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

September-October 2005 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 5, No. 1

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Statement Contributors Marco Anguiano Full Circle.. …………4 Desi Arnaz Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 Steve White elRayo Guitarworks Parlor Showcase …8 Robin Henkel Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Highway’s Song. …12 Wynola Pizza Express Of Note. ……………13 Mark O’Conner Jeff Caudill Various Artists Eliza Gilkyson 145th St. Deluxe Blues Band ‘Round About ...... …14 Sept.-Oct. Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news

MISSION CONTRIBUTORS To promote, encourage, and provide an alternative voice for the great local FOUNDERS music that is generally overlooked by Ellen and Lyle Duplessie the mass media; namely the genres of Liz Abbott alternative country, Americana, roots, Kent Johnson folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring togeth - PUBLISHERS er players, writers, and lovers of these Liz Abbott forms; to explore their foundations; and Kent Johnson to expand the audience for these types EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS of music. Liz Abbott For advertising rates, call 619/298- Chuck Schiele 8488 or e-mail [email protected]. ADVERTISING San Diego Troubadour Liz Abbott P.O. Box 164 Kent Johnson La Jolla, CA 92038 E-mail: [email protected]. DISTRIBUTION Lois Bach SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local Greg Gohde source for alternative country, Kevin Irvin Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, Mark Jackson jazz, and bluegrass music news, is pub - Jenna Duplessie Pabalate lished monthly and is free of charge. Bill Richardson Letters to the editor must be signed and Chuck Schiele may be edited for content. It is not, Indian Joe Stewart however, guaranteed that they will PHOTOGRAPHY appear. Steve Covault All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, unless otherwise stat - WEB MASTER ed, are solely the opinion of the writer Will Edwards and do not represent the opinions of the WRITERS staff or management. All rights Lou Curtiss reserved. Derrick Fields ©2005 San Diego Troubadour. Paul Hormick Jim McInnes Bart Mendoza The San Diego Troubadour is Raul Sandelin dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Sven-Erik Seaholm Lyle Duplessie , whose vision inspired José Sinatra the creation of this newspaper. D. Dwight Worden Craig Yerkes

Cover Design: Chuck Schiele

The San Diego Troubadour mourns the loss of our friend Marco Anguiano who passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2005. We will miss him.

Upheld, encouraged, nurtured were we all By him whose kindness comforts in recall. — B. R. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle y t e i c o S

l a c i r o t s i H

o g e i D

n

Desi Arnaz a S

: o t o h The Mambo King of Del Mar P

for the couple at 1920 Ocean Front. Even premise finding Ricky heading to San 1953 when The Long, Long Trailer ’s back - after the two split and Arnaz remarried in Diego to rehearse for a USO show with ers wanted the pair to concentrate on 1963, he and his new wife, Edith, Maurice “Thank Heaven For Little Girls” that film instead and Forever Darling, a remained. Arnaz loved the local scenery Chevalier, scheduled to take place on an light romantic comedy released in 1956. and was also a major race and horse aircraft carrier. Lucy and Ethel decide to Selling his half of Desi-Lu to Lucy in enthusiast, becoming involved in various go shopping in Tijuana, with Fred as 1962, he had formed Desi Arnaz aspects of the business. He could be chaperone. Needless to say much confu - Productions Inc. by 1965. While it didn’t found in the terrace at the race track sion ensues and Lucy ends up dressed as quite scale the same height of Desi-Lu, he Arnaz in his prime most of the summer. But it was encoun - a Matador fighting a bull at the local bull did score a hit with The Mothers-in-Law, by Bart Mendoza ters with Arnaz and his family outside of ring! And let’s not forget the pair’s won - which ran for three seasons on NBC the race track that delighted local resi - derful 1954 film The Long, Long Trailer , (1967-1969) and featured Arnaz, who dents the most. Natives still speak of the part of which was shot at the Anza produced as well as appeared in four Professor Desi Arnaz at SDSU, 1972 lthough Desi Arnaz is best known star-studded parties at the home with rev - Borrego State Park, the infamous Banner episodes as Señor Raphael Delgado. for the role of beloved entertainer erence, and stories of shocked customers, grade to be specific. Classic TV fans should also keep an eye return as a professor and soon taught ARicky Ricardo on the long running running into Lucy and Desi at the local Of course Arnaz was much more than out for a mid-1960s appearance of a classes on TV production as well as act - I Love Lucy TV series as well as spin-offs, grocery store or gas station abound. just the I Love Lucy show. It was while liv - slightly out-of-place Arnaz on an episode ing. The school became part of the Arnaz it’s sometimes easy to forget that the long

y ing in Del Mar that he and Lucy founded of Bonanza . family life with his son Desi Arnaz Jr., of t e time Del Mar resident really was a world i c Desi-Lu Productions. Though the compa - He also hosted his own series, Desi the hit sixties group Dino, Desi & Billy o S famous Cuban band leader and really did l ny would be known for such hit TV pro - Arnaz Theatre, but by the 1970s he semi- (remember the 1965 top 20 hit “I’m A a c i have a hit record called “Babalu.” r The Untouchables, The Dick Van

o grams as retired to spend time with his family and, Fool”?) enrolled as a student there. It was t s Arnaz was born in Santiago, Cuba on i Dyke Show and Star Trek , it was, in fact, of course, his horses. He did mange to H here that the younger Arnaz met his wife,

o

March 2, 1917, and eventually took up g

e originally formed to manage Arnaz’s make a few prime time appearances, a member of the San Diego Ballet. i

music, mentored by and singing with the D band. showing up in episodes of Alice (1978), Sadly, Desi Sr. passed away from lung n a

Xavier Cugat Orchestra, beginning in S y

Ironsides Perry Mason t , and , with his final : e y o i t t c 1935. This early stint with Cugat would e o i o on screen appearance in the 1983 film c h S o

P l be the basis of a running gag in the sit - S a The Escape Artist, although none topped l c i a r c

com later on. By 1939, his suave style led i o t his appearance as guest host on the first r s o i t him to Broadway where he starred in the s H Saturday Night Live i

season of NBC-TV’s . A o H

g

Rodgers and Hammerstein production of o e

i perennial in reruns, it’s clear from the g e D i

Too Many Girls . When it was made into a D n footage, especially when he leads the

a n S a film, he reprised his role and was on his : band during a musical segment, that S o

t : o way to Hollywood, though first on a o t

h Arnaz is thrilled to be in front of an audi - o P My Favorite Husband h radio show, , with his ence again. It’s a shame he didn’t pursue P Arnaz at the Del Mar Racetrack, 1957 new bride, Lucille Ball. Throughout this more music later in life. period he continued to record, now as San Diego played a key role in the I Not to say that he wasn’t busy. He was highly acclaimed leader of his own Love Lucy (1951-1957) TV show as well. It appointed Ambassador to Latin America orchestra. His biggest chart success was was at an early 1951 La Jolla Playhouse under President Richard Nixon. He wrote for the Victor label, racking up numerous production of The Voices of a Turtle that an autobiography, A Book , which was hits from 1946-1949, including such clas - the pair discovered Vivienne Vance, who published in 1976 and became a New York sics as “Babalu” and “Cuban Pete.” would be immortalized on numerous TV Times best seller. A second planned book He would go on to own several other series as Ethel Mertz, Lucy’s best friend. never got past the outline stage. He also Arnaz with Dr. Almy Harding, donating his films homes as business (Beverly Hills) or There’s even an episode of The Lucy-Desi At home in Del Mar, 1976 bred horses both at a breeding facility in to the Malcom Love Library at SDSU, 1972 hobby (Corona Breeding Farm) dictated Show (1957-1960) that takes place here. Corona and a ranch in Baja California. but his first love and main residence was Episode number six in that series, which There was also a pair of movies along - In 1971 Arnaz crossed over into acade - cancer at his Del Mar home on December Del Mar. Not long after marrying Lucy in aired October 6, 1958, is titled “Lucy side his wife. An 80-minute I Love Lucy mia. When an SDSU student working on 2, 1986. It’s safe to say that Arnaz intro - 1941 Arnaz became a fixture at the Del Goes To Mexico,” with the broadcast’s movie pulled from theatre distribution in a thesis on The Mothers-in-Law TV show duced Latin music to mainstream Mar Racetrack and soon bought a home contacted him, he decided to donate America, a world music pioneer in the materials related to the show to the pre-digital, pre-stereo age. There are school. Those materials form the basis for many compilations of his wonderful SDSU’s extensive Desi Arnaz Collection, tunes available — Cocktail Hour (2000) with the last sizeable contribution com - and Desi Arnaz: The Mambo King (1996) ing from his daughter Lucie Arnaz in are particularly recommended, but he is 1987. Available for scholarly study, the really never farther away than the TV set. 13.5 linear feet of research materials are a The next time you catch an episode of pop culture treasure trove, consisting of that classic sitcom, just remember how home movies, correspondence, scripts, much Desi loved Del Mar. It’ll make a and behind the scenes footage of various great show even better. productions among the available items. Following a reception held on the SDSU campus in 1972, Arnaz was asked to Babaluuuuuuuuuuuuu!

