like a guitar (if you have T stringed instrument from the shapes are also common. One way to play a long fingers). Some people even prop it up Appalachia region of the U.S. It is likely dulcimer involves sliding a smooth wooden and play with a bow. There are dulcimer based on a number of European folk instru - dowel, or “noter,” over the melody strings stands if you’d rather stand up and play. The ments, such as Germany’s Scheitholt , or the with one hand, while picking or strumming dulcimer may not be designed for all these Langeleik from Norway, but in its present with the other. You don’t have to use a noter techniques, but that doesn’t mean you can’t 100-year-old form, the dulcimer is typically – a finger works just fine – but noter playing experiment with them. American. Because of its quiet voice and creates a sweet sound that few other instru - Dulcimers generally have four strings. unusual appearance, many musicians over - ments can duplicate. This old-time method of There are two unwound melody strings, look the dulcimer; you’ll sometimes find one playing is a bit like playing one-finger piano, tuned alike and positioned close together, so decorating a wall rather than being played. although, because of the dulcimer’s open tun - that they can be played as one (some older Perhaps this article, with its tuning informa - ing, strumming across all the strings creates a dulcimers don’t have the second melody tion and basic playing techniques, will help partial chord, and it sounds a lot cooler than string). Next, there is an unwound “middle” get some dulcimers off the wall and back into one-finger piano. I’ve seen many self-pro - string and a wound bass string. Music stores players’ hands. fessed “non-musicians” beam while plucking that cater to acoustic musicians sometime Incidentally, the name “dulcimer” applies out a simple melody, complete with droning sell dulcimer string sets, but I buy individual to two different instruments. The hammer harmonies, within minutes of sitting down strings, so that I can get particular gauges: dulcimer is a larger, trapezoidal shaped with a dulcimer for the first time. .012s for the melody strings, .015 for the instrument that rests on a stand and is played So, the dulcimer is a relatively simple middle string, and .026 for the bass string. with two miniature wooden hammers. Our instrument to play, but that doesn’t mean it Acoustic or electric guitar strings will work. subject is the smaller mountain dulcimer, isn’t a serious instrument. You can play Tunings for the dulcimer correspond to which sits on a player’s lap, has fewer strings, advanced chords on it, use different tunings, musical “modes.” What is a mode? A scale is an ordered series of musical intervals, right? Well, a mode is an eight-note scale that does - n’t include flats and sharps (the black keys on a piano,) and each mode has its particular sound – cheerful, haunting, melancholy, and so forth. Here are some popular dulcimer tunings with their corresponding modal information. The doubled letters signify the pitch of the melody strings, followed by the Robinson and his dulcimer middle and bass strings. Melody strings are pitched fairly high. For example, an “A” is pitched to A above middle C on the piano, DD-A-D music theory, or just want to appear with the bass string tuned like you would This is D Mixolydian. The Mixolydian mode inscrutable. tune the fourth string of a guitar. is played on the melody string, open string to I keep my main dulcimer tuned D-A-D 1 7th fret. most of the time, because it’s a versatile Contemporary builders have added a 6 /2 fret (usually noted as 6+) to the traditional CC-A-D tuning for playing in a variety of keys, but A- dulcimer fretboard, so that modern scales can This is D Aeolian. The Aeolian mode is A-D is a good tuning for beginners. When be played. This is cool, if a little confusing: played on the melody string, frets 1-8. performing, I’ll usually bring a couple of dul - that darn 6+ fret sure looks like the 7th fret, cimers, each tuned differently, to cut down but it’s not, because if we called it fret 7, it GG A D on re-tuning in between songs. would mean that all the old dulcimer TAB This is D Dorian. The Dorian mode is played I hope I’ve stimulated your interest in this would have to be thrown out or re-written! on the melody string, frets 4-11. cool and unusual instrument. There’s a lot To play the modes listed below, you’ll These tunings are transferable to other more to learn, so I encourage you to check need to skip the 6+ fret, if your dulcimer has keys. For instance, you can tune BB-B-E, and out these wonderful recording artists, dul - one. How can you tell? Dulcimers have fret still be in an Ionian tuning. You should try cimer builders, and reference sources: intervals that alternate in size. If your dul - them all (and make up your own,) but fre - Richard Fariña cimer’s fifth fret is the first in a succession of quent re-tuning takes a toll on strings, so be http://www.richardandmimi.com four equidistant frets, then you’ve got a 6+ gentle when you experiment, and have some David Schnaufer fret. extra strings handy. http://www.myspace.com/davidschnaufer By the way, when people ask how you’re AA-A-D Lois Hornbostel tuned, tell them “A-A-D,” or whatever, This is the D Ionian tuning. The Ionian mode http://www.loishornbostel.com is played on the melody string, frets 3-10. instead of, “I’m in the D Ionian mode,” unless you enjoy long conversations about Jerry Rockwell http://www.jcrmusic.com Black Mountain Instruments http://www.blackmtninstruments.com Folkcraft Instruments http://www.folkcraft.com Dulcimer Player’s News http://www.dpnews.com/ www.everythingdulcimer.com Connie Allen offers free bi-monthly dulcimer get-togethers at her home in Clairemont. [email protected] Other artists who play dulcimer: Joni Mitchell (much of her Blue album was written and recorded on dulcimer) The Rolling Stones (Brian Jones played dul - cimer on “Lady Jane”) Cyndi Lauper (Lauper used to take lessons from David Schnaufer) Wendy Waldman (Wendy plays dulcimer quite a bit on her various projects, including the new Refugees CD. www.therefugees.com) Me (Please check out some of the music I’ve made on dulcimer. You can hear my tongue- in-cheek dulcimer anthem, “I Play the Dulcimer,” at www.andyrobinsonmusic.com, and you can hear clips from my solo album, Exotic America , at www.cdbaby.com/andy - robinson.) Dulcimer questions? Contact me at [email protected]. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch A Grateful Randi Driscoll Gives Back 365 Days a Year

ten-year involvement with the Matthew “It is a very intimate room and the way and finding out that the space that I am in Shephard Foundation. To mark the occa - they have it set up makes it really listener now is much better than I could have ever sion, Driscoll criss-crossed the country in friendly,” Driscoll said. “That night I played imagined. I am happier right now than I October playing 10 gigs in 10 cities aiming with Noah Heldman, who I have been tour - have ever been.” to raise $10,000 for the foundation’s cause ing with for about eight years and John One of the themes found on all of of erasing hate and promoting understand - Katchur. I think the last time I played with Driscoll’s CDs is the importance she places ing, compassion, and acceptance. John was about seven years ago at a Java on friendship. “I also do a lot of work for an organiza - Joe’s gig, so it was great to see him. I would “I am in a place right now of being real - tion out of Wisconsin called A.R.C.H, definitely play there again. I think that ly grateful right now for my life and for my (Association for the Rights of Citizens with could turn into a really great place to hear friends. That is one of the themes I think Handicaps). I’ve been doing two concerts a acoustic music.” that comes through in all of my CDs. year for seven years for them. They are very Driscoll has found in Heldman an occa - Another theme on 3 65 Days is what a differ - small, but they are a great organization. I sional writing partner and a great friend. ence a year makes.” met them at an outreach I was doing for the Sometimes he produces for her when Larry Driscoll has two upcoming San Diego Matthew Shephard Foundation. Their exec - Mitchell isn’t available. A jack of all trades, performances currently on tap with more utive director asked me if I might be inter - Heldman plays the guitar, bass, and percus - expected in the coming weeks. On ested in working with them. Once I flew sion. December 5, at 7pm she will join Tim out there the first time to meet the kids and “He plays at least 70 percent of my Flannery and his friends in their annual their staff that was it. I couldn’t stop going.” shows with me and what an amazing part - show aboard the Star of India Two nights “Through meeting those people I made ner he is! We have an amazing connection later, on December 7, Randi Driscoll’s Damn contact with another organization that they on stage and as friends. He is such an easy Jingle Ball will take place at 7pm at have coupled with, the Shaken Baby going guy and that is exactly what you need Escondido’s Chalice Unitarian Church at Randi Driscoll Alliance,” Driscoll continued. “Babies that when you are traveling around the country 2324 Miller Ave. It is a benefit concert cre - are shaken often develop traumatic brain dragging 50 pounds worth of drums and a ated to find shelter for the homeless during injuries and awful [lifelong] handicaps. So I 70-pound keyboard and there are flight the holidays and it will feature several local by John Philip Wyllie interview. As always, I found Driscoll brim - started doing work with them. First I sang delays, rainstorms, and rental car night - artists. For these and other upcoming ming with enthusiasm and as passionate as at a [benefit] bike ride in Mexico and then I mares. He goes through a lot of that with events as well as information about her ood news for local acoustic music ever about the many causes that have did a song for their video. One cause often me and it is so nice to have someone with soon to be released CD go to fans. Following stints in New York inspired her. leads to another, but charities are so impor - such a great attitude and who sees the big http://www.myspace.com/randidriscoll Gand Los Angeles, singer/songwriter “Charity work has always been impor - tant. I feel like it is really my calling to do picture. Noah has been a great blessing in Randi Driscoll has returned to live once tant to me. It is a way for me to give back that.” my life. I am lucky to be surrounded by again in America’s finest city. Even better, and to be involved with some pretty impor - Having spent a lot of time in New York really good people and really good musi - Driscoll, who has recorded several memo - tant charities. Naturally, the Matthew [Driscoll was born next door in New Jersey] cians. rable CDs including, Climb , The Play , and Shephard Foundation is the charity that I she became involved in various charities For years, Driscoll’s piano-driven com - most recently Lucky , is in the process of have worked closest with since I am on there. positions have showcased her sometimes putting finishing touches on a new CD, due their advisory board.” “In New York I do a lot of work with sultry and sometimes beautifully soaring out at year’s end. She is also likely to pop Ten years ago Matthew Shephard, a gay Breaking the Cycle, which is one of the vocals. Many of these songs have evoked up in the coming months at such venues at college student at the University of AIDS charities back there. I keep busy, but lost love and sadness or the struggle of liv - the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley and Wyoming was pistol whipped, badly beaten it is really important work. It gives me a ing the vagabond lifestyle that musicians are Lestat’s. Finally, Driscoll will team up once and robbed by two men who then left him good feeling because I know that I am often forced to endure. It will be interesting again with Tim Flannery this fall and winter to die tied to a fence in a remote area near doing what I can to make a difference.” to see how that may change on this new CD as he makes his annual migration from the Laramie. It was one of the most vicious When she is not performing for this or now that she is newly married and happier baseball diamond to the musical spotlight. hate crimes of all time. It was also the inspi - that charity you will find her in clubs and than she has been in years living once again Following an energetic show at the ration for Driscoll’s poignant signature song, coffeehouses. One that impressed her in San Diego. Handlery this summer, we arranged a phone “What Matters” and the beginning of her recently was the Handlery Hotel. “When I go through hard times writing is the best form of therapy for me. I would do it even if I wasn’t performing. It is very interesting to me to see the kind of music that comes out [based upon her mood]. On the new album [titled 365 Days ] there is still a lot of reflection about things that have happened. It’s about a year in my life begin - ning at the end of 2006. It reflects back on the months of that year when I was coming out of something not so great and then find - ing out that everything happens for a rea - son. It is about the end of something dark