4 www.sandiegotroubadour.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle n o s d r a h c i R

l l i B

Recordially, Lou Curtiss : o t o h

MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION music and it’s the kind of music that needs pass - P t the Roots Festival this year we were Music Maker Relief Foundation ing down from hand to hand whether you’re able to present Little Pink Anderson, singing and playing it or listening and support - Awho came to our attention through Featured Blues Artists ing those who sing and play it by passing on the Music Maker Relief Foundation, an organi - word of its value. We’ve all got a part to play. I’ll zation that promotes old-time vintage blues, be here at Folk Arts Rare Records on Tuesday gospel, and related old-time music. They pub - evenings at 7 p.m. (also 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every lish a catalog of CDs through which they raise day). Maybe someone will volunteer to bring money to give these old-time performers a refreshments. Let’s keep old-time roots music new lease on life, helping to bring them to the alive year ’round in San Diego!! Lou Curtiss attention of people who put together folk-life MY PET PEEVE festivals and concerts like the Adams Avenue Have you ever noticed that whenever an old- mean-looking guys able to crush a Marine Band Roots Festival. They have recorded such artists Carl Rutherford time country blues artist plays at a festival or a with one hand while escorting the bad taste as Etta Baker, Jerry Boogie McCain, and Guitar concert, there’s usually some white guy playing blow-hard off the stage. Carl Hodges Gabriel as well as other deserving but lesser harmonica who thinks he’s God’s gift up on SAN DIEGO FOLKLIFE PROJECT known artists like Algia Mae Hinton, Precious Macavine Hayes stage with him, trying his best to upstage the The San Diego Folklife project finally got its Bryant, Carl Rutherford, and Beverly Guitar old timer? Most often the blues artist backs off non-profit status and is actively working on two Watkins. The work of this organization has and lets the harmonica player show off. Many major grants: additional funding for the Adams been praised by B.B. King and Taj Mahal, both times over the past 37 years or so I’ve talked to Avenue Roots Festival and financial backing for of whom have written liner notes for and blues artists who wish that harmonica player the digitization of material in the Lou Curtiss accompanied various artists. You can reach would go away but are just too polite to say so. Sound Library that is on reel-to-reel tape. The Tim and Denise Duffy at 4052 Summer Lane, I’ve tried to keep that from happening at the second project is a grant application to the Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 or on the Roots Festivals, but I can’t be everywhere at Grammy Foundation, which is also supported web at www.musicmaker.org to request a cata - once. This year one of those guys got up on by the Library of Congress and the UCLA log of their fine CDs and to support the work stage with Honey Boy Edwards and kept the Ethnomusicology Archives. Future goals include Willa Mae Bruckner Frank Edwards they’re doing. (I’ve been playing some of their Precious Bryant public from hearing a classic blues performance establishing a San Diego Folklore Center, out - CDs on my Jazz Roots program, KSDS 88.3FM, the way the artist most wanted it and the way reach to city and county schools, and everything Sundays, 8-10pm.) They also offer a beautiful the public deserves to hear it. What we need is a and anything we can do to bring word about book of photos and information about the old- Festival Harmonica Police to intercept these fat - roots music and folk life to everyone we can. time artists they promote and work with titled head showoffs before they get on a stage they Recordially, Music Makers: Portraits and Songs from the weren’t hired to be on and ruin another per - Roots of America with a foreword by B.B. King formance. Maybe we could have Harmonica Lou Curtiss and a 22-track CD. Police tee shirts made to get the word out that ROOTS MUSIC NIGHT we won’t put up with these guys. Any one inter - Mr. Q. About two months ago we started a Roots Music ested can contact me at Folk Arts. I need big fghe Series at Creations Cafe on 30th Street. The idea Guitar Gabriel Photos: www.musicmaker.org was that Virginia and I would play some of our Etta Baker music and invite people who play one kind of roots music or another to drop by and join in. certainly no roots musicians we hadn’t heard. most everywhere they play (even some who My thinking was that it could serve as a kind of And so it came to a quick end. We’re going to aren’t very good) and that’s fine, but I can’t be audition for those people I hadn’t heard whom I try a live Roots Music Night on the front porch the only one shouting the cause for old-timey might want to hire for a future Roots Festival. of Folk Arts Rare Records (2881 Adams Ave.) on music. If you’ve been to one or more of the Karen, the owner, was willing to stay open Tuesday nights. Maybe if enough of you roots Adams Avenue Roots Festivals, then you know late on Wednesday evenings and hire a waitress, music fans and musicians get off your duff and the kinds of music I’m talking about. It can thinking that perhaps she’d sell a sandwich or drop by, someone like Karen at Creations will let range from old-time fiddle tunes to mountain two and make it worth her while. We got the us use a place where folks can sit down and ballads and songs that take a side turn into publicity out and posters printed, but almost no have refreshments while they listen. I’m a bit vaudeville as well as novelty songs and country one came during the six weeks it ran — a cou - disappointed with you roots music fans out blues, and things learned off old 78s or LPs or ple of musicians and friends but no public and there. Singer-songwriters seem to pack them in maybe from your grandmother. It’s all roots

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

oBp∂d i k s w o r o

b r o a d e n s h i s w a J

e k i M

: o t horizons o h and spreads rambunctious funk throughout the world P bys Paul Hortmick eve upw a tour forh that Julyi. Wetll, youe know Taking care of the couple’s needs as they of appreciating his show is in catching how things are in the music business; traveled and even inviting them to their his lyrics. The language barrier didn’t I can hear the train coming. I can only about five percent of the time peo - homes, she adds, “These people have seem to be much of a problem for the hear the wheels on the track. I love to ple will call you back. But the guy came become like family.” European audiences. He says, “About 50 hear that diesel when she whines . . . through and Steve did a performance It might be time to stop and mention percent of the folks over there speak tour through Virginia and Pennsylvania.” that in hooking up with White, they English, even in Hungary. The people The two flew off to the East Coast knew that he was a unique talent. He’s a who did understand would explain the hese are the opening lines to thinking that it might be a one-shot deal, singer-songwriter solo performer who lyrics to the person next to them. Steve White’s train song. It’s a interesting and fun but not leading to churns out a one man funky jam band. Sometimes it was funny to see how they Tnear perfect train song, loaded much else. And had it not been for the He lays out lines on his guitar, blows would try to translate and then they’d Steve White with the evocative charm that all train equipment White used on the tour, it harp, and backs himself up with a percus - interrupt themselves because they were twentieth century. And there’s a love and songs should have. He sings about whis - may have stayed that way. “Joe told us sion board of his own design that he laughing.” Even during the times when respect for certain things in life. In Göd tles, speed, and hauling freight. And as not to worry about an amp, that he plays with his feet. He may very well be the translations were difficult or inter - [pronounced good] I performed in this the tune ends he expresses the yearning would provide one. He got Steve an AER the product of a genetic experiment rupted, White was pleased by the audi - beautiful old wooden building. It was the that we all feel from a train’s passing and [Audio Electric Research] amp. Well, involving James Taylor and James Brown. ence’s enjoyment his performances. “You town’s community center, a multifunc - promises himself that “one day I’m going when we got back to San Diego, Steve At the Messe an Italian promoter know, a lot of the people there learn tional building. When I played there they to climb aboard and ride.” Travel and the was still crazy for this amp. He called all approached White and asked whether he American music phonetically. They don’t had pictures that were done by the local open road are themes that White revisits the music stores around here trying to wanted to perform in Italy later that year. understand it, but they like the way it elementary school children. And this in many of his tunes. Driving the ladies find one for himself and none of them So, the couple returned in November for sounds. The lyrics don’t matter. You other place, Pecs, was a cool little town. mud wrestling team or sharing a bus seat carried them,” says Leal. “I searched AER White’s first tour in Europe where he know, music is a universal language.” with migrant workers, he’s on the open There’s just no comparison to the United

on the Internet and found a store in played in cabarets as well as in alpine l

a States. There’s an integration of day-to- road or going from here to there in some e

Laguna Beach that had them.” chalets. When White and Leal were at L day life, community life with home fashion. a d

the Messe the following year, AER asked l

k life — not like here. There are no bed - A c

So it’s a bit ironic that White has per - i him to help introduce their products to : o m t room communities over there, where you r formed mostly locally, singing his songs o o

central Europe, setting up a tour for him h H P commute to someplace else and come of sorrow, beauty, order, and piety at l throughout Hungary. “On this tour I did u five o’clock the place shuts down. Over restaurants, clubs, and coffeehouses with a P

all different venues – concert settings, : there people walk in the towns. They o

little recognition from the world outside t

o blues and jazz clubs, workshops, you

h stop in cafés and go home for lunch.

San Diego County. His horizons, howev - P name it,” says White. He traveled all over There’s more of a balance of life. Here we er, began to open up about five years ago. the former Soviet satellite and recorded a have malls and corporate franchises. I First in the eastern United States then in disk Live from Budapest during their stay hate to think of it becoming like the way central and eastern Europe, White has there. “I liked it very much. It’s like a we have it here.” toured and churned out his signature step back in time. There aren’t any free - White is back in San Diego perform - twang, stomp, and slide. “This goes back ways there,” he says. “But they’re starting ing locally. He and Leal are planning to 1999 or 2000. Taylor Guitars invited to put them in real fast now.” Alda Leal and Steve White another tour of Europe in November and Steve to Nashville for the NAMM show,” While White and Leal were in are making arrangements for better says Alda Leal, White’s life partner. The When White called the store, he said, Hungary they met the 16-string guitarist accommodations this time around. Leal NAMM (North American Music “I told them I wanted a demo to try out. Chandor Szabo, who invited White to White walking in the Italian countryside says, “We’ve stayed in hotels. It’s tiring. Manufacturers) show is the annual music And the guy was telling me that they return to Hungary last May for a cultural Next time we’re finding a house to base industry love fest in which the manufac - don’t do anything like that — no demos tour. White was scheduled to promote Although White has traveled quite a ourselves in. You know Steve will play turers promote their latest gadgets and and no promos. In talking to him I men - AER once again at this year’s Messe, but bit — through much of the U.S. and even five days and have three days off. So it’s gewgaws. Guitar and amplifier manufac - tioned that I play with my feet. He said, because of a break in the schedule, White spending some of his childhood in Laos nice to have a place to stay.” turers feel the same enthusiasm for the ‘I know you.’ The fellow knew who I was. was able to fit in a tour of Italy and and Cambodia while his father worked White is enjoying his new-found NAMM as Trekkies feel for Star Trek con - Then it was a different story. He sent me Austria, his longest tour of Europe. for the U.S. State Department — he’d recognition and travels. “You know, in ventions or fans of Spiderman and Star an amp. He just sent it to me; there was - Although White’s genre is best never been to Europe. At his performanc - this business after the age of 35 you’re no Wars feel about the San Diego Comicon. n’t any endorsement contract or any - described as Americana, it winds up es he was struck by the differences longer considered commercially viable,” Taylor Guitars and other manufacturers thing like that.” Ink may have not been being a masala of country, blues, Tin Pan between American and European audi - he says. “I was starting to feel uncertain invite musicians like White to perform as put to paper, but White was at the next Alley, and a little bit of Broadway thrown ences. “Here people are aware of the about the future, and I didn’t know if I well as to show off and endorse their NAMM show promoting both Taylor and in. Nonetheless, because his music is so celebrities, the gloss,” he says. “Over had it in me, after years of doing this products. AER. AER president Udo Rosner was so funky, a lot of folks call him a bluesman. there they take the time to sift through part-time. All my life I’ve dreamed about At Taylor’s suggestion White and Leal impressed with White and his music that And to be honest, after hearing him, you what’s good and what’s not worth both - doing this, and it happened when I least went to Nashville a few days early so he asked him to come to Germany to the might not be convinced that he sold his ering with. They have more of a back - expected it.” White could perform for the Chet Atkins European version of NAMM: the soul to the devil at the crossroads, but he ground in the arts; they grow up with it.” Steve White will appear at the Adams Association. This turned out to be the Frankfurt Music Messe. most certainly rented it to him for a day He also appreciated the greater cama - Avenue Street Fair’s Acoustic Stage on point at which the doors began to open. White’s connection to Rosner and or two. After this year’s Messe he fit right raderie among the musicians in Europe. Saturday, September 24, 3:45 p.m. and on “After Steve played we went to a coffee the rest of AER got off to a great start in at a master blues fest in Velden, The cultural tour of Hungary, which Sunday, September 25, 2:45 p.m. shop, and these two guys Tommy both personally and professionally. Leal Austria, and at the Bluesiana in Leibnitz, had White performing with another Emanuel and Joe Wilson followed us says, “They like Steve. They know they Austria. He also performed at the Sixth American, a Frenchman, and Szabo, a over,” says Leal. “It turns out that these have somebody who can get along with Annual Austrian Blues Masters. Hungarian, took White and Leal all over two guys belong to a group of pickers. them, who’s willing to work with them. The lyrics to White’s songs are a grab the country to little towns and hamlets. They were overjoyed at Steve’s perform - They recognize that he is a creative musi - bag of sweet and sad to the comic. Some “Oh, it was beautiful,” he says. “Most of ance. Joe asked Steve if he had ever done cian, and they love what he does.” of them are laugh-out-loud funny. Much Hungary is pristine, unaffected by the 6 a tour of the East Coast. He wanted to set

6 www.sandiegotroubadour.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

by Raul Sandelin

usic is like ivy in a way. It can elRayo Guitarworks: Mburrow under the surface and crawl long distances at root level, popping up ironically at unexpect - A Bolt of Energy from the Spirit World ed times. Like ivy, it can also wrap itself around one specific thing and continue t wrapping itself so that nothing escapes. t

his career in the mid-1970s. Soon after - Andy were able to use their connections o b

The music of one generation, and the b

ward, Tom left L.A. for San Diego. to hook the senior Hendrix up with A

z musicians who make it, can disappear i All the while, Andy Greenberg, a Fender. Al Hendrix thanked the two by L

: o from our cultural radar screens only to t

local boy, was playing guitar in some of christening the shop The Official House o h reemerge at some future date. Music can the top local bands around San Diego, of Hendrix. P also wrap itself around a single genera - including Leroy Zeak and Child. Tom and Fast forward to 2005. After pursuing tion, even a specific time and place, and Andy soon hooked up and, while not various individual ventures throughout keep those who were there from ever jamming together, both found jobs work - the 1990s, Tom and Andy have reunited escaping. Where was I on Halloween ing at the recently founded Guitar Trader, to open elRayo Guitarworks. This time night, 1974? I was listening to Dr. Hook a company that was they dedicated sing “She Was Only Sixteen” on KCBQ- quickly redefining the shop to the AM. Hey, I was only 11 at the time, so lay how musical gear after-market. At a off. Besides, to an 11-year-old that was a was retailed above time, when gui - mature song. But, you get the point: It and beyond the tar retailers have was the music that tied that whole typical mom-and- become “big evening, and epoch, together. And it’s the pop music stores, box” outlets and music that ties the following story which tended to it’s easy to find a together as well. treat the guitar as a Guitar Center in side instrument a local mall, Tom while favoring band and Andy are fill - instruments and ing the niche traditional sheet that the large music. At Guitar stores can’t pro - Trader, Tom and vide: They carry Andy helped reposi - Hagan and Larry Smead in 1974 the products that tion the guitar as take a stock gui - the main instru - tar and give it its ment for young unique, custom musicians and stu - sound. So, what’s dents. And, instead the difference of kazoos and between one Christmas carols, Stratocaster and the gear they sold another? Not was directed at a much unless you rock audience. change the pick - Ray Hagan in 1942 By the late Child’s Greenberg (l.) and Steve Jumel, 1970s ups, the 1980s, Tom and bridge/tremolo Throughout the 1940s and into the Andy had learned the trade and decided system, the nut, and the wiring. But, 1950s, Ray Hagan was a West Coast jazz to venture out on their own. In 1987 with these revisions, yes, you can cus - elRayo Brothers Andy Greenberg and Tom Hagan drummer who played with the likes of Daddy’s Guitars opened in Mission tomize a Strat specifically for surf music, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mercer, Judy Valley. The reference to “Daddy” was in hard rock, punk rock, Latin, country, or Garland, and Bing Crosby to name a few. honor of Ray Hagan (Tom was only 10 blues. And, you can even give it your As a versatile session man, he even when his father died). With the industry own signature sound within a genre à la appeared with such country music acts as knowledge and connections gained while Hendrix, SRV, or Robert Cray. the Sons of the Pioneers and Gene Autry. working at Guitar Trader, Tom and Andy What comes out of the Big Box isn’t In a time before TV and extensive touring set up a shop that provided a rock ’n’ roll all that different from one box to the schedules, Hagan was mostly hired to atmosphere for both student musicians next. But, what you do to hot rod your play live radio performances, which and pros alike. Carlos Santana bought a Strat or Gibby or Mexican Bajo or banjo emanated from various L.A. studios. He guitar there as did other touring players. is. And, it’s this niche that brings back also appeared anonymously on countless But it was someone else’s father who individual decisions and individual cus - vinyl recordings as well as with the Las helped rekindle the daddy in Daddy’s tomer service that Tom and Andy special - Vegas house bands that entertained Guitars. ize in. guests at the newly built resorts and casi - In the late 1980s, Fender Meeting them at the shop during a nos. Unfortunately, Hagan died in 1955 Instruments was still in a transitional typical midday, one gets the impression at the age of 40. phase as it retooled following the buyout that these two guys are reliving their own It would be another 20 years before from CBS. And, product development childhoods. While they are busy hot rod - the Hagan name resurfaced again. This and artist endorsements were still a ways ding guitars, they could very well be in a time it was Tom Hagan, Ray’s son, who into the future. At this time, Al garage hot rodding an old ’60s muscle car penned the song “I Just Wanna Rock ’n’ Hendrix — yes, Jimi’s Dad — was search - or shaving a new body design for a surf Roll,” a song recorded and performed by ing for ways to carry his son’s legacy for - board. And, it’s at this kind of moment Jose Feliciano, who was at the pinnacle of ward. After a chance meeting, Tom and that the whole concept of hot rodding comes to light: It is simply the act of tak - Al Hendrix (center) with the staff of Daddy’s Guitars. Tom Hagan, back row, right; Tom’s ing something stock and making it bet - mom is standing next to Hendrix. ter…or, at least, different. It’s putting a personal stamp on something that has have put in place is the Demo Wall, a of the past, we can’t forget where this been mass-produced. Most of us recog - wall of generic guitars that have already tale began: with a little known jazz drum - nize this when remembering the days of been hot rodded with a large variety of mer from the ’40s who banged skins with the hot rodded automobile. But, it can be pickups and accessories. So, do you want the best of them. Remember Ray Hagan? done with the guitar too. the EMGs or the Rio Grandes? The Well squint your eyes a bit, add some In fact, as Tom explained, the electric Seymour Duncan hot pickups or the vin - Tex-Mex attitude and a little Border guitar evolved because of hot rodding. tage? Here along the Demo Wall, you’ll Spanglish, and the Ray in elRayo Certainly, it took a hot rodder to wire a find the guitar that will answer that ques - emerges. In Spanish, el rayo means the pickup to an acoustic guitar. Later, Leo tion. bolt, that something you can’t always see Fender and Les Paul would put their own Tom and Andy seem like two kids but can always feel. That bolt of energy designs into motion. Then, players like who have just run home from school to or the duende from the spirit world that Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, get back to work on the old GTO or just seems to be there to make things bet - and Stevie Ray Vaughan would tweak Gibson 335 that’s been left in the garage ter even when none of us knows exactly their own guitars to reflect their personal from the night before. With an entire where it is. So, maybe this story should tastes and to create their signature shop on the premises, they can also have started with an analogy about light - sounds. And, now, with a solid aftermar - install every item they sell. And, I can’t ening instead of one about ivy. But, it’s ket of guitar accessories and “How to” say enough about the abundance of all good. Either way, I think Ray Hagan books, every player from student to pro youthful energy bouncing around their would be proud that his legacy lives on. has the opportunity to give his or her shop. These guys are 15 years older than Oh, I forgot to mention —they have guitar that unique twang, pop, and I, yet I could grow young again just a great stable of guitar teachers also. So, squeal. hanging out here. yes, lessons are available. So, how do you know which pick - I could also let them wax nostalgic ups (or bridge or nut or tone pots) are and talk forever about all the bands going to give you that sound that only they’ve been in, the bands I remember you have heard in your own head? One sneaking in to see when I was a kid — of the innovations that Tom and Andy who made it, who didn’t, who’s still play - ing, and who got married. And, speaking www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