8 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch Flamenco Night at Spreckles: Sketches of Spain and More

by Paul Hormick who studied with both Pepe and Celine list, and a string quartet. The previous Romero by the age of 16, Maldonado is disks have been totally instrumental, but assionate yet elegant, Flamenco part of the wave of musicians who, like the new one will feature Maldonado music engages the body, mind, and Liebert, have been combining jazz, rock, singing on a few numbers as well. “Yes, Pspirit as only this supremely folk, and other Latin music with tradi - for some people this might be surprising, Spanish music can. Hands clap and tional flamenco to create what is called but my brothers and I have always sung,” dancers’ heels stamp against the floor, Nuevo Flamenco. Maldonado emphasizes he says. “We would get requests to per - while guitarists wildly strum their instru - that the basis for his music is the flamen - form a Ricky Martin song or to perform ments. This exuberant Latin music will co that was loved by his family and the one of the Gipsy Kings’ numbers. So we send some sparks flying at the Spreckles music he heard as a child. Although he would sing. I just thought it was time to Theatre this month. incorporates new styles and influences, incorporate that into my CDs.” The proj - Planned as the first in a series of con - he has great respect for traditional fla - ect has taken two years of work, with certs that feature traditional flamenco menco music. As he says, “You have to Maldonado writing the compositions, and its modern hybrids, the concert is know the rules before you break them.” arranging the instrumentation, and the result of one man’s love of flamenco. Most of the other music he blends with spending recording time in the studio. Spring, summer, winter, and fall, Tyler flamenco is what he heard when he was Maldonado has never had a large Monks wants San Diego to have a concert growing up, from the Beatles to nineties advertising budget, yet he consistently of flamenco music sometime during each grunge. sells out his shows and has had great suc - season. He envisions the summer concert Maldonado performs in a variety of cess with his music. As he sees it, the being a full festival, featuring dancing configurations, from duos and trios to secret is in the music itself. “People don’t and food, as well as the fiery music. full ensembles. He will be performing just like this music, they love this music,” A record producer and guitarist who with his entire band, which includes his he says. “Otmar Liebert, the Gipsy Kings, loves all things about the instrument, brother Hector and possibly his brother you won’t hear them getting airplay, but Monks, who does not play flamenco him - Luis as well, for the concert at Spreckles they always have very successful tours. self, first fell under the spell of the Theatre . He writes and arranges all the The corporate recording industry is miss - Spanish guitar sound when he heard compositions for his band, and he says ing out by not investing in and support - Otmar Liebert’s compilation CD Barcelona that each tune is a reflection of the emo - ing these artists more.” Ironically, it’s the Nights . He noticed how others enjoyed tions he has experienced in his life. The lack of corporate interest that Maldonado the music and how popular Liebert as ensemble will be augmented with addi - credits for some of his success. “I am my well as the Gipsy Kings were, but was tional performers. Joining the ensemble own booking agent and record producer; David Maldonado flummoxed by the inconsistencies that will be a violinist, a violist, a saxophone I am my own everything. I have com - he heard and saw when it came to how player, and a flamenco dancer who will plete control over what I do. The record Maldonado was able to fend him off. Moore, linguistics professor at UCSD), the music was performed and presented. also sing with the band. companies want certain formulas. They’ll Maldonado’s friend, Kendra Beebe, sur - who will perform traditional flamenco “When I moved to San Diego in 2000, I Coming out around the time of the say that a part of a song can’t be longer vived the attack; without Maldonado she music while traditional flamenco dancers saw and heard a great deal of flamenco concert will be Angels and Almas , than a few bars or that you have to leave may not have been so lucky. Maldonado strut and stomp. A castanet or two might music, but no one was wanting to feature Maldonado’s newest CD, and it has him part of the composition out. When that is philosophical when he talks about the click and clack as well. The recently it,” says Monks. “If you had a flamenco more excited than any of his previous happens the music suffers.” incident. He says, “Part of my music is to formed guitar duo of Adam Schydlower band playing at a party or a restaurant, recordings. “It’s my best piece of work,” With the horrible memory still fresh, promote peace. There was a point when I and Daniel Dever, who perform together they would stick them over in a corner he says. For his previous recording, Maldonado gets chills when he talks grabbed the knife by the blade and I as Paper Moon, will bring their collection where no one would listen to them.” Maldonado turned himself into a studio about the attack, which was covered don’t know how I didn’t get my hand of flamenco, Gypsy swing, and New Age Monks hopes that this concert and the animal, pressing all the buttons and per - extensively in local newspapers. In cut. But I got the knife from him. I could to the Spreckles stage. forming on most, if not all of the instru - August while visiting a friend, an series will help change the reception for have killed him, but I threw the knife Noche de Flamenco, an evening of flamenco ments. For this disk he brought in other assailant wielding a knife burst into her flamenco. away.” and Latin jazz will be held on Saturday, musicians to perform as his backing San Marcos home. The attacker stabbed Headlining the event is local artist Besides Maldonado, the concert will November 22, 7pm, at the Spreckles Theatre, ensemble, including conga players, a cel - the young woman several times, but David Maldonado. A musical prodigy feature guitarist Juan Moro (aka John 121 Broadway, downtown San Diego.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

considering this is supposed to be “practice.” “You have to by Tim Mudd understand the way the Flimz work. If we’re screwing up a song, we just move on.” Quite content in her support, Amy ot sexy moms playing music! This was breezily adds, “It’ll come back to us.” I imagine that years of the response I got from founding-Flim ever-forward momentum in the trial and error of parenthood Annie Dru when I inquired into her probably influenced this process greatly. As far as the Flimz’ off-stage persona goes, Annie, for the The Flimz preferred direction for this article. “Well at least it’ll be less mentally tax - most part, appears to run the show during interviews and k c o

ing than my last cover story on Will rehearsals, with the demeanor of a class president who c n

H a

Edwards!” I joked... As usual I was wrong. The Flimz (remove knows she doesn’t really wield the overriding power of a H

n the ‘z’ and spell it backwards... no, really, just do it. I’ll wait) teacher but does her best to hold everything together none h o J

: are a force to be reckoned with. They hot Mom’s and they the less. Amy most certainly appears to be the class clown o

are t o do play music; I’d comment on the sexy part if their respective (just ask her to fashion some impromptu white-girl beats for h P husbands and six sons between them weren’t either already you sometime) until you touch on a subject for which she or destined to be bigger than I. In all honesty though, these truly cares and wants to connect over. Both women possess were the least of my concerns. this depth in sensitivity, which once again has likely been Even though I know she was speaking in jest, I have a learned from their combined years as wives and mothers. The very hard time believing that anyone involved in any kind of loveliest part of my Flimz rehearsal experience was that with - creative process could be as shallow as the opening quote out the lights and the outfits and the props, they are just one suggests. You see, when it comes to definition, men are usu - guitar and two voices... and it still works. ally pretty easy: their feelings are linear, their intentions are A few days prior to the rehearsal, I’d taken the opportuni - generally hard to misinterpret, their ambitions and achieve - ty to sit down with the Flimz for a more focused conversation. ments are dominated by logic and pragmatism, sometimes to Despite their relatively short 18-month tenure as a group, the a fault. Men are a living process, the routine of human beings. Flimz already appeared to be demonstrating the traits of an I wish to God I had a better analogy, but women on the other old married couple, a point that I brought to their attention... hand are like onions. Aside from the obvious retort (anything “I think that’s true,” Annie shares. There’s a very deep to do with tears?) they have a vast number of layers . Each of and abiding respect and appreciation on both sides. I’ve these layers may only be discovered depending on the level of always felt as though Amy got me. From the moment she comfort achieved in any given moment, balanced by the came and sat next to me at one of our son’s water polo accrued trust over time. Revocation of these access privileges games, she came across as a person who didn’t come with is a constantly reserved right by the provider. Bring any pre-conceived ideas; her spirit was very open and very Motherhood into the equation and you’ve got a whole new willing to take me in unconditionally. That’s not necessarily level of intuitive and instinctive prowess that when fueled typical of the suburban sport-mom environment. Like any with experience - try as they may - men will never truly under - social group or community, there’s a lot of posing that goes stand. Armed with this knowledge, the intelligent approach on; there’s a lot of disingenuous conversation and behavior would have been to have simply written a two-thousand word that happens. When Amy came and sat next to me it was very fluff piece on hot sexy mom’s playing music... but no, [clears clear that she’d seen some life and was interested in knowing throat] someone had to try and be all clever and creative. my story. I had an instant sense of someone I could really be You see, the key to a seat in the Flimdom of Heaven is that myself with who is really open to finding out who I am and you should consider the music of the Flimz as you would a appreciating me for who I am. It’s been that way through the beautiful, mature, and intelligent woman: their sound is their years I have known her.” looks and their words transverse the space between their It’s almost like an underlying theme of the Flimz: they’ve hearts and minds. They may sound like a fairground carousel built upon a mutual respect and compassion about where crossed with a naughty duet recital at the local convent’s they have both been and what they’ve experienced. It’s also annual music competition, however - like the onion analogy - been important in drawing out the feelings and emotions that if you take the time and look deeper and really listen to the are truly important to them, too. I don’t know many artists messages behind the words, you’ll discover a world of purely who are able to maintain a family, a healthy relationship, AND female and maternal wisdom. Having spent so much time with still express themselves in the ways in which they’re best at... them in the last few weeks, I’m going to do my best to con - I still believe it’s the juggling Mom assets that they apply to clude this thought as Amy Mayer possibly would, “We’re not make it all work so well. publishing Cliff Notes here, boys! You ain’t been easy and “Women can be very self-judgmental, through which we’re done being all soft! So run along and listen to our stuff! they’re generally very hard on themselves and each other. Invest a little time and ye shall be rewarded!” Once you start down that path, it immediately starts being That sounds about right. projected. The community I spoke of is a very hard place to The Flimz: Annie Dru and Amy Mayer

P find true acceptance and I think that most women walk h o t o around with a mask on because of the unforgiving guilt we more palatable because the options are more in line with do something different – we’re just talking about our experi - :

J o place on ourselves as wives and mothers. We feel as though

h what’s generally acceptable forms of behavior.” ences, that’s all.” n

H we haven’t done it well enough and we’ve let people down in Annie continues, “Basically, we have a deep and abiding a n

c part due to the perfect mother image that you inherit as a respect for each other, our gifts and our desire to pursue THE BOYZ o c

k young girl. You start with this ideal of the type of woman that It’s easy for anyone to sit down in front of you and tell you

/ them. Amy’s so talented and I feel it’d be an absolute crime if P i e you’re going to be, but when you get down to the nitty-gritty, how great they are, how much they’ve achieved or how impor -

: she didn’t manifest that. I’m sure she feels the same way

L i

z you’re thrown into the fire and have no choice other than to tant their ideas are; it’s another thing entirely to sit, watch,

about me and I believe this creates a little safety space for us. A

b and listen to how that person has shaped another life. The lat - b simply start doing the best you can. You make a lot of mis - When I feel like quitting because of the guilt, she pulls me o

t ter is way harder to fake. During – and not just t takes and that’s endemic to motherhood. Where Amy and I back in. If she feels like quitting, I pull her back. The way our the Talkz because they are proud moms – Annie and Amy drew many grew up [Missouri and Iowa respectively], that was the expec - voices work together is the analogy for the way our spirits parallels between themselves and two of their sons, Harry tation, but it was important to me. I had a very strong mother - work together: we work in harmony. We truly do become more (Annie’s youngest) and Cole (Amy’s eldest). Annie suggested ing instinct, but I also believe this is partially a Midwestern than the sum of our parts together and it’s only because we thing. I knew from the time I was four or five years old that I interviewing the two boys for this story, an idea that I initially bring out in each other the areas we may be a little hesitant to rejected before seeing its symbiotic beauty. I then spent the wanted to be a mommy. I wanted to have a family and wanted manifest. Be that person you want to be. When you finally get next three days re-convincing them of the idea. A few days to do it perfectly. I think - and a lot of women feel this way – past the social stigma attached, with all of these build-up after that , I sat down with Harry and Cole. end up falling short of their own goal and then they take it out emotions over the years, it’s a very liberating experience. We Coming from the European culture over a decade ago, on each other. It’s harsh and unforgiving when you’d have have a built-in audience for ourselves in each other so we I’ve become somewhat used to the lowered expectations in The Flimz: As American as apple pie! thought there’d be a lot of empathy there.” could literally sit in our kitchen and do it all day long. We get Californian teenagers. I’m generalizing a little, however this is “For me, I felt I was very blessed living in Los Angeles,” together and play music because it just feels right . not meant to be a condescending slight; it’s mainly due to I walked into my first Flimz rehearsal about an hour late Amy says. “I never really entertained friends from the acting My final question involved any misconceptions about the less legal responsibility over many social issues and a raised to find Annie Dru (the straight-(wo)man of the group) cradling world because I felt they were some of the most messed up Flimz, which they’d like to adjust or set straight for the record. age of understood adulthood. In total contrast to my pre-con - her guitar, swaying back and forth in a rocking chair. Amy people I’d ever met. I had one friend who was, however, very It was more of a courtesy, but I was surprised when their indi - ceived notions, I walked away from my conversation with Mayer (the other one), coyly postured on a couch-bed, and real to me; another Midwestern girl who learned early on as I vidual responses both capped this discussion and let so nice - Harry and Cole very pleasantly surprised. This interview Annie’s husband, Kevin, sitting comfortably with his arms laid did that you should never compete with anyone else, only ly into the rest of the article. turned out to be more than an hour-long conversation that I on each side of a big chair. I took a moment to take in the compete with yourself. As a result of this philosophy, I met a “I do get concerned about this certain tendency people thoroughly enjoyed. What I witnessed were two extremely scene; it was incredibly welcoming and quite serene. Both group of women who were so completely competent that they have to construe us as ‘man-haters’; it’s the only area where I well put together young men who, to possess such clarity, girls were nursing a bottle of Anchor Steam beer and working didn’t need to project out in this manner - they were real and feel misunderstood,” Annie says. “It’s funny to me because a insight, and strength in their beliefs at such a young age was through their new Sarah Palin-inspired song. After a solid run- they were interesting. My husband said something to me lot of the songs I have written have come from the the fact as refreshing as it was surprising. Whatever the structure of through, they sit quietly as Kevin played me the recorded ver - regarding this, which I felt to be very insightful, ‘I’ve noticed that I’ve been married twice and have four sons: I’ve watched their mothers’ caregiving, Harry and Cole are a living testa - ment to its success and a credit to their parents. Following is sion they’d filmed a video for on Sunday. They laugh, make a confident women like you, insecure women don’t.’ He was their reality from a pretty close perspective growing up and a sampling of our conversation. few jokes, then carry on. They start into another song, then right, I met a woman once and he said, ‘Yeah, yeah. Casually experiencing everything that you need to go through, so I for some reason stop and move on to another after a few date that one, don’t go steady.’ He was right! She turned out have an empathy for the male plight, which I feel compelled RE: Their moms’ extracurricular activities. musical hiccups during a bridge harmony. When I inquire to be someone who was not okay with me having other to write about in my songs. I feel like I want to say to men, ‘I Harry: Well, my mom’s been actively involved in music since I about the unfinished song after a few minutes of realizing friends and doing all the things I do. That’s where I’ve learned get it! I feel it! I feel for you, I can see how challenging it is to was about nine; she manages to keep on top of being a mom they really weren’t coming back to it, Annie hushes me as to find people like Annie who are completely accepting of who be a man, I can see the misunderstandings between the AND a musician, which is really cool in my opinion. It’s some - they proceed into “In My Mind” and completely derail that I am. I’ve made the point a number of times that I’m not away sexes, I get the disconnect and I want to try and honor that thing she really likes to do; it’s her passion, so I feel really train as they approach the first chorus. A little later on, Annie from home any more than my neighbor who’s the PTA presi - compassion.’” good about it for her – it’s not like I feel that it really cuts into eases my mind by addressing the issue that I find most odd, dent, as well as a book and a quilting club member. Even Amy’s point was even more succinct. “I’ve always felt like anything she’s “meant to do” as far as my brothers and I are though she’s gone just as much from her family as I am doing there are no victims unless you make yourself a victim, so concerned. theatre or singing in a band or doing rehearsals, it appears even for women, if we don’t like this, move on and change - 10 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

THE BIOZ THE VIDZ Seeing as both Flimz are limited in their ability to take n e

s their act beyond county lines for long periods of time, a r e

d recurring theme during our conversations was how music n A

s videos – supported by ever-developing online tools – were i n

n becoming the best medium to convey their message. e

The Flimz D

: Rather than sending you off, ill-prepared into the o t o

h Googlesphere with a few vague search words, we’ve com - P piled a list of some of their current online highlights, not your average enjoy! “Palin’s VPilf Blues” sweet harmonizing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mEMClPAc0s “If I’m Not Working” hot mom duo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIM2rJSqUA “In My Mind”

n http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=881hsvqe-wU RE: How this example and their mom’s efforts have influenced e s r

them. e d “Everybody Wonders” n

s Cole: Watching my mom outside of simply being a mom has i http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hSHP2XGrvI n n

been a really great experience. I’ve seen what she’s done – e D

k :

what’s worked and what hasn’t. Watching her succeed is awe - c o o t c o n

some but watching her fall down has been an even better h a P H education. She’s taught me that success is all a question of n h

getting back up and going in a better direction. o J Amy Mayer Annie Dru : o t

Having tried out for the cheerleading team in high school and On the occasion of her birth, Annie Dru’s father gave her o

RE: The Flimz’ shared fear that they’re being continually h judged negatively as mothers by playing music. being laughed off stage, rather than feeling the obvious mother a beautiful RCA console hi-fi stereo, which received P Cole: No one cares! No one cares at all ! They’re just being shame and despair most of us would succumb to, Missouri- constant use during their daughter’s formative years. After- women in that they’ve got to have something to stress out native Amy Mayer took heart in the ridiculously positive out - school activities would usually find young Annie with her ear about. Everyone supports them; there’s just got to be some - look that she really enjoyed making people laugh. Having up against the speaker and a finger on the red “on” light, lis - thing , you know? applied the full focus of her new-found energy into high tening to her parents record collection and the sole album she school theater, she was honored by a full scholarship in possessed (by the Partridge Family); she says it was all she RE: The Flimz musical content. Theatre Studies to Missouri State University. Once graduated, remembers wanting to do. Her high school years were spent Harry: I gained a really the wide-eyed Midwesterner was classically lured to L.A. by blaring the radio in her Honda Civic or lying on her bedroom unique perspective on my an agent where she got a waitressing job and, after one year, floor – headphones on – listening to a variety of popular mom’s life with her last proceeded to get bored. Apparently Tibet sounded appealing music, including the Scorpions, Rush, the Cars, the Knack, solo record, which was at the time, so Mayer set off backpacking around the world and Heart. She recalls spending every penny of her babysit - very much about her; her for a year with the man who would become her husband. ting money during this time, indulging her passion with new relationship and her rela - Upon their return to Los Angeles, Mayer worked for ten eight-track tapes or concert tickets. In her own words, the tionship with my brothers years as an actress/waitress/script supervisor/party charac - introduction to Steely Dan and Bob Marley during her college and me. It had little to do Annie’s son Harry ter/agent/Tecate Girls handler and several other jobs she years provided life-changing experiences. However, almost as with anyone else. The apparently doesn’t like to think about. She and her husband a period in this formative musical cycle, it was also during this Mayer as Sarah Palin Flimz feel a lot more light-hearted to me, even if they’re tack - had three children before moving south to San Diego in order time that her parents sold the old RCA in a garage sale. ling some sticky issues, such as their new Sarah Palin parody, to take care of her husband’s mother until her passing. Her Married straight out of college, Dru raised four children to her which I felt very involved in, having spent a whole day togeth - maternal in-law was apparently very much like Tony Soprano’s husband’s smooth jazz collection on that new-fangled CD THE POLITICZ/AUTHORZ NOTE/OP-ED er looking up quotes and facts to help with the song. I really Italian mother on the HBO original series, which may have player technology. By the time this article goes to print, we’ll be mere days enjoyed that interaction. something to do with Mayer’s tryouts for “Thailand Survivor” Aside from the baritone horn compromise in fifth grade away from a presidential election. In fact, depending on to get away for awhile. Her escape plans were quashed how - band (because all of the flute seats were taken), the high when you read this, we already have a new president- RE: Feedback from their friends ever as she was a card carrying, unemployed member of both school musical composition class (which garnered an honor - elect. It’s a time of both exciting and scary choices. I’d be Harry: I think they appeal to a much older crowd. acting unions. able mention in a statewide young composer competition) more than happy for you to disagree with me that the Cole: A lot of my friends think its more fun to laugh about and landing the lead roll in the eighth grade school musical Republican presidential nominee’s choice of running mate how hot our moms are. n e

s “Babes in Toyland,” Annie Dru’s endeavors in music didn’t

l fell into the latter category; in my amateur opinion, howev - e Harry: I get that a lot too. i truly begin until she was newly divorced and 33 years old. N

er, it did. I thought all of my Christmases had come early n

Cole: I don’t even respond to that anymore; I’m desensitized o Influenced to take up the fiddle by her employer at the time,

s when I discovered the Flimz had rushed together one of a J to the whole subject. I mean, their name? C’mon. she began frequenting Clairemont Mesa’s infamous Blarney : their trademark musical/theatrical parodies in honor of o t