by Dwight Worden

rating, living together, and enjoying what the times had to offer from music and “better living through chemistry” to women. Island still saw Robin playing bass, performing at many great gigs at the Albatross in downtown Del Mar, a hot obin Henkel will make you laugh. He’ll make you cry. And, spot for live music, where the band took over for the respected Nova. Then, it most definitely, his musical grooves will make you tap your happened again. foot. Raised in San Diego from the age of five, Robin com - mitted himself to a life of music at an early age and has never Jazz, BRazilian Music, and chick coRRea R looked back. Who is this man who has played with or opened obin’s fire was lit and his musical horizons expanded for the third time Robin Henkel for the greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, John McLaughlin, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. upon hearing Chick Correa during those Del Mar days. “There was a John, Roy Rogers, Arlo Guthrie, Hot Tuna, Stephen Stills, Dave Mason, Rwonderfully talented group of young musicians playing jazz around Del Nicolette Larson, Todd Rundgren, Harvey Mandel, Tim Weisberg, Don Mar at that time. Peter Sprague had a group with Kevyn Lettau, John McLean, Charles Brown, John Hammond, Eddie Kirkland, the San Diego Leftwhich, Kelly Jocoy, and his brother Tripp Sprague called the Dance of the Symphony, Lowell Fulson, Johnny Almond, Buddy Miles, Big Jay McNealy, Universe. Peter lived next door to me then and I learned so much just overhear - Jimmy Witherspoon, Sha Na Na, Papa John Creach, and others? ing their rehearsals. I also took a few guitar lessons from Peter and what I stud - Who is this man who has won SDMA awards for his solo endeavors and ied with him over 20 years ago is still with me today,” Robin reminisces. as a member of the 7th Day Buskers, received several SDMA nominations, per - Another shining young talent, saxophonist Mark Lessman, became a close formed in a string of soul and rock bands in San Diego, and whose new band friend during this period, spending hours with Robin and showing him the ins the Robin Henkel Band has been putting out arguably the best funk/blues/rock and outs of jazz. In addition, Robin was introduced to the wonderful Brazilian San Diego has ever heard? music of Jobim from recordings that belonged to his mother. All of these new influences swirled and settled in Robin’s musical world, adding to, but not dis - YounG RoBin and eaRlY Musical influences placing, his strong tendency toward the “groove” that he had learned from Josh t all began for Robin in Pensacola, Florida, when his mom, a Boston girl, met White, soul music, Jimi Hendrix, and the rock music of the 1960s and 1970s. Robin’s father at a roller rink. Marriage soon followed as did Robin’s birth in i1951. A brief period in a Seattle trailer park was followed by a move to De RoBin dRills the GRoove with his students Anza Cove Trailer Park on Mission Bay, back to Seattle, and back again to San eaching music became an important part of Robin’s life at an early age. Diego, finally settling in the community of Serra Mesa. Essentially an all white He recalls showing guitar licks to his high school pals at home in Serra enclave, Robin grew up listening to the folk music revival of the early 1960s. As tMesa. This informal teaching became structured in 1973 when he began Robin describes it, “Pete Seeger was a big influence early on. I remember the giving lessons out of a shack behind a friend’s house in Ocean Beach as well as coffee house scene during the early 1960s and my parents taking me to the from an O.B. record store, where he talked his way in. When he moved to Del Upper Cellar on El Cajon Blvd. near 63rd Street at that time. I loved it.” Mar, lessons were conducted in the communal house and in the late 1970s One day he heard the acoustic blues music of Josh White. Robin remem - Robin began his affiliation with the Blue Guitar, which continues to this day. He bers, “In those days and at that time, I didn’t know any black people and had began teaching out of the Blue Guitar’s satellite store, called Blue Ridge Music, certainly never heard any music like this before. It grabbed me and rocked my in Encinitas, transitioning later to the mother ship Blue Guitar downtown, fol - world. I was transfixed by Josh White’s bending of strings.” As his first major lowing the store from its early Old Town location to Pacific Beach, back to Old musical influence, White’s social activism also provided an enduring inspiration Town, and to its current location on Mission Gorge Road. for young Robin, who would later travel to a poor rural community in Alabama Robin currently gives private lessons to approximately 35 students on and work with young kids within the context of a musical project. acoustic, electric, and bass guitar at the Blue Guitar. He restricts the number of Robin soon found himself in a high school band trying to capture the students he takes on to make time for other activities and to keep his perspective groove sound of the era’s black music that had so enamored him. A self-taught fresh. Enjoying his role as teacher, he describes his style: “I always play with my guitar player, Robin soon realized that he was in the company of some hot lead students, talking only as needed. I think the most important thing I pass on is an pickers, all of whom could read music except for him, so Robin decided to take appreciation for, and ability to capture, the groove, rhythm, and timing of blues up the electric bass. As the bass player of the Hilites, Robin and his high school music that is at the heart of what makes this music great.” mates performed the music of the Temptations, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Buzz and Johnny from Hot Rod Lincoln were two of his many students. Booker T and the MGs and others. “We had a white soul band.” Robin reports During one lesson Robin remembers having Buzz count out loud to a that he now looks back on this time period with great affection. metronome for 25 minutes — one and two and .... Buzz, who now plays with Through 1967-1968 the Hilites played many military venues and were Sha Na Na, related to Robin a year later that he had thought it a complete quite a hit with their matching outfits, practiced step kicks, groove moves, and waste of time, but that the gig he played that same evening had felt different covers of the soul hits of the day. “The moms and dads of the kids in the band somehow. In a flash of insight while playing, he recognized the value of rhythm, would drive us to our gigs at the local enlisted men’s clubs on the navy bases at timing, and the groove that Robin was teaching. A Journey of Self-DiScovery Through MuSic North Island, Miramar, the Naval Training Center on Rosecrans, and the Naval Back to the Music and RoBin’s PRoGRession Hospital,” recalls Robin. meditate on his problems and his life. What he had read opened his eyes and Robin had his second transformative musical experience when he heard indy and Breeze was Robin’s next band, which was in keeping with the allowed him to let go of his fear of inadequacy, to be himself both musically and Jimi Hendrix for the first time. As he so succinctly puts it, “Jimi Hendrix blew late 1970s’ disco movement. As Robin describes it Cindy could hit all as a person, and to back away from the drive to always please others as the my mind!” Jimi’s was an aggressive, emotional style of guitar playing, showing cthose high disco vocal notes, with the band backing her with the thump - highest of priorities. Ten days after finishing the book Robin quit alcohol and great skill and technical prowess while literally thumping the listener in the ing disco rhythm characteristic of the style. Respected drummer Jack Flannery, drugs. Six months later he quit cigarettes. Robin remains sober to this day. chest with the power of the groove. Robin would never be the same. He dove in particular, worked with and taught the somewhat wild Robin how to control Quitting cigarettes, in particu - into the music of the late 1960s and early 1970s — Jimi Hendrix, the Jefferson his groove on bass. Jack told Robin after their first few gigs, “Man, I’m making lar, was torture, but Robin Airplane, and Janis Joplin. Although Robin tried to get the Hilites to learn you sound good and you’re making me sound bad. We gotta fix this! Listen to realized that when he was some Jimi Hendrix tunes, one of the parents put a kibosh on that, saying, “My the kick drum and play with that,” Jack said. And so, under Jack’s patient tute - feeling the worst, he was boy ain’t playing none of that psychedelic sh**!” It was inevitable that Robin lage that year, Robin learned to play and master the groove, producing a solid really “winning” because his “Remember, your thoughts would move on. disco groove like a pro. Breeze played at the Fogcutter in Carlsbad and other disco-heavy venues, body and spirit were chang - colleGe and Radical Politics suPPlants Music with Jack and Robin holding the groove, which included Jack’s tendency to ing for the better. are not you. Just like you uring this time the anti Vietnam War movement was gaining momentum stick his drumstick in the portable fan he always set up for himself to punctuate As he weaned his body and the rock music of the time was inextricably intertwined with left the rhythms with a rat-tat-tat-tat the fan blade made hitting the stick. Robin and spirit of chemicals, would throw something nasty dleaning social movements that spoke to Robin’s young adult sense of maintains that his teaching techniques and his new CD Bad Bongos , all heavy on Robin went through a life righteousness and of time and place. Robin, as did many of his contemporaries, the groove, owe a debt of gratitude to Jack Flannery. change that was critical for decided to drop out of music, go to college, and be a lefty radical. Robin Some time during the late 1970s, Robin’s girlfriend at the time took him to getting back to his music — out of your house if you enrolled at Cal Western USIU located on the beautiful Pt. Loma campus over - the Bacchanal in Kearny Mesa to see acoustic blues master John Hammond Jr., only this time in a healthier looking the Pacific, where he graduated with a degree in political science. While who impressed Robin and rekindled his interest in acoustic blues, similar to the way. The “new” Robin fin - found it lying around, throw it was his “intellectual” decision to drop out of music and be a political radical, way Josh White had started him on his musical journey more than a decade ear - ished a blues recording proj - he soon found he couldn’t stay away from music. And, as he now reflects back, lier. Between his band gigs and teaching, Robin started playing solo blues again. ect that had been languishing while there was legitimacy to his politics of the time, there was also an element The next step in his musical odyssey was with his old roommate Ron since 1995. Titled Highway , it away those nasty thoughts of naivete and of being cool. Bolton in a cover band called The Ron Bolton Group. This was a prosperous received the San Diego In college he met other musicians and formed a band called Jumbalayah. period for Robin and the band as well as a fun time. They were young, talented, Music Award for Best Blues that otherwise lie around in After graduation, Robin earned a living, playing with this band for three years. and out to experience it all in the days before AIDS, when the baby boomers CD in 2000. Looking back, It was fun and impressed the young man that he might, in fact, choose a life of were ready to party. The popular band played Halligans in Pacific Beach and Robin says he finally was music and not starve to death. Jumbalayah played the music of Jimi Hendrix, the Triton Pub on the beach in Cardiff — Jimmy Buffet even sat in with them able to “get off trying to be your head and cause all sorts Cream, ZZ Top, and other rock hits of that period, and did them well. They once. They played Kenny Loggins, whom Ron Bolton greatly admired, along perfect” and, instead, to be played Ledbetters on El Cajon Boulevard and Neutral Ground at 47th St. and with other soft rock tunes, with hard rock mixed in. The band had a lot going himself. In 2004 he won of avoidable problems. It University among other local venues. for it. another SDMA award for his solo project titled Acoustic RoBin is asked to leave the Band, coMPoundinG self douBt, dRuGs, and alcohol Blues . really is okay to be you, to be feelinGs of inadequacY egardless of the public acclaim, Robin still wrestled with his ever lurking Robin learned some obin loved playing with Jumbalayah. But in truth the self-taught bass shyness and feelings of inadequacy as a person and as a musician. tough, but important lessons imperfect and to accept that.” player was dragging. The band asked him to “get his bass playing RLooking back now with considerable insight from the perspective that through these escapades. Rtogether” because they liked him and although he worked hard to many years of sobriety can provide, he understands how he went through a When asked what can he improve — and did improve — he was eventually asked to leave Jumbalayah, period of going home alone every night and drinking to the point of passing out. pass on to today’s young an experience that made Robin practice even harder. Feelings of insecurity He sees now how he — and so many of his contemporaries — used drugs and musicians, he says, — Robin Henkel about his chops as a musician and about his self-worth — feelings we all experi - alcohol to compensate for feelings of inadequacy and insecurity to get that quick “Remember, your thoughts ence at one time or another — were strong motivators for the adolescent Robin. “feel good” when in reality the chemical “feel good” was only masking his ability are not you. Just like you While the outside observer may have seen a competent, articulate musician, to interact with the real world and impeding his development of real world cop - would throw something nasty inside was often a jumble of emotions, painful shyness, and fears that would ing skills. As he now notes, “You know, instead of learning how to deal with the out of your house if you found it lying around, throw those nasty thoughts out often motivate Robin to do better, thinking to himself, “if I can only play better, ups and downs of life, how to talk to women, how to get along with others, and that otherwise lie around in your head, causing all sorts of avoidable problems. people will like me better.” But that would sometimes leave him vulnerable to how to respect myself and to mature, I threw drugs and alcohol at my problems It really is OK to be you, to be imperfect and to accept that.” drugs, alcohol, and other escapist strategies. and never really faced them.” Almost immediately after leaving Jumbalayah Robin joined a new band Then Robin read the book The Artist’s Way , which, coincidentally, had called Island. The bandmates lived together on Carmel Valley Road south of Del been given to him by a friend on the same day he had bought the audiotape. It Mar. They had a blast playing and living the life of young musicians — collabo - had a profound effect on him. He took a trip to the desert and sat on a rock to 8 www.sandiegotroubadour.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