Harry: Exactly. o Stone Irish music jams. It was at one such evening that she

h everyone’s favorite Alaskan hockey mom. I mean, serious - P would meet her future (and current) husband, Kevin ly? We’re going to press four-days before an election and a RE: The importance of their male role models Allshouse. A few years into their marriage Annie and Kevin group we’ve had scheduled six months in advance for a Harry: I think there’s both balance and contrast as far as my formed Kitchenfire, an American-Celtic ensemble, with a cou - cover just happens to have picked a personal battle with dad’s concerned. My mom’s always been fun-loving and kinda ple of friends from the Irish session community whose versa - one of the most adaptable media targets since Paris crazy – definitely out there – whereas my dad’s always been tility allowed for a great number of different performing situa - very reserved. He’s really smart and he always kept every - tions – from pubs to weddings and festivals to wakes. As their Hilton? What could possibly be better? I spent the next five thing in check, especially if we got a little too out of hand. I’ve run of the circuit slowed and Kitchenfire all but disbanded, days with little sleep trying to focus around the topically always called my mom a hippy, whereas my dad’s always Annie wrote her first song four months before her fortieth obvious and steer away from “inflammatory edgy writing” been the guy who put a suit and a tie on for work. For their The Flimz in concert birthday and followed this achievement by releasing her first I’m apparently known for, and the American public other - individual natures, I respect album three months later. wise seems so greedy for in their daily media diet. For all them both equally. After a Shakespearean stint with a group called Poor intents and purposes the much smaller, more mature side Cole: My Dad for me was a huge Players and some musical understudying at the La Jolla t of me understands the paper’s position, however basing l u

rock. My mom and I are very Playhouse, Mayer once again found herself staring into the a the article upon this topic and stirring the obvious ire it v o

similar and although I love her C despair of boredom. This time she decided to create her own would receive would have been far more fun for me and e v

to death, we will butt heads playbook by created “Miss Shirley” (www.shirleykids.com), e t my megalomaniac wordsmith tendencies. That said, I S

hard core . Nobody could ever which was billed as “a great assembly presentation for pre - :

o would have considered it to be not only a journalistic fail - t

argue that he was The referee of o school through fifth grade, helping children find their way in h ing, but a personal compromise to not bring the subject of P the house, the first one to be today’s world.” Mayer’s Miss Shirley character visited schools this parody and it’s resulting achievement to light for a lit - called when anything was even singing songs with Christopher Dale, who introduced her to tle extra exposure. If you have any thoughts or comments getting slightly contentious? Jeff Berkley who in turn produced her in-character CD Miss about this topic, my opinions, or my writing in general, Amy’s son Cole That was him. He’s so much the . The natural extension of this Shirley Sees Greatness in You please disengage the Troubadour and its production staff gentle giant – a huge guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly – really nice, song and stage performance was the pitching of the concept from any correspondence and email me personally cool... I don’t know, I love my dad. He’s awesome. as a television show to a producer in L.A. who was interested through [email protected]. I will respond to each with enough to get on board with the project. Mayer continued to RE: Being unpaid roadies for the Flimz great fervor. With all of THAT said... write 13 episodes and a book with her writing partner, George Harry: My mom’s very devoted to her music; she’s just not Sarah Palin has been well-documented in her view Blum. The pair produced a DVD of the stage show, which was The Flimz: What’s not to love? that devoted to carrying her own equipment. that she would never support abortion even in the filmed on the Clairemont High School stage in August 2006. Cole: It’s not even a courteous request; it’s more like, “Hey, Annie Dru came in as the character “Miss Daisy.” This would Within another six months Annie was regularly commut - instance of her own daughter being raped. Conversely, I’m leaving in five and I want ALL this in my car!” I do not technically be their first song together. Unfortunately, the pro - ing between San Diego and Nashville, which continued over she’s supported the Bush administrations troop surge remember signing up for this! We should be talking to a ducer, who had once seemed so keen, dropped Miss Shirley the next nine months until her brush with Music Row publish - since the beginning of our involvement in Iraq (although union. for another venture completely outside of the industry, and ing failed to yield anything substantial toward her ongoing she has gently backed from this position during her time as governor). For her part, the Flimz’ Amy Mayer had this RE: Annie’s healthful tendencies... the television show failed to get picked up by a studio. Tired success. Recording a second album and signing a second to say, “My fetus is 17 years-old and I don’t want him Harry: One thing about my mom is that she’s a really big and dejected, Mayer decided to quit all things creative until publishing deal, this time back home in California, produced going to war.” No matter which way you swing it, she has health nut. she attended one of Annie’s performances at Lestat’s in similar results and left her questioning her efforts until she January 2007. Upon suggesting some harmony ideas and har - met Amy Mayer at a water polo game that their sons were a point as a mother and one which I felt was too important Cole: She’s SUCH a health nut! boring the secret knowledge that she’s always wanted to say competing in. Shortly thereafter the duo begun singing to leave behind. Whether it ends up being a little piece of Harry: She’s really sly about it though. She’ll sneak cod liver she was in a band, the Flimz were born. together and the Flimz released their debut CD less than a nostalgic media history or a scary reminder of a reality we oil in here and feed you stuff there... She’ll say, “Here, try this year later in November 2007. may all be forced to commiserate over, visit Kombucha, it’s good for you.” So I’ll try it, then spit it out to see because it’s disgusting! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mEMClPAc0s the Flimz latest step toward infamy. Cole: (mocking Annie) “You’re going to regret not drinking T.M . this...”

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER

by Dwight Worden BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS IN Year with their “Through the Window of a SOMETHING N EW U NDER THE SUN – effects chain. These are, in order: Preset NASHVILLE Train” from their latest album of the same OR REALLY , A NYWHERE ! Level, Compressor, Amp Model, Notch name on Rounder Records. Recorded Event Filter, Noise Gate, Tone (3 band eq), of the Year went to Everett Lilly and s regular visitors to this column Modulation (chorus, flange, etc.), Sven-Erik Seaholm Everybody and their Brother, featuring a cast can attest, product reviews are Delay, Reverb, Cabinet Models, of stars too long to list; and Andy Hall of the Aintegral to many of our (some - Expression Pedal and FM Frequency. ic playing and guitar volume and each Infamous Stringdusters took the award for what one-sided) discussions here. True, Each of these elements has a graphic features a very convincing tonal signa - Instrumental Album of the Year for his solo it generally leads us into an explo - line that points to one of 12 LEDs ture. release entitled Sound of the Slide Guitar on ration of a broader topic, concept or arrayed along the bottom of the dis - The reverb is featured prominently Sugar hill records, technique, but nothing starts a conver - play window. As each patch is pulled in most of the patches and with good Individual instrument awards went to sation like a really cool toy, right? up, one can quickly see which ele - reason. It simply sounds great . Easily Kristen Scott Benson (banjo – only the third Well gentle readers, have I got a toy ments are in use for a particular patch the closest approximation of integral you woman to win an instrument award, follow - for . amp verb I’ve come across. Ditto the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville ($159 retail) ing multi-year winner Missy Raines on bass It’s called the Tx3 from chorus/flange effects and delay, which and Alison Brown on banjo); Barry Bales up-and-comers FM-Jam (www.fm- are equally dense and artifact free. Movies have the Oscars, and popular music finally won Bass Player of the Year after jam.com). The presets are intuitively laid out in has the Grammys. Bluegrass music has its playing for many years with Alison Krauss The Tx3 is a modeling multi-effects such a way that it takes little time to top awards too, which are awarded every and Union Station and playing this last year guitar processor that faithfully and find something cool and usable, with October at the annual Bluegrass Music during the one year hiatus for AKUS with the realistically provides an amazing array several unexpected but inspiring tonal Awards Show and held during the Dan Tyminski Band. of tones to satisfy even the most gear- stops along the way. Like I said, I’ve International Bluegrass Music Association’s Michael Cleveland again took the award lust afflicted guitar player. been using this in the studio and at annual conference in Nashville. The awards for Best Fiddle Player, and the amazing Rob Amp models run the gamut from impromptu jam sessions a lot, and I show is held at the historic home of the Ickes of Blue Highway took Dobro Player of clean and punchy “Fender”-like charac - have not only had a ball with it, but it Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Year honors. This marks the tenth –count teristics to balls-out “Marshall” squall, also just flat-out sounds wonderful. is quite the show. As a new board member ‘em ten – times Rob has won the award for with stops at “Vox”s gritty chime and Got a kid who wants to learn to play of IBMA, I had the privilege of attending the Dobro Player of the Year and this win gives wasp-like psychedelic garage-fuzz along electric guitar, but are dreading count - pre-awards banquet and meeting some of him more wins in a single category than any - the way. less deafening hours of practice? Your the stars of the show, which, of course, I one in the history of the IBMA Awards. Quite The Tx3 also includes a host of fledgling Angus Young can get HUGE attended. If you missed it, you can hear a re- a feat. Josh Williams took the prize for editable effects as well, including tones at volumes lower than a confer - broadcast of the show on Wayne Rice’s Guitar Player of the Year, and Adam Steffey reverb, chorus, delay, compression, and ence call, or you can even use head - “Bluegrass Special” on KSON radio, 97.3, again took the honors for Mandolin Player of notch filtering and almost all of the phones for silent operation. and in North County on 92.1FM on Sunday, the Year. presets (50 factory, 50 user-definable) Wish you could take your guitar to November 9, 10pm-midnight.. Check his include them as an integral part of the beach or the mountains or a corn - website for specifics at their sound. There’s even a handy field or even the tundra? The Tx3 is http://kson.com/bluegrass. built-in tuner. completely self-contained, and the FM This year’s show was hosted by the Sure, we’ve all had some experience by whether its corresponding LED is transmission is crystal clear in even the great Del McCoury, who looked resplendent with devices of this sort, whether it’s illuminated. most remote locations. in his tux, flashing his patented smile. The the Line6 POD, or the Adrenalinn, or The unit is powered on by simply I even used this with two boom evening’s highest award, Entertainer of the other models from Digitech and inserting your standard quarter-inch boxes as a vocal PA in a setting that Year, was presented by Vince Gill. Along Yamaha, but this baby has a secret guitar cable into the unit’s input. Once was free of electricity, and the results with the awards presentations, the show weapon that is so simultaneously sim - you’re plugged in, you can either set were excellent! presented live top bluegrass music by Blue ple and ingenious that it should have up your FM radio and begin “rockcast - FM-Jam’s Tx3 sounds incredible, Highway, Daley and Vincent, Ricky Skaggs all of the manufactures mentioned ing,” or just plug the output into your works great, and is more fun than I’ve and Kentucky Thunder, the Infamous above slapping their foreheads in frus - recording setup, guitar amp, or PA. It’s had playing guitar in a very long time. It transmits it signal Stringdusters, the Del McCoury Band, and trated bemusement: the Swiss army knife of guitar proces - I’ve also had fun running vocals, drum over an FM band. more. It was a great show! But, before I tell sors loops, and keyboards through its very “What makes that so special?” you who won, you may have noticed that you The unit powers up in professional-sound set, extending my bluegrass does not have a nickname for its may be asking. “Performance” mode and you can musical possibilities that much further. award, so some discussion has been going Think about it a minute. Look quickly preview the large variety of Whether you’re doing some country on about that. Some suggest that we call the around the room you’re in (or if you’re preset tones by scrolling among then pickin’, jazz exploration or straight award the “grassies” or maybe the “mon - outside, just look around). How many rockin’, I am confident you’ll have as 10-time winner Rob Ickes via the left and right “bean” buttons. roes” or the “billies.” If you have thoughts clock radios or stereo tuners or boom Once you’ve selected a tone you like, much fun with the FM-Jam as I have, about what to name it, let me know at sdb - Along with these awards to active musi - boxes or cars with FM radios are near - further tweaking can be accomplished and at this price, it could be the moth - [email protected]. If I get some good cians, the IBMA inducted Bill Clifton and by? ANY of them can be turned into by entering the “Edit” mode. Just press er of all musical stocking stuffers! suggestions, I’ll run them in a future column. an amazing guitar amp RIGHT NOW. Charles K. Wolfe into the IBMA Hall of Fame a “wing” button. Sven-Erik Seaholm is an award-winning inde - for their lifetime of achievements. On a local All one has to do is plug a guitar So, how does it SOUND, already? You pendent record producer and recording artist. note, San Diego’s Chris Stuart of Chris Stuart into the Tx3, turn on the radio, and may be asking. Find him on the web at svensongs.com, and BackCountry took the award for Best tune it to one of five available frequen - Brilliant! kaspro.com and myspace.com/svenseaholm voila! Print Media Person of the Year. Chris also cy bands and You are rockin’ in The amp models are rich and realistic, served as scriptwriter for the show. You can the free world, my friends. with a sexy, tactile response to dynam - visit the IBMA web site at www.ibma.org to Lest anyone get the impression that read more about these and the other awards this is some sort of novelty with limit - and about the winners. ed usability, let me offer this: I recently used this for a track I recorded for an upcoming compilation album. It fea - tured 12 different guitar parts, and I used the Tx3 exclusively for all of them. In the words of Sasha Cohen’s Borat , “I like – is nice.” The Winners : Daley and Vincent, com - The unit itself is fairly compact (7î L prised of Jamie Daley, who played with x 4.5î W x 1.5î D + 3î Antenna) and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for years as extraordinarily easy to hold, due to its his high tenor, and Darrin Vincent, brother of light weight and ergonomic, guitar-like Rhonda Vincent and long-time member of shape. It sits in one hand very comfort - Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder were the ably, while freeing up the other for eas - hot item for the night. Not only did Daley and ily navigating through its parameters Vincent win Entertainer of the Year – an via four “bean” buttons (up, down, unusual feat for a band out in only its first left, right) and two “wing” buttons year – but they also won Vocal Group of the (left and right). The back of the unit Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, Album of hosts the four AA batteries and a the Year for their first album, Daley and handy “Quick Start” guide. Vincent, on Rounder Records, won Gospel At the bottom of the unit, there are Song of the Year for “By the Mark” from jacks for Guitar Input, Stereo their album, and Jamie Daley took honors for Headphone/Line Out, and DC Power, Best Male Vocalist of the Year. Quite a haul as well as an Expression Pedal Input for this first-year band, but they deserve it! If and a unique “Mini-Jam” input for you haven’t heard them, go get their album; linking up multiple Tx3s for broadcast or better yet, attend the Blyth Festival in over the same FM band. January and see them in person. The two-digit numeric patch display Other Winners : Instrumental Group of sits in a window located at the top of the Year – Michael Cleveland and the unit’s face and is very easy to see, Flamekeeper; Female Vocalist of the Year even from several feet away. saw a repeat win for Dale Ann Bradley; Blue Also located in the display window Highway took the honors for Song of the are the elements of each patch’s 24-bit 12 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Radio Phiillosophy,, Art,, Cullture,, & Musiic Hosing Down STAGES by José Sinatra Daze by Peter Bolland world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel inse - PLAYING SMALL cure around you… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people ike all artists, musicians are caught permission to do the same. As we’re liberated between two conflicting fears. We’re from our own fear, our presence automatically afraid no one will come to the show. L liberates others. And we’re afraid they will. We can’t decide Our practiced unwillingness to cultivate which is worse: failure or success. our own greatness deserves deeper reflec - We need an audience, but we really want tion and contemplation than we normally to be alone. We loath the anonymity of fail - allow. What if she’s right? What if the possi - ure almost as much as we fear the utter bility of our wild success is more paralyzing exposure of success. than the possibility of our utter failure? If you aspire to be anything in this life – José Sinatra completes a self-portrait Why do we feed, day after day, on the bitter a teacher, a butcher, a baker, a candlestick bread of our own indifference, our own apa - HUMANITARIANISM IN A TIME OF help him excrete his art. I felt embraced by maker, or, God forbid, a singer songwriter – Jim McInnes thy, our own resentment? Why, now, have CRISIS you’re going to have to negotiate this para - a jealous exhilaration not unlike one feels we given up? Surely the fear of failure is an doxical minefield. Many of us are paralyzed. I’ve decided, finally, to record the solo upon noticing two pups joined at the hips inadequate explanation. by Jim McInnes We don’t take the next step because we album the world was born to hear. It was and unable to pursue their opposite paths. Where did we get the message that our don’t want to get blown up. not a decision easily arrived at; I had spent Why, I wondered, could I not make an greatness was threatening to others? Where But what is it really that’s holding us several hours debating all the pros and album all by myself? The Social Event of did we learn the lie that the best way to back? cons when the idea first flowered over a Because it requires talent, you dip. The help other people feel good about them - the Fall The common assumption is that we fear decade ago. But convicts and prostitutes question of whether I do have the goods selves was to mute our brilliance? Who told aren’t the most reliable sounding boards was affirmatively answered in six out of failure. We don’t reach for greatness because y wife Sandi and I were among us that we did not deserve love, prosperity, for such concerns, which became clear ten coin tosses I proceeded to execute, we’re convinced we’ll fall short. We don’t the lucky throng to attend the health, and joy? And why did we so readily when I awoke the next morning robbed effectively executing the question itself. want to look stupid. It’s so much easier to October 4th marriage of Jazz believe them? and beaten in a dirty alley, plopped in a Now the path is clear and empty musi - M hold still, risk nothing, and nurture the illu - Somehow we confused mastery with 88.3 Program Director Claudia Russell to sion that we’re satisfied with our incomple - lonely puddle of my own bruised genius. cal vistas await the footprints of my size arrogance, creative abundance with egotism, 10 1/ boots, the melodious notes of my our good friend, music manager and tion. We wear our dissatisfaction like a The idea had gone comatose by the time I 2 brilliance with narcissism. We are right to record company mogul Scott Chatfield. badge. found my way home, and I spent most of keyboards, the swelling cries and plain - guard against arrogance, egotism, and nar - It took place at the Silver Pines Lodge But there’s another, subtler fear that lurks the ensuing years singing with a pretty tive gurglings of my freshly oil-changed cissism. But we are wrong, dead wrong, to in beautiful Idyllwild. We hadn’t been to behind the more obvious one. Fear of fail - bitching band, writing stuff like this col - throat. Truly unleashed, I shall proudly eschew mastery, creative abundance, and Idyllwild in 20 years, so the ceremony ure is one thing. What about fear of suc - umn, taking some pictures, and just gener - mark this territory and obtain glorious brilliance in the name of a distorted notion was our incentive to revisit that sleepy cess? ally getting to know myself better. (This relief. Let no bitch betray me. of humility. mountain hamlet. We booked a cute Marianne Williamson, in her bestselling last activity, which began so cordially and Of course, there’s a duh factor in the On the contrary, is it not ultimately more cottage in the woods for two nights. The book A Return to Love: Reflections on the compellingly, eventually started to get a timing of my enterprise as well: Gregory egotistical to hide our light for fear of look - owner even let us bring our dog, Principles in a Course in Miracles, wrote very bit ugly, so I swore it off.) Page recently announced that his forth - ing foolish? What are we protecting? Real Zeppelin. powerfully on this subject. This quote has I’ve received hundreds of letters in coming work, Bird in a Cage , will be his humility would be to get our ego out of the been circulating the Internet for years. It is recent months, all containing pretty much last recording. So much for the competi - It rained on the wedding day and way and honor the gifts we have been so often mistakenly attributed to Nelson the same message: Hose, when are you tion. Thank you, Lord. Sandi and I were overjoyed. We love graciously given by the all-knowing mind of Mandela. That’s because he adapted this going to burp up that solo album that has Some kind of quirky marketing tool is rain! Almost everyone there was cool the universe – to cultivate the courage and passage for his inauguration speech in 1994 been inside you for so long? It became so always a plus in today’s overcrowded with it. Someone mentioned that rain on discipline to live fully, fearlessly, and when he was elected the first black presi - aggravating that my attorneys, two private music market, so I’m toying with the idea one’s wedding day was a good omen. authentically, full speed ahead and damn the dent of South Africa, a country painfully investigators, and a big-time restraining of releasing it first only on 8-track cas - Since the ceremony was outdoors, torpedoes. emerging from the mud of apartheid. order were necessary in order to restore sette, perhaps in reaction to all the though, there was some grumbling. We stare through the bars of our fear- Mandela had been imprisoned by the white the tranquility that I, like most artists wor - Internet snobbery I’ve come to despise. Prior to the nuptials, music was pro - wrought prison; we torture ourselves with regime for 27 years. He had a lot of time to thy of their own seed, require for proper Besides, I’ve always appreciated the vided by guitar legend Mike Kenneally doubt, confusion, and false humility. But think about the big questions. What holds function. The chick who wrote all those warmth of eight tracks, especially when and another guy, both of them playing don’t despair. Mandela lived in a literal us back? What moves us forward? How can letters is probably pretty upset with me they’re left on a car seat awhile. There’s acoustic guitars. I’d never heard Mike prison. He was routinely tortured. Yet he we heal ourselves, heal our nation, and heal now and I take no joy in losing such a nothing like those loud clicks every ten play unplugged before. The kid might ultimately triumphed. Mandela believed in the world? One can only speculate about committed fan (and I mean that, Britney), minutes or so when the tracks change to have a future in music. the light, and in the power of ordinary peo - how this passage affected Mandela. As you but I hope in some small way she under - confirm that, by dingy, the player is work - The couple were married by Ted ple to be great. read it, ask yourself, is this about me? stands that while I’ll treasure the photos ing hard for you , that it’s doing everything Herring, better known to blues fans as By cultivating our greatness we are better Williamson writes: and underthings she sent along so it can to keep you happy, that you , the lis - “T,” the long-time host of “Every Shade able to serve others. And then the real mira - tener, are truly worth something after all Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. thoughtfully, the decision to do the album of Blue,” on Jazz 88.3. Ted’s an ordained cle happens – “as we let our own light (albeit a lot less than the artist you’re lis - Our deepest fear is that we are powerful came down to a simple coin toss one Universal Life Church of the Moon minis - shine, we unconsciously give other people tening to. Don’t kid yourself.). beyond measure. It is our light, not our dark - evening when I was bored. I even ended ter, so you knew it would be a very permission to do the same. As we’re liberat - I’ve begun to work on my album’s title, ness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, up making it four out of seven tosses to humorous ceremony. ed from our own fear, our presence auto - which most people put off until the music who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, make sure there could be no possibility of As dogs were invited to the ceremo - matically liberates others.” Far from intimi - is done. But that’s where they go wrong – fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? error. That’s the kind of certainty one ny, the ring bearer was a chihuahua! dating others with our light, we inspire demands as one matures. I took my clue from Ludwig Van Beethoven […] Your playing small does not serve the Honest! them. Cultivating your authentic, creative, The final brake that humped the who (and this is just one example of his After the “I sure do’s,” we all moved generous self is your greatest gift to the camel’s straw occurred after I finished a genius) would number his symphonies inside the Silver Pines Lodge, a great world. In fact, it’s your obligation and your wonderful book a few days ago. Titled In before composing them. Among my many Radio Daze continued place with hardwood floors, log walls duty. Not for ego, not for glory, not for His Own Write , it’s an odd little book pub - worthy but discarded titles have been fame, and not for money. All those things with stuffed moose heads, a giant fire - managed to stop just short of landing on lished in 1964 and written by a guy who Tapestry (too ambivalent), Leslie Gore’s may or may not happen incidentally. They place, and all the beer and wine I could an elderly gentleman sitting on a couch unfortunately shared a name with one of Greatest Hits (already taken), The Hose were never the goal. The real goal is and drink. with a plate of food in his hands. Ever the Beatles: John Lennon. The phenome - (too obvious), and Gettin’ Jiggy Wid Da always has been service. By cultivating your The entertainment was fantastic! the trooper, I apologized and scooted non that the Beatles were to become obvi - Thang (phat, but might promote illiteracy). authentic, creative self you are participating ously wreaked havoc with the author’s So, right now it’s between Tongue on the Pianist Sue Palmer and her entire Motel back into the mosh pit as if nothing had Swing Orchestra set up in the middle of in the sustenance of the universe. And we future literary aspirations, but I must say Raincoat and Presentation of the happened...although by then I was notic - can’t do it alone. We need as many people as the floor and played some of the greasi - that it’s a dandy read. Immersing my nose Hindquarters ; winner may have to be ing a few of my lower vertebrae were possible to cultivate their own greatness. est blues and soul music you could ever in its dusty pages, I kept sighing to myself, decided by a coin toss. screaming at me. Nice guy that I am, I Perhaps we are reaching the tipping point as imagine, featuring hot solos by saxo - “Wow! This isn’t ‘John Lennon with Tony I can honestly say at this moment that I refused to press charges against the more and more people are liberated from phonist Johnny Viau, Palmer, and gui - Teabag” or ‘John Lennon as told to R. haven’t been so excited about a project bride! the chains of limited thinking and fearful tarist Steve Wilcox, as well as the trum - Evers Cowgirl’ or some similar pedigree since my bubble bath last night. And As the party wore down, I convinced a ignorance. As we awaken to our deeper real - peter and the woman singer-trombonist the modern reader has gotten used to. No, remember, I’m not doing this for myself. couple other people to join us for a ity, others are inspired to awaken as well. whose names I forget. That is one hot this Mr. Lennon did it all himself, unlike No, it’s for you and my wallet exclusively – nightcap at a local pizza joint. Only prob - We serve nothing but our own fear-based band! that Beatle who needed three others to my own little way of giving back lem was that, in Idyllwild, they roll up ego by playing small. Living our dreams, Eventually, the owner said we could the streets at around 8:45 in the evening. dreams planted deep within us when the let the dogs in, so there were a dozen or So Sandi, myself, and Zeppelin walked dream of the universe was born, is our so critters digging the free food scraps back in the rain to our cabin, a mere sacred duty and honor. Live the life of your and, of course, the music. Zeppelin took block away, and talked about the fantas - dreams. Risk everything. You have nothing it all in stride, though, because she’s tic time we’d just had (Zeppelin said lit - to lose but your fear and your egoic confu - stone deaf (unless you yell “wanna tle, by the way.) sion. Trust the light. Live big. Live bright. eat?”). I haven’t had a proper vacation in Your soul is crying for it. The time has As I usually do at wedding parties, I three years, but those two days in the passed for playing small. drank enough beer to enable me to get mountains made up for it. Peter Bolland is a professor of philosophy and up and dance, bad back and all. During Just one question remains: Scott and humanities at Southwestern College and singer- some frenzied butt-bumping with the Claudia, when is the next party? songwriter-guitarist of the Coyote Problem. You bride during “T-Bone Boogie,” Claudia Come to think of it, November 3 is my can complain to him about what you read here sent me sailing across the room where I birthday. Anybody want to throw me a at [email protected]. www.thecoyoteprob - lem.com is the ethereal home of the Coyote birthday party – in Idyllwild? Problem. continued adjacent Happy Thanksgiving, too! www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