love and MaRRiaGe 1 Robin henkel n 1983 Robin met and fell in love with Cynthia, an attractive down-home 9 tiMeline country girl from Ramona. They hung out, grew closer, and were married in 5 i1985. In 1989 the marriage ended in divorce although the couple continued 0 to live in the same house for another few years. Robin says it was a cool mar - riage and they have remained friends. While his love life was going South, a couple of important things happened on the musical front. 1 During 1985 and 1986 Robin took lessons from Hal Crook who taught 9 Robin Henkel him how to compose and arrange jazz and was a great influence on Robin’s 6 music. Also at that time, by luck he got a great gig at the U.S. Grant Hotel in Robin and his mom, Cynthia, 1951 0 downtown San Diego that paid well and lasted for three years (1986-1989). Josh White, 1962, a With Robin on guitar, Richard James played bass with him; sometimes Richard huge influence would play the piano and Robin would take up the bass. Robin says that he learned a lot playing bass behind the jazz piano of Richard James. 1 Robin recounts, “One night Herbie Hancock came into the lounge where Jimi Hendrix, 1970, another big influence we were playing. Doug Randall was playing piano that night and so we played 9 Doug’s version of a Herbie Hancock instrumental tune called “Watermelon 7 Man,” to which Doug had written lyrics. We got a surprised grin out of Herbie 0 for that! Later, Herbie played a 10 minute version of “Maiden Voyage.” Wow!” The Hilites, 1968: Robin, Bruce Norton, Ed Jumbalayah, Sadly, Doug Randall would soon die in a plane crash and Robin would lose a Shoen, Steve Smith, Jeff Lewis, Gary 1973: (l to r) Paul supportive collaborator and friend. Although a great gig in many ways, even Pluchino Comstock, Robin, Corky Tanassy, good things can get tiring and after three years Robin again moved on. David Henk It wasn’t long before Robin hooked up with local blues man Earl Thomas and the Blues Ambassadors, including stalwarts Mike Cherry on drums, Paco Shipp on harmonica, and Tom Mahon on keyboard, with many other great tal - Ocean ents dropping in and out. Moving from the calm propriety of the U.S. Grant to Beach, this group was liberating and exciting. The music was hot and contemporary, 1974 old and venerated, and all of the above. From 1989-1993 Robin played a lot of blues. “Independent producer J.B. Leep, who had seen me perform at the U.S. Grant, produced a CD for me Cindy & in1989 titled Robin Henkel Blues 90 . To help promote the CD I formed my own Breeze, ca. 1977: (l to r) group with bassist David Curtis and two of the guys I had met playing in Earl’s Robin discovered Robin, Jack John Hammond band — drummer Mike Cherry and harmonica player Paco Shipp,” notes Flannery, Jr. in the late Cindy Robin. 1970s Chatfield, Don Beginning in the early 1990s they performed at Croce’s for three years. the Mole, Ron Dabbs They also played lots of shows at Blind Melons and did gigs for the swing dancers at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. This group gradually evolved Ron Bolton into the Robin Henkel Band. Group, late This was a time when blues was hot in San Diego, and there were lots of 1970s: George Kosta, Robin, blues bands in town. Robin recalls playing at a once a month event called “Blues Ron Bolton Fest” at Blind Melons in Pacific Beach where all of the blues bands would come in and play for an hour on the same night. Robin describes the scene as way 1 cool. Every blues player in town was milling around, musicians were sitting in 9 with each other’s groups, and the musical stew that was created was stimulating 8 and exciting. It was a time Robin remembers with great fondness. There was a 0 real blues community in town at the time, centered at Blind Melons and also at 1978 Croce’s and Patrick’s downtown where Robin and the others played regularly. They played hard, typically without rehearsal. It was one of those magical peri - U.S. Grant Hotel, ods when the music jelled for Robin. 1986 As 1993 drifted into 1994 the scene in the Gaslamp District was cooling Johnny Almond Rhythm Review, A Journey of Self-DiScovery Through MuSic mid-1980s: Tony Cooper, Pete Marechal, off. Robin started playing at the Zanzibar in Pacific Beach with drummer Robin, Steve King, Johnny Almond Back to RoBin’s Musical JouRneY George Sluppick and bassist Clark Stacer. While his music was contemporary Robin was, by this time, in his 40s and feeling a little over the hill. But when the hile the Ron Bolton Group was fun and popular, they weren’t playing two young players joined the band, the music not only rejuvenated Robin but it the music that personally lit Robin’s fire. So, after a while Robin also provided access to a younger audience. The result: the band was a local dropped out of the Bolton Group. He soon hooked up with Johnny w smash hit. The corner of Cass and Garnet was like a mini Haight Ashbury right 1 Almond and the Mark Lessman group playing here in Beach Town, USA. The crowd was young, bohemian, and wild, and the 9 jazz, R&B, and classic soul. The group music was infectious. 9 included Doug Randall on piano, Gary At the time Robin was into playing blues, both electric and acoustic, but 0 Underwood on drums, and Robin on bass. he also maintained his interest and love for funk and other forms of music. The People loved the band as did Robin. This “Remember, your thoughts spare and beautiful jazz music of Miles Davis was also a great influence on Blues 90, 1990: Robin, Paco Shipp, Dave gang could really play, and the musical style Robin then, as were Latin and Brazilian rhythms. Since 1997 many musicians Curtis, Mike Cherry appealed to Robin. They started playing at have played in the various configurations of Robin’s bands as the type of gig dic - the Fish House West (now Jay’s Gourmet) are not you. Just like you tated and the budget would allow. in Cardiff and soon moved next door to the Ever interested in new directions and challenges, Robin joined Shawn popular Windjammer in Cardiff (now Ki’s would throw something nasty Rohlf and the 7th Day Buskers in 2000, playing acoustic dobro as part of the restaurant) where they played to packed band’s bluegrass and related repertoire. Robin describes this as an exciting new houses of rowdy crowds. They also played direction for him as he had never played this style of music. He soon adapted out of your house if you Bobby G’s in Encinitas (now Martini and was adding not only his skilled dobro work but also his harmony vocals to Ranch) to considerable acclaim. They were the powerful musical mix. Robin’s work with the Buskers can be heard on their cranking out six gigs a week, burning the found it lying around, throw two most recent CDs, Born to Pick and Fool’s Grass . proverbial candle at both ends. After six Robin has been on three tours with the Buskers, one up the coast in 2003, Alabama, 1998: Trading licks with months Robin concluded that the fast life, with gigs in California, Oregon, and Washington; a second to Texas and the Birmingham George Conner away those nasty thoughts drugs, and partying needed to be left behind. Southwest in 2004, and a repeat tour up the West Coast in 2005. In between Robin remembers packing up their stuff at tours the band has been busy with gigs ranging from their regular Sunday 2 With Willie King live at Betty’s Place, the Windjammer after an evening gig and that otherwise lie around in morning performances at the Hillcrest Farmers’ Market and the Adams Avenue 0 Sandyland, Mississippi, 1998 seeing cocaine wrappers and detritus spread Roots Festival to performances with the San Diego Symphony and various 0 across the dance floor and bathrooms. He other events. Robin and his bandmates were honored with the 2004 San Diego your head and cause all sorts also recalls wild partying, cars spinning 0 Music Award for Best Americana Band and have been nominated this year for donuts on Highway 101 after the bars best Americana CD for their new release Fool’s Grass . closed, and other out of control behavior. of avoidable problems. It Not content just to play music, Robin and the Buskers proved their musi - Robin decided to go solo to get away from cal and acting skills in Cotton Patch Gospel , a musical play produced by the Lambs the schlock groups and even from the talent - Players Theater in June and July of 2004. It was such a hit that it was held really is okay to be you, to be ed but fast living bands in order to assert over for performances at the San Diego Lyceum Theater in Horton Plaza The 7th Day Buskers at the Adams Ave. more artistic control over the music he was through September. Robin is still a regular, key member of the 7th Day Buskers. Roots Festival, 2004 interested in — playing delta and piedmont imperfect and to accept that.” As Robin puts it, “In the Buskers we don’t present a repertoire based on what With the Buskers on the set of Cotton blues. While he hoped this decision would be we think the general public wants to hear. Rather, Shawn writes great original Patch Gospel, 2003 artistically rewarding, it in fact led to some material, we collaborate and work it up, and present it for the public to receive of his most frustrating and difficult days. All as it will. This is the kind of ‘art’ band I would like to play in for the rest of my Robin at — Robin Henkel of sudden the spigot was turned off on the life.” the CD regular good paying gigs. “As I became more Release of On another interesting side track, Robin was invited to play with the San Bad Bongos discriminating about taking only gigs that Diego Symphony in 2003 as part of its Summer Pops series. He performed his last month were artistically fulfilling, I became poorer original composition “Solitude” on resonator guitar with the symphony to a and poorer as well as emotionally darker and more frustrated,” Robin recalls. warm reception. True, he still had his teaching income, but he soon found that he had to take gigs just for the money. Some of them were embarrassing, he wouldn’t even The 7th Day Buskers win the award for Best tell his friends with whom and where he was playing for fear they might come. Americana at the San Diego Music Awards, 2004. (Steve Peavey, Robin, Shawn Rohlf, As he puts it, “You know, Huey Lewis with a drum machine kind of stuff”. Melissa Hartley continued on page 12

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER

by Dwight Worden by Sven-Erik Seaholm

FESTIVALS! to Laurie and San Diego’s bluegrass festival season Tom, the Guest is upon us. As you read this column I House Band Sven-Erik Seaholm hope you are still feeling the warm glow featured North of a great Summergrass bluegrass festi - Carolina’s ($799.99 retail, $599 street). Like the ate the increased fidelity immediately Scott Huffman val event held over the weekend of FIREPOD Delta 1010, the FIREPOD is a 10-channel apparent in the PreSonus unit. Now the on guitar and August 26-28 at the Antique Gas and audio interface with eight balanced line Delta is no audio slouch, and I was going banjo and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, featuring here is a girl staring at me. inputs and outputs, with two more ins to be sad to see it go, so imagine my sur - the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Fragment, Todd Philips Though not usually a problem (it and outs via digital stereo SPDIF. Both prise at finding that I could still use the Lost Highway, Hit and Run Bluegrass, the on bass. Late Tom Rozum & Laurie Lewis doesn’t typically happen, and I units also include MIDI in and out jacks, Delta unit in tandem with the FIREPOD. Virtual Strangers, 117° West, North Forty, August also T generally don’t mind), in this case…it That’s right, now I have 20 inputs avail - and more. Or, perhaps you enjoyed the saw guitarist extraordinaire David Grier which is very helpful. Where the able. Nothing on either company’s web - Temecula Festival on the preceding appear at sort of is. She’s eight years old, and she PreSonus unit raises the bar significantly weekend, which presented the Witcher Buffalo Brothers should be reading the smudged and bat - is including eight (!) class A phantom pow - site mentions this, so I can’t guarantee it, Brothers, Silverado, and others. And, I in Carlsbad and tered copy of Highlights for Children that ered microphone preamps, with adjustable but it has definitely been working for me! hope you are now planning to attend the at Chris Clarke’s her increasingly harried mother has gain control . Just based upon the fact that But what about the microphone pre - for a workshop upcoming Julian Bluegrass Festival on repeatedly encouraged her to read over the 1010 can only switch between -10 amps? Well, in a word: they are incredi - and house con - the weekend of September 17 and 18, the last 15 minutes. At least that’s what I and +4 with a button push would be ble! Unless you have some $10,000+ certs. If you’ve which will re-introduce the traditional can gather from what microscopic enough to sell me on the FIREPOD. That mixer or preamp rack, these are probably banjo and fiddle contest. Julian has some never seen amount of Spanish I’ve picked up from 14 dB difference has had me running better than what you have now, no kid - great entertainment lined up, including David Grier per - form, do your - living in a Mexican border town for the around to the back of my Delta unit ding. Using the same laptop I’m writing the ever popular Bluegrass Etc. And, for David Grier last 40-some odd years. Anyway, back to this column on, I was able to get audio - the hard core willing to travel, there is self a favor every session, trying to dial in the best phile quality eight channel recordings the annual International Bluegrass Music and check him out next time he is in the girl. What is she thinking as she peers signal to noise ratio, whereas the FIRE - Association (IBMA) festival during the town. He is arguably the best and most over the four month-old issue of a kid’s POD affords me the luxury of a knob for using only the FIREPOD and some decent week of October 24-30, held this year for influential player to pick up a flatpick magazine that I can only remember for each channel right at my fingertips. This mics. No EQ, no compression, just beau - the first time in Nashville. since Clarence White and Tony Rice. its insightful behavioral advice column, balances out to the most efficient use of tiful, open Class A sound. Lovely. If you would like to be kept abreast of LOCAL NEWS “Goofus and Gallant”? Does she know my gain structure, making my audio Subsequent sessions over the past few these kinds of local happenings and and comprehend the results of my cho - quality that much better…and that’s weeks have been a complete pleasure and The San Diego Bluegrass Society has know where you can show up to hear lesterol test? Is it that bad? Will I ever before I even got around to using the mic have done nothing but bolster my confi - moved its fourth Tuesday of the month great bluegrass and to jam on your savor the wonder that is the three-egg dence in this very fine piece of equip - featured band event from Cheezy Pizza instrument, consider joining the San pre’s. ment. I know it may not seem as sexy as (formerly Godfather’s) on Clairemont Diego Bluegrass Society. Membership omelet again? Before I can really delve Having given high marks to this Mesa Blvd. to the Boll Weevil at 7080 fees are only $20 for the family for the into these questions or the intricacies of company’s Eureka recording strip, I knew a microphone or a guitar or whatever, Miramar Road. This is a great new loca - entire year. As an SDBS member you will being the reluctant center of this willful to expect excellence in its sound, appear - but damn if this isn’t one of the nicest tion with a nice listening room, nice receive InTune Magazine , a bi-monthly child’s attention, my own concentration ance, and construction, and this baby pieces of gear I’ve picked up in quite stage area, good jamming spots, and newsletter; the SDBS “Tweener,” an off is diverted to the stories of dislocated L5 delivers in flying (blue and silver) colors. some time. I’m glad I stepped outside of good affordable food. Come on by on month update sheet; as well as flyers for vertebrae and various other previous mis - First things being first, I should point out my comfort zone and gave it a try, September 27 for some fun and to hear local events, discounts to certain SDBS diagnoses of the other patients in my that as its name should imply, the FIRE - because I’m a whole lot more at ease the Virtual Strangers as the featured concerts, and other good stuff. To join, doctor’s office. While usually a very quiet POD doesn’t use a breakout PCI card. It now. band. contact Dee Dee Hansen at (619) 276- situation, for some reason everyone is plugs into any IEEE1394 Firewire inter - Now if you’ll excuse me, my choles - I hope some of you enjoyed the recent 1949 or by email at: very interactive today. I mean, I have terol is a lot lower and there’s an omelet concerts in Fallbrook and Del Mar that [email protected]. Or you can visit face, just like your consumer video cam - with my name on it over at Brothers featured Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, and the SDBS website and join online at: never heard anyone besides the recep - era uses. If you don’t have a firewire card the Guest House Band. Both concerts http://members.aol.com/intunenews/sdb - tionist and the occasional doctor ever (I didn’t), you can pick up a nice one for Restaurant. were excellent with some truly great ssubscribe.html. We would love to have utter a single word here, ever. Today? less than $75. My only caveat is that the Sven-Erik Seaholm is an independent producer who music from a talented bunch. In addition your support as a member! Today I’m on the freakin’ set of The View . included firewire cable was a bit too owns and operates Kitsch & Sync Production (www.kaspro.com) He is currently nominated for a Medically speaking, I know everyone’s short, so I had to get a longer one. San Diego Music Award for “Best Acoustic,” as are entire medical history in this stained The first thing I did after installing his recordings for Manuok (“Best Local Recording”), acoustic ceilinged, Berber-carpeted, phar - the card and interface was to take all of Carol Ames (“Best Americana Album”) and The maceutical advertisement-choked, myste - my cables that were routed to the Delta Coyote Problem (“Best Americana Album”). He riously stale-aired waiting room. As time unit and plug them into the correspon - performs September 10th at Cosmo’s in La Mesa. wears on (and believe me, it’s really wear - ding jacks on the FIREPOD. As I men - ing on) I’m also in receipt of a great deal tioned earlier, I was able to dial in the of information on military enlistment, levels even more precisely from there, MMMM disciplinary techniques of previous gener - and at that point I could start to appreci - ations, and lessons learned through trial and vehicular error. I suppose this is what can sometimes happen when you try new things, like writing this column in a crowded place, rather than the cozy con - fines of my home, in ABSOLUTE SILENCE. I believe that trying new things and breaking patterns are crucial to both mental and spiritual growth and well- being. If my doctor ever calls for me this morning (it’s been an hour now) I can ask him to verify this for you. Meanwhile, this school of thought has fortuitously compelled me to bring my laptop along (another thing I rarely do) and given me the capability to make that wonderful proverbial lemonade from the sour fruit of my physician’s tardiness. Just imagining all the time I would have wast - ed waiting (and suffering), rather than using it productively bears out my point nicely. I’ve been using an M-Audio Delta 1010 as my digital audio interface since I switched over to PC-based recording a few years ago. I have had a mostly trou - ble-free experience, but in recent months, I’ve have some wear and tear-related dif - ficulty with it. I thought perhaps it may be time to look into another unit. Enter the PreSonus FIREPOD

10 www.sandiegotroubadour.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’ s n e v e t S