14 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song Tom Russell An Authentic American Treasure

by Terry Roland author and the visionary; his medium is become an heir apparent. the place where the songs become our Not only has Russell drawn from his magine if over the last century all of camera lens into another life. The tales influences, but he has also deepened the great American literature went are so colorfully vivid and close to the the songwriter’s vision and storytelling Iundiscovered, floundering in obscu - earth; if they’re not true, the listener as a medium. In 1999, he recorded a rity. Imagine how America would be sometimes wishes they were. These are landmark CD some have called a “folk today without the insights of Steinbeck, stories of the American West, of a man’s opera.” Titled The Man From Who O’Conner, Faulkner, or Hemingway to memories of his lover and their Navajo Knows Where , it is certainly an episodic portray and describe its character and rug, of desperate immigrants from story brought together in song about its realities? It may well be argued that south of the border, risking a fortune the generations of his family, spanning this is exactly what has happened with through the rooster fights of California, back to his great grandfather in the American singer-songwriter. With of the undersides of a city as seen Norway. He recorded the CD in Norway perhaps one exception (and his initials through the poetic visions of Charles near his ancestor’s birth place. The fol - are BD) some of the greatest creative Bukowski, of the displaced and disen - low-up to this cd is Hotwalker , based Tom Russell minds have gone unrecognized by all franchised Japanese-Americans during on his long correspondence with L.A. but the most faithful fans. Hopefully, in World War II, relocated to a camp Beat poet, Charles Bukowski. the future, some generation will discov - called Manzanar, and of the virtues of If having a distinctive, visionary Wounded Heart of America . Along with homogenized pop music, easy psychol - er the canon of John Stewart, Townes Canadian Whiskey. songwriting career is not enough, Wall , the CD is a unique compilation of ogy, shallow new age religions, and cor - Van Zandt, Janis Ian, Guy Clark, John Both in concert and in the studio, Russell has had some fun putting artists Russell has collaborated with rupt politicians. As is the case today, Prine, Iris Dement, and, most certainly, Russell has brought these images and together a U.S. to Canada music train over the years. It’s moving, if a bit jar - when we listen to an artist like Tom Tom Russell. visions alive – like walking through an tour complete with concerts and work - ring to hear the CD open with Johnny Russell, they will find the true heart - Russell’s music, his art, and his life exhibit of Andrew Wyeth or Ansel shops. Russell also completed a 2005 Cash singing “Veteran’s Day” and then land of a wounded, but always hopeful are rooted deep in the heart of the real Adams. Russell’s work has become not documentary on this project of love move along to Dave Van Ronk on “The America. American experience that emerge from only about songs. He also has a great called, Hearts on the Line. Outcast,” Doug Sahm on “Saint Olav’s In 2008, Hightone has released a his songs and stories. Be it his fondness interest in American literature (on his The year 2007 found Russell weigh - Gate,” Lawrence Ferlinghetti on career-spanning anthology CD called for tragic American biographies website he lists Graham Greene as his ing in on the immigration question. A “Stealing Electricity,” and you have Veteran’s Day that helps to summarize (Mickey Mantle), epic stories (“Gallo current favorite author), he paints in native of Los Angeles, he now lives on what may be the finest collection of his own visionary pilgrim’s progress up del Cielo”), or satiric political state - his own unique southwestern style with what he calls a three-acre “badland” musical ghost artists to appear on one to now. But at age 55, he still has a long ments (“Who’s Gonna Build the Wall”), a Woody Guthrie earthiness, he has farm near the border of El Paso and American roots music CD. way to go, with many more songs to Russell’s insights and love for the written a detective novel and even pub - Juarez. Over the last few years the gov - So, in the long run, perhaps the sto - write and more stories to tell. American landscape and history shine lished a book of letters with Charles ernment has discussed building a fence ries that must be told about a passing Tom Russell will be appearing on through. The songs themselves are little Bukowski. In addition, his vision has to help keep illegal immigration at a and soon forgotten America, are best November 28 at the Acoustic Music San pieces of a full dimension of life. In his broadened into film. He has released a minimum. In response to this, Russell left covered in independent works like Diego Series at 7:30pm. The address is career, Russell has never succumbed to documentary on folk music and is in wrote a song called “Who’s Gonna those of Tom Russell. 4650 Mansfield St., San Diego 92116. the self-reflective, self-absorbed tempta - the process of completing a film called, Build Your Wall?” The songs asks if all There may come a time in the future Phone: (619) 303-8176. Or visit tions and traps that taunt many singer- California Bloodlines, of the same name the illegals go home, who will build the when generations will wonder whether www.acousticmusicsandiego.com for songwriters of his generation. His songs as the classic John Stewart song, a wall to keep them out? This song can America in the twentieth and twenty- ticket information. are always outside of himself. He is the songwriter from whom Russell has be found on the 2007 release, The first centuries were about more than

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 15 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

16 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Matt Curreri & Happy Ron Kenny Eng Curtis the ExFriends Terribly Happy Self Centered Peoples

Joy of Life by Bart Mendoza by Mike Alvarez by John Connelly Hank A labor of love for all involved, Happy Kenny Eng’s new CD Self Centered is San Diego native Curtis Peoples by Simeon Flick Ron’s latest opus, Terribly Happy, will go a collection of six songs, arranged mainly boosts his ascension up the cluttered down as his masterpiece, his Sergeant around his vocals and acoustic guitar. He Hollywood pop chain with his self-titled Williams AC/DC have just released their 15th Pepper’s if you will. True, his sandpaper has a pleasant voice that is more than up debut album. The 10-track album, pro - studio album Black Ice, and early reviews vocals and quirky songs, with titles such to the task of carrying the melody. He have it sounding virtually the same as duced by Marshall Altman (Matt Unreleased as “All She Needs Is a Spanking” or takes an effortless approach to singing, Nathanson, Kate Voegele, Marc any other album from the Australian “Dickless Wonder,” won’t be everybody’s never obscuring the words with overly quintet’s oeuvre, with its austere salutes Broussard), pops off with the Tom Petty- Recordings cup of tea. But anyone who listens will showy technique. Additional instruments analogous “Back Where I Started” and to rock ‘n’ roll and its worldly cynicism be amazed at the depth of Happy Ron are added for nuance and effect, largely (albeit with less thinly veiled sexual innu - wraps up with predictably titled “Exit Hill’s songwriting. leaving the rhythmic duties to the guitar. Scene.” But in between the pseudo by Lou Curtiss endo). Rolling Stone journalist Brian Hiatt Keeping the Beatles analogy for a Occasional synthesizer washes, light per - commends the band’s if-it-ain’t-broke cover and hackneyed conclusion, moment, producer Sven-Erik Seaholm is cussion, and subtle cello lines add sublim - Peoples unfurls a simple yet fluidly craft - I've been waiting for this a long ethos, positing that by refusing to the George Martin of the equation, cast - inal texture to the album’s uncluttered time. Being one of those collectors who evolve, AC/DC have remained timeless. ed pop compilation, predominantly easy ing each song in lush arrangements that arrangements. It’s all recorded and mixed rock in nature, but with funk and folk thought he had every recording Hank Still, it raises the question: What if they manage not only to bring out every very nicely, giving emphasis to the most Williams ever made, I was surprised to had changed or otherwise refined their overtones, and characterized by harmon - melodic nuance in these songs, but also important tracks. Effects are wisely kept ic choruses and rolling rhythms. learn about eight years ago that Hank sound (e.g. if singer Brian Johnson had to somehow emphasize the sentiment in to a minimum, preserving the natural did 72 15-minute radio shows on electri - made less ear-curdling use of his natural - Peoples’ musical influences percolate the lyrics. sound of the performances. There is a lot nearly every track, evident by “Holding cal transcription for the Mother’s Best ly deeper baritone) and how interesting A true showcase, the pair have put of space in the music, allowing it to Flour Company. Those shows were still in – or even commercially appealing – Me Down,” destined to be a radio- together a stellar backing band featuring breathe. friendly smash with its Bon Jovi edge and existence (although embroiled in legal would the results have been? a who’s who of San Diego musicians; The songs themselves fit squarely into entanglements for a long time) and some Joy of Life has virtually nothing in relational angst-driven lyrics. “Gotta guest appearances include the Smart the singer-songwriter category with lyrics break away if I’m gonna survive/To hell of them had been bootlegged from time common with the latest AC/DC record, Brothers (banjo, guitar, hand drums, that are personal and introspective. Eng to time, although most had not. aesthetically or otherwise, but there is a with you, baby, my worst love of all backing vocals), Cathryn Beeks (backing makes some interesting choices when it time,” capitalizes on the time-tested The legal issues have finally been point: a very evident evolution has vocals), Isaac Cheong (backing vocals), comes to chords and melodies, and it is sorted out and these incredible record - occurred since the release of 2003’s therapeutic powers of music. Look for Robin Henkel (bass), and Kelsea Little perhaps these that make the songs dis - “Holding Me Down” bottom feeding on ings will finally see the light of day, start - raggedly puerile, charmingly inept How (harp) of the Wrong Trousers. Topping tinctive. There is a pleasing flow to the ing with a three-CD set of 54 tracks. Each to Play the Songs of Matt Curreri. And the Billboard. the cast are Paul Litteral (trumpet) and music, even though the songwriting Or listen for “Tell Me I’m Wrong” (co- show had a song by Hank, an instrumen - for the most part, that evolution, as Paulie Cerra (saxophone) of the Pacific avoids being predictable. The overall tal by the Drifting Cowboys, and a reflected in the juxtaposition with this written by Tyler Hilton) to become the Coast Horns. That’s Litteral heard on sound of the CD is quiet and reflective. next theme song for a CW network-pro - gospel trio or quartet by Hank and the new release (which now finds Curreri such hit records as the B-52’s “Love One can easily imagine these tunes being boys. The shows also featured pitches for killing two birds with one stone backed duced television show. This funk-laden Shack,” James Brown’s “Living in performed on the coffeehouse circuit number possesses the je ne sais quoi Mother’s Best Flour, which included some by his other band the Ex-Friends, featur - America,” and Tom Waits “Rain Dogs” with just the singer and his guitar. The great repartee by Hank, showing that he ing creative counterpart and muse Joanie essential of contemporary teen series. album. first cut, “Who Says,” sounds a bit like an (Hilton played Chris Keller on the popu - was far from the morose figure you Mendenhall), has been a good thing. Sonically, the disc reminds me most undiscovered song that America might might expect from his tragic life story. The growth is apparent even before lar show “One Tree Hill” and his song of Waits, perhaps as scored by Van Dyke have recorded in their heyday. In fact, the “When It Comes” parlayed as the show’s Over the course of these shows Hank you press play; you’ll notice the profes - Parks, but the bottom line is, this is an same could probably be said about a recorded his own songs but also per - sional digipak graphic presentation promotional instrument.) Peoples’ songs old school album, every song loving number of the songs. I’d be willing to bet have already turned up on MTV’s formed 40 or so songs that he never (kudos on the environmentally friendly crafted and avoiding a template of any that they, along with other classic recorded commercially! Although many packaging), giving it the magnanimous “NEXT” and NBC’s “Last Call with sort. It’s made for listening rather than acoustic acts like James Taylor and Cat Carson Daly.” of these were other people’s songs, once look of a sophisticated label release background audio. Especially effective Stevens, are influences. Hank recorded them he owned them. (which it is, actually – from City Salvage The stripped-down “All I Want” plays are the bits of studio chatter and media For the most part, the music tends to Peoples’ raw talent as a singer/song - Songs like “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” Records out of New York). clips that show up at key points in the toward a mid-tempo pace, lending the “Cherokee Boogie,” “Dust on the Bible,” A lively insouciance and an innocu - writer, showcases his U2’s Bono-like ten - proceedings, further immersing the lis - project an easygoing feel, even when the dencies, and departs from the pure pop. “Gathering Flowers for the Master’s ously wicked sense of humor pervade tener in Happy Ron’s aural world. lyrics get a little dark. He can be self-dep - Bouquet,” “Have I Told You Lately That I this radio-ready lot. The heart-on-sleeve The song leads with a short piano solo The high point is “No Angel,” with a recating without being self-pitying. For and builds with a rhythm guitar and Love You,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “I’ll Sail My songs of life and love, encompassing the dreamy, impossibly catchy chorus and a the most part, one gets the impression Ship Alone,” “Lonely Tombs,” “I’ve Got Decemberists-meets-Pogues pastiche of Peoples’ vocal range. The bass drum sweeping harp that colors a melancholy that Eng is an observer and commentator enters the track shortly thereafter and My One Way Ticket to the Sky,” “Low hyper-vaudevillian tableaus and indie- lament. Seaholm’s mellotron work adds on life, searching for meaning where he and Lonely,” “Next Sunday Darling Is My rock joyriding, are positively bristling holds the tune steady until Peoples hits just the right amount of tension to the can find it. One notable song is the the crescendo. Birthday,” “On Top of Old Smokey,” with well-recorded and mastered instru - song. It’s the closest thing to a single brightly wistful “If I See You Again,” “Pins and Needles in my Heart,” mentation (the vibes and violin on “Old Starting with “All I Want,” the back - here, the sort of tune that could become whose jazz chords and sunny melody side of the album transitions to a distinct - “Seaman’s Blues,” “Tennessee Border,” Mistakes” are a gas). And you’ll hear a barroom standard. bump along at a more sprightly pace. “The Blind Child’s Prayer,” “The Prodigal Curreri’s refined, restrained vocals ly acoustic-folk resonance and slows in Contrasts are plenty. There’s “Pretty Eng is a solid guitarist who navigates his tempo considerably. “Wake Up” speaks Son,” “You Blotted My Happy anchoring tight group harmonies on the on the Inside,” which comes across like a intricate chord progressions with confi - Schoolday,” and a whole lot more. I’ve title track, “Hope for the Future” and “I’ll to the listener’s introspective nature and modern day pirate tune, albeit with rela - dence and fluidity. metaphorically calls for action, rather heard a lot of these songs (though not all Be Here.” tionship type lyrics and call and response While I completely understand where of them) on low quality MP3s and I can Fans who have followed Matt’s career adeptly as well. “Wake Up” lets the lyrics backing vocals. Terribly Happy also man - Eng is coming from on an artistic level, I roam free with just a guitar and drums assure you this is Hank at his best. since How to Play… might wish there ages to rock a little, with “The Good did find myself craving a bit more variety This box set promises to be the best was more of the unschooled abandon of assisting in their delivery. New Is,” having a bit of the seventies in the arrangements. He and his collabo - As the album hits predictable neutrali - and most important release of the year his earlier work – especially his frenetic, Stones about its riffage, the sort of tune rator Aaron Bowen play directly to the and quite possibly the twenty-first centu - grass-blade-between-thumbs singing – ty, Peoples delivers a small yet necessary that the Dragons could’ve once blasted strengths of the music, but in my opinion wrinkle with the addition of a subtle ry so far. It’s been many years in coming still present in songs like “Dirty Stayout” out at the Casbah, while “Boy Toy” they might have taken fuller advantage of and I know I can't wait to get my hands and “Happy When I’m Gone.” However, female vocal on “Got What I Wanted.” sounds like a ready-made stadium rocker. the studio environment. Light percussion This delicate introduction again rein - on a copy. Watch out for it. if you can find your way past the evolved This album is unique and clearly comes and possibly some bass could have lent polish, or you’re just getting on board forces Peoples’ flexibility and his grasp of from the heart. Perhaps it’s a little too an entirely new feel to a couple of the crafting songs that, he says, “got to have with this particular release, you will be quirky for Top 40 play, but Terribly songs. An occasional harmony vocal or wildly rewarded. a little bit of all the things I love...” Happy has all the makings of a cult clas - instrumental solo could have brought Peoples broke into the Hollywood http://cdbaby.com/cd/curreri4 sic. extra dimension to the music. The extra music scene quickly since moving to the production touches that do exist on the City of Angeles, making friends with album are good, and I felt they could musicians and fans alike. He is sure to have gone a little further with them with - garner more fans and accolades as he out detracting from the vocal and guitar. embarks upon a national tour with his However this is only a minor quibble. The self-dubbed “coffee shop arena rock,” choices they made work quite well. This hitting bars and nightclubs from San is an easily likeable collection of songs, Diego to New York. delivered with earnestness and emotion. The unabashedly pop-driven Peoples embraces his radio sound. After the first song, you’ll know quickly if you’re Peoples’ people. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 17 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about L @ OLD PO VA WAY NOVEMBER CALENDAR monday • 17 IN SON STI PARK Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage WEEKLY A G FE Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Elisa w/ Ari Hest , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Paul Nichols’ Pro-Am/Pro Jam Invitational , R Solana Beach, 8pm. every sunday Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main St., El Cajon, saturday • 1 sunday • 9 5:30pm. T Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, School of Rock Benefit Concert , House of Ruby & the Redhots , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. David Patrone , Clay’s @ Hotel La Jolla, 7955 Blues, 1055 5th Ave., noon. Solana Beach, 7pm. La Jolla Shores Dr., 7pm. tuesday • 18 Bluegrass Brunch , Urban Solace, 3823 30th Weestwind Brass , Benefit for Water Ellis Paul , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield St., 10:30am. Folk Arts Rare Records Singers’ Circle , Conservation Garden, Cuymaca College, 4pm. St., 5 & 7:30pm. Barbara Tobler , Anthology, 1337 India St., Kadan, 4696 30th St., 6pm. 7:30pm. Daniel Jackson , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 11am. The Blokes , Gallagher’s Irish Pub, 5046 Toots Thielemans w/ Kenny Werner Trio , Tomcat Courtney , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, Newport Ave., 5:30 pm. Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. 4pm. Jake’s Mountain , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Aaron Bowen/Chris Robley , Lestat’s, 3343 wednesday • 19 Open Mic , Thornton’s Irish Pub, 1221 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Traditional Irish Session , The Field, 544 5th Broadway, El Cajon, 7pm. Ave., 7pm. 2008 San Diego H.A.T. Awards , Normal Heights Novamenco , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Open Mic , Across the Street @ Mueller Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd., 7pm. Open Mic , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. College, 4605 Park Blvd., 8pm. Rodney Crowell Acoustic Trio w/ Jenny Rd., 7:30pm. Sue Palmer Trio , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. monday • 10 Scheinman , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Open Mic , Dublin Square, 544 4th Ave., 9pm. in Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. Beach, 8pm. Joe Mendoza (the Spring Collection) , Surf & Robin Henkel/Hugh Gaskins & the Soul Van/ Saddle, 123 W. Plaza St., Solana Beach, 8pm. Dan Papaila , Trisler’s Wine Bar, Promenade @ Rhythm Turner , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. Rio Vista, 8555 Station Village Lane, 7pm. Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS every thursday Jolla, 7:30pm. (88.3 FM). David Patrone , Gio, 8384 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Alanis Morissette , S.D. Civic Theatre, 1100 3rd José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 Main, El Cajon, 6pm. Dave Alvin , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield Ave., 8pm. thursday • 20 Bacon St., 9:30pm. St., 7:30pm. Joe Rathburn’s Folkey Monkey , Milano Little Feat , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Joe Rathburn/Jeffrey Joe Morin , Milano Coffee The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. An Evening of Harmony w/ Robin Henkel/Cici Beach, 8pm. Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. 10pm-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Porter/David Millard/Steph Johnson/Bobo Open Mic , Turquoise Coffee, 841 Turquoise Czarnowski & more , San Dieguito United Sue Palmer Trio , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. St., P.B., 7pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, tuesday • 11 in Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. every monday Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star Encinitas, 7:30pm. Richard Thompson w/ Russell Bizzet/Bob Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Open Mic , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 7:30pm. Jack Williams/Joe Rathburn , Milano Coffee Blues Traveler , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., Magnusson/Tripp Sprague/Derrick Traditional Irish Session , Thornton’s Irish Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7:30pm. 6:30pm. Cannon/Carla van Blake Bizzet , Dizzy’s @ SD Pro-Invitational Blues Jam , O’Connell’s Pub, Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, 8pm. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 7:30pm. 1310 Morena Blvd., 8pm. Motown Revue , Anthology, 1337 India St., David Garfield & Alex Ligertwood , Anthology, Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s, 3015 7:30pm. 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 9pm. Juniper St., 8pm. Ray Lamontagne , Spreckels Theatre, 121 every tuesday Open Mic , Skybox Bar & Grill, 4809 Broadway, 8pm. Billy Midnight/Trophy Wife/Desert Diamonds , wednesday • 12 Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., 9pm. Traditional Irish Session , The Ould Sod, 3373 Clairemont Dr., 9pm. Quartet Equinox , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Adams Ave., 7pm. Jazz Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. The Bacon Brothers/Michel Tiernan , Belly Up, Phil Boroff & Robert Rotzler , Serra Mesa/ 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Open Mic , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La St., 9:30pm. Kenny Eng , Across the Street @ Mueller Kearny Mesa Library, 9005 Aero Dr., 6:30pm. Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. Stepping Feet , RT’s Longboard Grill, 1466 College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Sue Palmer Trio , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. All Pro Blues Jam , The Harp, 4935 Newport Garnet, PB, 10pm. The Major Labels/The Pedestrian , Lestat’s, in Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. friday • 21 Ave., 7:30pm. 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Anna Troy w/ Gunplay Maxwell/Gayle Jack Tempchin & Friends , Calypso Cafe, 576 every friday Haute Chile , Anthology, 1337 India St., 10pm. Skidmore , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Cowboy Charlie Show , Children’s Room, N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Beach, 8pm. Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia, Sam Johnson Duo , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 10:30am. Open Mic , E Street Cafe, 125 W. E St., La Mesa Blvd., 3pm. Jaeryoung Lee Trio , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Encinitas, 7:30pm. sunday • 2 Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Heloise Love , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, 78, Julian, 6pm. Open Mic , Channel Twelve25, 172 E. Main St., 4:30-9pm. Robin Henkel w/ Billy Watson/Rod Ratelle/ Soul Persuaders , Humphrey’s Backstage El Cajon, 7:30pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise West of Memphis , House of Blues, 1055 5th Junior Smith , Arroyo Terrace, Lodge @ Torrey St., 6:30pm. Open Mic , The Royal Dive, 2949 San Luis Rey Ave., 6pm. Pines, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 11:30am. Danny Malone/Matt the Electrician/Tom Rd., Oceanside, 8pm. Freund , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. David Patrone , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. in Tomcat Courtney/Jazzilla , Turquoise Cafe Bar Ben Hernandez Going Away Party w/ James Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo , Prado Europa, 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. Harman/Sonny Leland/The Freemonts/ Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. Al Stewart , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. Nashboro Cane Cutters/Blue Largo , Belly Up, Shep Meyers , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 3pm. thursday • 13 New City Sinfonia , 1st Unitarian Universalist Open Mic , Egyptian Tea Room & Smoking Church. 4190 Front St., 7:30pm. Open Mic , Portugalia, 4839 Newport Ave., Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Debolis/Stasia Conger , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams O.B., 9pm. Ave., 9pm. Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind , Rancho Santa Robert Parker , Book Works, Flower Hill Mall, Fe Library, 17040 Avenida de Acacias, 3:30PM. Del Mar, 8pm. The Blokes , Hennessey’s, 2777 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad, 9pm. Joe Rathburn/Peter Bolland , Milano Coffee Zzymzzy Quartet , Claire de Lune, 2906 every saturday monday • 3 Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. University Ave., 8:30pm. Jay Scott Combo , Jimmy Love’s, 672 5th Ave., Sue Palmer Trio , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. Chuck Cannon/Josh Damigo , Lestat’s, 3343 every wednesday 5:30pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage in Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Acoustic Tribute , Bully’s, 5755 La Jolla Blvd., Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Michael Tiernan Trio , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Music at Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , 7pm. Newport Ave., 4-7pm. Hwy. 101, Encinits, 7:30pm. David Patrone , Gio’s, 8384 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Brennan Leigh , Anthology, 1337 India St., saturday • 22 Christopher Dale & Friends , Handlery Hotel, tuesday • 4 950 Hotel Circle N., 5pm. Blues Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern 7:30pm. St., 9pm. k.d. lang , Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., The Blokes , Gallagher’s Irish Pub, 5046 Bayou Brothers , Humphrey’s Backstage Newport Ave., 5:30 pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. 8pm. The Bobs , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Plow w/ Chris Clarke , Wynola Pizza Express, Veronica May/Nathan James & Ben 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Hernandez , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. David Maldonado/Paper Moon/Juan Moro , Back to the Garden (CSNY Tribute) , Anthology, Blindspot Records Holiday Extravaganza w/ friday • 14 Spreckle’s Theatre, 121 Broadway, 7pm. 1337 India St., 7:30pm. the Anna Troy Band/True Stories/Dave David Patrone , Gio, 8384 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Charles & Friends , Book Works, Flower Hill Humphries Band & more , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa wednesday • 5 St., 9pm. Cowboy Charlie Show , Children’s Room, Vance Gilbert , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. The Latin Connection , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia, Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Dean Brown , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Kenny Eng/The Wrong Trousers , Lestat’s, 3343 10:30am. Adams Ave., 9pm. Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 7pm. Charles McPherson , Anthology, 1337 India St., Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Billy Midnight & Say Vinyl , Anthology, 1337 Grand Canyon Sundown , Wynola Pizza 7:30 & 9:30pm. Silverleaf/Viri Dimayuga , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Blindspot Records Night w/ Anna Troy India St., 7:30pm. Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Ave., 9pm. Band/True Stories/Dave Humphries Band/the Kristin Korb & Elio Villafranca , Dizzy’s @ SD Spring Collection , Tio Leo’s 5302 Napa St., 9pm. Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. Veronica May , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 6pm. Shady Side Players & Veronica May , Skybox Jack Pryor , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. The Flowerthief/The Turtle Project , Lestat’s, Sports Grill, 4809 Clairemont Dr., 9:30pm. David Patrone , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. in 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. saturday • 29 Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. thursday • 6 Jonatha Brooke & Glen Phillips , Anthology, Dixieland Jazz Festival , Town & Country Hotel, 1337 India St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. sunday • 23 500 Hotel Circle N., 9am. sunday • 30 Joe Rathburn/Jim Hinton , Milano Coffee Co., Billy Watson , Book Works, Flower Hill Mall, The Blokes , Gallagher’s Irish Pub, 5046 Newport Ave., 5:30 pm. Dixieland Jazz Festival , Town & Country Hotel, 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Del Mar, 8pm. Don Story Farewell & Open Jam Session , Pal 500 Hotel Circle N., 8am. Hot Pstromi , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Ctr., Katy Wong/Bryan Bangerter , Across the Street Joey’s, 5147 Waring Rd., 2-7pm. Blue Creek , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Tim Flannery , Canyonfolk House Concert, 200 Harbor Dr., 7:30pm. @ Mueller College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Gregory Page , Jimmy Duke House Concert, Harbison Canyon, 8pm. [email protected] EJP/Rob Deez/Jordan Reimer , Lestat’s, 3343 Amy Kuney/Ian McFeron/MiGGs , Lestat’s, 3343 Lakeside, 7:30pm. 619.443.9622 Gilbert Castellanos New Latin Jazz Quartet , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Gayle Skidmore , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., Adams Ave., 9pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Doyle Dykes , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 9pm. Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak , Patrick’s II, Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Dr., 8pm. 428 F St., 9pm. Johnny Polanco , Anthology, 1337 India St., Cash’d Out/Sara Petite , Cane’s Bar & Grill, friday • 7 7:30pm. 3105 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach, 8pm. Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind , Calypso Cafe, Cowboy Charlie Show , Children’s Room, saturday • 15 576 N. Coast Hwy., Leucadia, 7:30pm. Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia, 10:30am. Jessica Kilroy/Michael Batdorf/Reina G. The Blokes , O’Ireland Gifts, 575 Grand Ave., Collins , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Sam JohnsonGroup , Wine Styles, 191 N. El Carlsbad, 11am. Camino Real, Encinitas, 6pm. The Blokes , Gallagher’s Irish Pub, 5046 Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise Newport Ave., 5:30pm. monday • 24 St., 6:30pm. Mark Kinney & Friends , Wynola Pizza Express, Paragon Jazz Band , Casa de Oro Cafe, 9809 4355 Hwy. 78, Julian, 6pm. Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak , Humphrey’s Campo Rd., Spring Valley, 6:30pm. Sue Palmer Trio , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Bayou Brothers , Hornblower Cruises, 1066 N. in Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. 7pm. Harbor Dr., 7pm. Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind , Robbies, 530 N. Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Bill Hartwell , Book Works, Flower Hill Mall, Coast Highway, Leucadia, 7pm. 9pm. Del Mar, 8pm. David Patrone , Gio, 8384 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Tab Benoit , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & Laurence Juber , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 tuesday • 25 9:30pm. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. B-52s , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 8pm. Men of Worth , San Dieguito United Methodist McCoy Tyner , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. EJP/Rob Deez , Across the Street @ Mueller Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. 7:30pm. Billy Midnight , The Ould Sod, 3373 Adams Preservation Hall Jazz Band , California Ctr. for wednesday • 26 Ave., 9pm. the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 8pm. John Hull/Joshua Bartholomew/Melissa Chuck Richards/Heidi Hughes , Across the Sue Palmer Trio , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. Vaughan CD Release , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Street @ Mueller College, 4603 Park Blvd., in Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. Ave., 9pm. 8:30pm. Dixieland Jazz Festival , Town & Country Hotel, Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 500 Hotel Circle N., 7pm. Gene Perry Latin Orchestra , Anthology, 1337 saturday • 8 India St., 7:30pm. sunday • 16 Soul Persuaders , Humphrey’s Backstage Free Banjo Workshop w/ Janet Beazely , Old Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Time Music, 2852 University Ave., 1pm. Shady Side Players , Rebecca’s Coffeehouse, Alex Depue/Miguel de Hoyas , Lestat’s, 3343 Tim Flannery , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana 3015 Juniper St., 10am. Adams Ave., 9pm. Beach, 4pm. Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , The Blokes , Gallagher’s Irish Pub, 5046 Mississippi Rm., Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Newport Ave., 5:30 pm. Blvd., 1pm. thursday • 27 Frank Lucio , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. Sam Johnson Group , Scripps Ranch Library, 78, Julian, 6pm. 10301 Scripps Lake Dr., 2:30pm. Dixieland Jazz Festival , Town & Country Hotel, Joel Rafael , Templar’s Hall, Old Poway Park, The Muses , Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 500 Hotel Circle N., 7pm. 14134 Midland Rd., 7pm. Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, 3pm. Toots Thielemans w/ Kenny Werner Trio , Gerry O’Beirne , Holy Trinity Church, 2083 Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. Sunset Cliffs Blvd., 7:30pm. friday • 28 Acoustic Jazz Quartet , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Devon Allman’s Honeytribe w/ Deadline Friday/ Dixieland Jazz Festival , Town & Country Hotel, Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real , Belly 500 Hotel Circle N., 10am. Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Chris Trapper/Lisa Sanders & Friends , Lestat’s, Kev , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. 78, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Robin Henkel Band , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., Julian, 6pm. 9pm. Election After Party Concert Showcase Event , Robin Henkel Band , Coyote Bar & Grill, 300 Rhythm Lounge, 3048 Midway Dr., 9pm. Carlsbad Village Dr., 6pm. Stepping Feet/Grass Heat/Misdirection , Belly David Patrone , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friars Rd. in Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. Tom Russell , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 18 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour Photo: Steve Covault

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