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by José Sinatra has to say . . . when we come back! h P SEGMENT FOUR WHY T.V. SUCKS Daze Maury Povitch : So, the San Diego Troubadour just ups and disappears in (transcript courtesy AudioGuide, Inc.) by Jim McInnes October, in San Diego. It’s clear some - Maury Povitch : . . . and you think it could thing’s really gone wrong. And if you think only happen in other countries? Think you know what that something is . . . think Trickle of again! Just watch this! again! Consciousness Narrator (always in malevolent voice): Narrator : Bad things never seem to hap - San Diego. America’s Finest City. But is it? pen in San Diego. Here it’s sunny year ell, it’s time for me to turn Jim McInnes Oh yes . . . beautiful, nearly fecal-free ‘round. Sewage spills don’t deter the in my piece for the beaches. A musical paradise. A creative believing that you’ll never walk again, surfers, who are strong and fearless September issue and, as Shangri-la. A climate to die for. And that’s W which was my reaction when I awoke the enough to swim in what amounts to an The scintillating Mr. Sinatra usual, my mind’s a blank. This writing stuff exactly what happens each year . . . each morning after that practice. A botched unflushed toilet. Christmas comes without ain’t easy, ya know! I admire those who October . . . when San Diego’s beacon of virginal daughters to The Passion of José laminectomy in 2001 aggravated my condi - the snow, but with the brisk joy that could write under a daily or weekly deadline. The glorious music, the San Diego Sinatra at the Adams Avenue Street Fair tion and required an eight-hour spinal chill the fires in the red-hot rhoids of any pressure must be intense! Troubadour , mysteriously disappears, grinch. At Easter the bunnies bask and as well as to the love sessions with Jose fusion operation in 2004, from which I am So I figure I’ll just sit here and tap never to return. breed in a bounty of vacation vistas. But Sinatra and the Troy Dante Inferno at now half-recovered. Four of my out whatever passes through the Or does it? in October, the joy begins to abate. The Octoberfest in Del Mar October 28-30 and vertebrae are held in position by colander that I call my mind. Wait! Maury Povitch : You won’t believe what leader, the guide, is gone. For there is no Claire de Lune on September 17. titanium rods and screws and Why did I just call my mind a happens next. We’ll be right back. Troubadour in October. And in the end, the You see, Maury, that’s the kind of thing have fused into one big vertebra. colander? Couldn’t I have left out ghosts, the goblins smile wantonly, I usually put in my September column. But It’s only in the last few months SEGMENT TWO the allusion to my mind being a demanding treats, while the Troubadour frankly, it’s become as boring as paternity that I’ve been able to play the Maury Povitch : So, you think America is sieve? tinkles in the memory, which entreats it to tests. guitar while standing up again! free of haunting mysteries? Think again! When I played softball in the return. Maury Povitch : You are the father! Speaking of guitars, am I the Parents, we want to warn you: some of 1980s with my radio and musician José Sinatra : Duh. only writer for the Troubadour what we’re about to present is disturbing. Maury Povitch : Coming up next we have pals I was nicknamed Sieve who plays electric guitar exclu - You may not want to tape this and have someone you saw briefly earlier in this (audience applause) Colander for my fielding abilities at sively? I have never played a folk people begging, even paying you, for exposé, who agreed to come on only after And I also wish to thank Liz Abbott, of first base. In fact, Chris Sullivan (ex- song in my life! That would scare copies. So, please keep that in mind. As our producers assured him that he could course, Steve Poltz, Gregory Page, Bart Penetrators bassist), who was our me. Put me on stage with a we continue . . . make a brief statement without interrup - Mendoza, my Dad Dub, Scott, Jesse, tion. You won’t believe what he has to erstwhile coach, once awarded me group of fellow noise makers, Narrator (as always): But why would a Looee . . . say! a square-foot section of astroturf, though, and I’m fine. You solo mystery overcome an oasis like the beau - (audience applause renders seven more representing the amount of infield I folkies are something! I admire you, too! tiful San Diego? With so much fun . . . with SEGMENT FIVE names unintelligible) could cover on ground balls to first. But Which reminds me...Sandi and I saw Joe music coming from the alp-like mountains Narrator : While the Troubadour tinkles in Maury Povitch : You won’t believe it, but what the hell? Rathburn at The Tin Fish before a Padres and echoing on the sandy, urine-soaked the memory, which entreats it to return. we’re out of time. I’m flat-footed. game a couple nights ago. Tough crowd, beaches, when the month of October Maury Povitch : If you think you know the José Sinatra : You’re right, Mo Po, I don’t. Being flat-footed (or pronated , in med - Joe. Great job! arrives . . . the month of goblins, witches, mystery of the San Diego Troubadour , (audience boos) ical lingo) has been the bane of my exis - I did , however, take an interest in learn - Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin, and other think again! We have with us one of the Chaos and destruction ‘til November? No, tence. Every time I’d get new shoes, they’d ing the guitar during the great folk music mysterious and terrifying omens . . . the columnists from the Troubadour. Please perhaps some sweet emptiness. hurt like the dickens (“dickens”?) because scare of the early sixties. friendly, ringing voice of their own welcome José Sinatra! Maury Povitch : Thank you for your exclu - they’d come with built-in arch supports...to love beloved Troubadour . . . is stilled . . . is Hahahahahahahaha! I that term ”folk (audience applause) sive words, Hose. (to audience:) If you support my non-arches. silent . . . is . . . dead. music scare!” That’s a quote from a Martin José Sinatra : Thanks, Mo Po. think we don’t believe in the tragedy of I love to play basketball. I played three Mull album. Also on that record, Mull Maury Povitch : We’ll be right back. This is my fourth September column, the Troubadour’s absence each October, to five times a week for 22 years, mostly describes a blues band as “five guys with SEGMENT THREE the one that appears before the think again. Until next time, America. oudoors. It was the constant pounding my matching suits and shades and big ampli - Maury Povitch : You won’t believe what Troubadour’s one-month hiatus each year. José Sinatra : Are we off? shock-absorberless feet took on asphalt and fiers, with maybe a heavyset guy in front It’s usually been the easiest to write, cement playgrounds that caused my ankles, happens next. You may want your children Maury Povitch : Unh . . . unh. who plays the harmonica.” I wish I could seeming like a sort of a “shot-my-wad- knees, thighs, and, ultimately, my back to to go out and smoke a bowl. This is unbe - José Sinatra : Wow. T.V. sucks. It’s a Mo find that album. from-November-to-August” exhalation, ache. lievable. Fo, Mo Po. Hey, by the way, that’s not a Lemme see, have I reached 500 words generally an opportunity for some sum - In 1999, during a Modern Rhythm Band Narrator : The residents of San Diego, microphone, dude. It’s my lap. yet? Wait a second while I count mings-up, spiffy plugs, and see-ya-laters. rehearsal, I herniated a disc in my lower located in the southern-most area of the (audience gasps in rethought disbelief) them...oops! Needed three more. western state of California, are a fit and Up until now, I haven’t used September to spine. There is no scarier feeling than happy bunch, generally unperturbed by focus on anything too heavy or substan - * November through August the troubles of the outside world. They tial by worldly measure. Nothing yet, for sing; they sail. They sport and they spend. example, to comfort the needy (that’s gen - They follow music always, until October erally in February) or chastise the sleazy arrives, and they find themselves without (usually December) or moisten the loins of a trusted guide. For suddenly, nearly one the arid desert that some of us call month to the day before Halloween, the “Life.”* San Diego Troubadour disappears. (audience applause) What’s really necessary at this time is INSERTS that people know we’ll be back in Joni Mitchell : You don’t know what November . . . you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. (audience applause) José Sinatra : Still, it’s nothing to get upset . . . thank you . . . and that without peo - about, really . . . ple like you, the readers . . . along with Narrator : Nothing to get upset about? angels at Winston’s, Lestat’s, Claire de Well, according to one person, maybe. Lune, and dear gifts like the Troy Danté But every large city has its share of the Inferno, Joe Vecchio, Scott Slaga, Teddy malcontents, the misinformed, the miss - Wigler, Buddy Blue, Barefoot Hockey ing-brained, the monthly columnists who Goalie, and Anya Marina, the Hose think it’s just business as usual . . . obsti - wouldn’t have more than a handful of nately oblivious to the crooked, cavernous other people to thank for allowing him to crater created in the crotch of creativity, bring his message from the page to the of eagle-crested dreams. stage during the past year. Maury Povitch : Is José Sinatra delusion - So bring an open mind, a greedy libido, al? Can an idiot lounge metal god have and the cultured forms of your beautiful the answer? You won’t believe what he

THE LORDS OF LOUNGE METAL Jose Sinatra and the Troy Dante Inferno available for • private functions • corporate wingdings • bachelorette parties • debutante ho-downs josesinatra.com www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

Wynola Pizza Express Offers Back Country Hospitality to Guest Musicians by Derrick Fields restaurant with an outdoor venue in an open central courtyard or in the Red Barn next door. The Red Barn is ome time ago it became the Saturday, September 17 . Julian’s better than the average barn, with focal point of a burgeoning Bluegrass Festival weekend celebra - art and offices and a hidden area, a musical scene. A huge parking tions continue with a musician’s S great little espresso area, a unique lot framed in majestic oak trees jam following Jim Wakefield’s stage, and, as I recollect, the chal - greets you as you turn off into it, just Mountain Review, which includes lenge of a sequoia sized log column to the side of the Red Barn. For now, Anastasia, Pete Filacio, Timothy that splits the stage about two-thirds a sweeping view of the sunset tops it The Mark Jackson Band performs on the patio McFarland, and George Piburn on way across. It’s too cool. The season off. Although a mountain pasture, steel guitar. The show is 6-9 p.m., and the weather dictate where the the tiny town of Wynola (just three after which the audience and music will be set up. A house P.A. is miles this side of Julian) is, in fact, musicians willin’, there will be provided as well as a couple of mics. on the mountain and the perspective some pickin’ and grinnin’. and pastoral beauty of this summer Most performers bring their own Wynola Pizza Express day surrounds the parking lot of the equipment. Okay, so it’s smaller than 4355 Hwy 78/78 Wynola Pizza Express. Do a slow a sequoia…somehow, it works. It’s rustic and that is as it should be up Wynola Springs 360. Mountains, fields, and forest. 760/765-1004 here in the mountains. Can this be The air smells good. It’s Saturday Harry and Sabine Horner night and word has it this is the just 18 miles past Ramona? s place to catch some great The selection of music every week. No beers includes a few of Wynola’s wood-fire oven was designed by cover charge without my favorite ales Robin Henkel, continued from page 9. James Hubbell exception. Well, from England. alaBaMa, heRe i coMe! acoustic rock. An evening with the Robin almost. No, I can’t Wine and their Audi Club, who have patronized the n the early 2000s Robin was invited to Henkel band is an experience you won’t for - think of a time own brand of place as their mountain rendezvous. travel to rural Alabama to work with get. You simply can’t help but like the music when the sodas, such as A real treasure is the community of poor black kids. The point of contact and the musicians. Robin mentions, Horners charged Wynola Cola, i musicians that you will find “Currently I am really into the sound of two are offered. They was respected local blues man, Willie King, for the entertain - passing through, networking, enter - horns so we can harmonize the melody with offer vegetarian who lived in a trailer in the small communi - ment. Sure as I say taining, and enjoying the mountain the saxes and guitar. The main thrust is the fare and pastas, ty of Old Memphis and was the unofficial they haven’t area themselves. tunes I’ve written with a jazz influenced which boast gour - town mayor. A tiny town comprised of a though, it’ll come Wynola Pizza Express is a gem. collection of trailers and simple buildings in melody over a funk groove. Saxophonists met ingredients back to bite me. Even For the best of local talent to have a the Alabama woods, it lies next to Freedom Bob Campbell and Dave Castel de Oro throughout. The pizza musicians who have been in supportive and accessible perform - Creek, which has served as the town water bring an edgy emotional sensitivity to my sauce is made from fresh tomatoes, million selling rock groups have ance venue, with an appreciative supply and laundry spot for many years. It melodies and harmony while bassist Rodney seasoned and roasted in pans. I know come to play in the peaceful blue - audience in a beautiful place, is a is also the name of a local music event: the Ratelle and drummer Larry Dent groove these things to be true. grass and country oriented shows wonderful thing. Often, when the Freedom Creek Blues Festival. Robin got some really messed up funk. We also blend that happen here. Singer-songwriter The performance area is set evening’s entertainment ends, a along famously with Willie and the kids, saxes and steel guitar into a beautiful and types seem to wander in and feel at quite away from the bustle of the musicians’ jam begins. I strongly rec - playing the blues with Willie at a local juke unique sound reminiscent of the 1940s’ and 1950s’ steel guitar and western swing sound. home with it right away. restaurant and there is a very atten - ommend checking this place out, joint. Robin served as teacher and mentor to There is usually a blues undercurrent to The restaurant is great. Pizza in tive audience, often including a gui - especially if your act is honed and a group of young kids learning to use photo whatever we play, and the twisting of a stone oven, itself a work of art — tar, banjo, or mandolin player or your ’72 Ford Maverick or whatever and video equipment as part of a grant melody in blues phrases and its interaction literally adorned in a ceramic piece two. . . a dash of locals throughout, a your singer-songwriter waif of a sponsored program to bring technology to a with the rhythm has always been an inspira - by renowned artist James Hubbell. smattering of tourists, sometimes lifestyle provides you is out of the technologically naive rural area. As Robin tion for me.” The atmosphere is family, an all-ages members of car clubs, such as the shop and holds at least a tank of gas. describes it, the kids were great. They filmed and interviewed community members The Robin Henkel Band will perform Now, take this article and put it about the history of Old Memphis and shot on the Blues Stage at the Adams Avenue in your glovebox and next time you footage of the Freedom Creek Blues Street Fair on Sunday, September 25, 1:30 turn left instead of right, just take it Festival, producing some remarkable stuff. p.m. You can also hear Robin around town on up the mountain where you’ll be It was great to see them learn to use the soloing with the 7th Day Buskers, Big Rig greeted by owners Harry and Sabine cameras and equipment and to film what Deluxe, and Billy Watson. His new CD, Bad Horner. they thought was important. Bongos , is available for purchase on Come on out any Saturday cdbaby.com, along with his other record - night, 6-9 p.m., to hear some great the RoBin henkel Band ings. To learn more, visit his web page at music and to eat the best pizza ost exciting for Robin currently is www.robinhenkel.com. you’ve ever had. No kidding. his new band, the Robin Henkel The final word on Robin Henkel is MBand. In many ways this new yet to be written as much lies ahead. Right group is the culmination of all that has gone now, though, it’s great to see this talented before, which if you’ve read this far, you local icon doing such wonderful things with will agree is a lot! Band members include his music with a clear head, a smile, and a core players Bob Campbell and Dave Castel perspective on life and music that can only de Oro on tenor sax, Larry Dent on drums, be achieved by long travels on a sometimes Rodney Ratelle on electric bass, and Robin difficult road. Get out to hear Robin, shake on electric guitar, with occasional sit ins and his hand, and tell him what you think about substitutions. The group has been together his music. He’ll be glad to hear from you. for about a year, although the members, in one configuration or another, has been play - ing since 1986. Robin’s dream early on was to a member of an “art” band that played the music he loved and that would com - mand paying gigs comparable to what could be earned playing top 40 music. When it proved impossible to do that, Robin remem - bers the frustration, bitterness, and negativi - ty toward himself and toward the top 40 music that consumed him, a condition from which he has now largely recovered. Now, in 2005, a sober, realistic, and much more content Robin Henkel accepts top 40 music as having its place while he presents the music he loves through the Robin Henkel Band. Gone, or at least sub - stantially reduced, are the days of fear of rejection. And, guess what? The public loves the music and the positive way that Robin and his bandmates present it — with skill and with accessible melodies and rhythms, but also with emotion, affection, and humor. The music is a complex, but magnetic, fusion of jazz, funk, blues, and 12 www.sandiegotroubadour.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Jeff Caudill Eliza Various Artists 145th Street Mark O’Connor Here’s What You Gilkyson Rock ‘n’ Roll Bell Deluxe Blues Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Should Do Paradise Hotel Ringers Band Double Violin Concerto by Raul Sandelin by Bart Mendoza by Raul Sandelin by Bart Mendoza by Craig Yerkes In most states, it’s illegal to yell “fire” While Bell Records is today remem - Picassos are lacking in American With more than a dozen albums to popular music. Miles Davis, maybe. Brian in a public building. It’s equally danger - bered as a record label that hit its mid- What qualifies a blues band to be cat - her credit since her 1979 debut, you Wilson, probably not. Even if the Brits ous to blurt out the words “nineteen- seventies peak with acts ranging from egorized as “deluxe”? Let’s consider this might expect Eliza Gilkyson to have mel - compete, I’m not sure we’d strike cubist eighty-five” in front of strangers. Barry Manilow to the Bay City Rollers, in question with a checklist and see how lowed a little over the decades, but as gold. John Lennon didn’t live long It’s 1985. No more Hippies. No more actuality things started out much differ - the 145th Street Deluxe Blues Band’s self- her latest disc Paradise Hotel ably shows, enough. Sorry. And, Clapton? Well, God New Wavers. A new voice led a new ently. Founded in the early fifties, the titled CD stacks up. generation down the path to College that couldn’t be further from the truth. imprint was one of many that first made is just not good enough. To go Picasso • A soulful, gritty, front man/lead vocal - Rock, exploring the melancholy of subur - Generally labeled as either a singer- a name for itself releasing “budget” hunting, we’ll need to stray into the ist who plays killer harp solos? Check. bia and helping young people cope in songwriter or Americana artist, her music recordings of rock ‘n’ roll era hits. unknowns, which defeats the standards the moral wasteland of consumer society. certainly contains elements of both but is Banking on the premise that listeners • A kick ass blues guitar ace to make of Picassodom since that Spaniard Remember, this was before Prozac. much harder to pin down. Minor key would forego star names to get a reason - you play air guitar and high five your enjoyed fame for six decades. The messiah—REM’s Michael Stipe— ballads adjoin Hammond-drenched able facsimile of the song at a lower buddy. Check. But, let’s try. Enter Mark O’Conner, spread his gospel with many disciples, swamp blues, next to Spanish-language price, producers would check the charts • A solid rhythm section to make you an American fiddler who’s been hovering breakaway sects, and lost tribes. laments and more. It’s an excellent mix for soon-to-be hit records, then rush move and groove even if you don’t just outside the margins of pop music for Enter Jeff Caudill, 2005. He actually that shows Gilkyson to be adept at release a version to compete with the want to. Check. 30 years. If anyone deserves the Pablo broke outta da O.C. ten years ago with numerous musical styles, all of which original. Charging as much as a third less • A master Hammond organ player who Statue, it’s this Grammy winner and his Emo band, Gameface. But, hey, since showcase her strongpoint: lyrics. for their discs, the label cashed in on the adds hot sauce in all the right spots. favorite within country, bluegrass, folk Paradise Hotel College Rock, or now Alt Rock, is in its ’s ten tracks are imbued majors’ success, selling tens of thousands Check. and jazz circles. He’s performed with with a world-weary sense of melancholy. Dave Grisman, Stephane Grappelli, Chet second decade, we need a veteran to of their replica productions. Ironically, • A smokin’ four-piece horn section. Dylan-esque in parts, Gilkyson does tack - Atkins, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, usher in the second coming of Stipe. this paved the way for Bell itself to C’mon, people, this is San Diego, not le traditional song subjects such as rela - Garrison Keillor, Lee Ritenour, Jane The Alt Rock recipe calls for jingling become a major, eventually being Memphis! tionships but also isn’t afraid to take on Monheit, Howard Alden, and Frank riffs, quirky lyrics, ironic emptiness. Add absorbed into Arista Records and then The word “deluxe” is not misplaced politics and religion, with couplets such Vignola. His music has led him to some acoustic folk to taste. BMG. when describing what the 145th Street as Nashville and Appalachia, to the New Caudill’s pop sensibilities are honed Gathering up more than two dozen of boys do with the blues. Their disc is a York City Ballet and the Gypsy Jazz of precisely for those who toe the Baby Gang of goons and his big war chest the labels’ early releases, it’s evident on solid effort that does what it’s supposed 1930’s Paris, to Juilliard and many musi - Boomers/Gen X line. The intro to Fortunate son doubly blessed first listen to Rock ‘n’ Roll Bell Ringers that to do: deliver a high octane dose of the Corporate cronies and chiefs of staff cal niches in between. “Favorite Version of Your Life” promises despite the budget tag, there’s nothing blues and good times. I very much liked Bowing to the image of the Golden Calf Double Violin Concerto is partly a something between Tom Petty and the cut rate about the music. An excellent the mix of originals and covers and how Romantics. The acoustic soul of “Nite group of musicians were drafted to tackle cooperative effort involving the great from the intense “Man of God,” leaving the tracks are arranged with variety in Life” echoes Sarah McLachlan or a the day’s hits, with generally excellent violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, the little question to its author’s feelings mind. Maybe the best thing I can say kinder, gentler Metallica. “Never Been results. Collectors are sure to gravitate to Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and a about the world today. Also strong are about this disc is that the music (in par - High” throws out some guitar punches, Tom and Jerry’s 1959 cover of Jan and number of small group musicians. her story songs such as “Jebediah 1777” ticular, the guitar parts) has the bite, transporting us back even before REM. Dean’s “Baby Talk” as the pair would go Salerno-Sonnenberg is even given dou - based on correspondence from a vibe, emotion, and edge that will many Try Robin Trower, 1976. on to greater success six years later with ble-billing. But, this really is an O’Conner Connecticut family circa 1771-89 and times disappear in a studio recorded Pop hooks in place, Caudill dips into a subtle name change to Simon and opus; the personnel come and go while sounding not unlike “Love and Kisses” blues project. all the themes of a post-REM world: Garfunkel. However, there are plenty of the maestro is fixed at center stage. era Sam Phillips. All of the tracks are solid, but the ones greener grasses somewhere else (not that other gems to unearth here, whether The genre is Americana cum Where Gilkyson surpasses many other that impressed me the most were “Say this place totally sucks, mind you), rela - you’re familiar with the original or not. European classical. Think “Peter in the socially conscious performers, it is in the Yes to My Baby,” “It’ll Come to You,” tionships that don’t click (not that we Among the better known tunes, Artie Wolf,” with each instrument representing balance she strikes between politically “You Is So Mean,” and “Met Her Last hate each other, mind you), the inability Malvin turns in a credible take of Elvis’ a different covered wagon, smoking charged observation and romantic mus - Night.” “Say Yes to My Baby” and “Met to fully know our fellow human beings “Hound Dog,” the Studio B Seven’s ver - hearth, and prairie dog. The title piece ings, never letting one side or the other Her Last Night” are ultra catchy, up- (but we can still be friends, mind you). sion of Bill Doggett’s “Honky Tonk” excepted, the compositions take names dominate the listening experience. Other tempo crowd pleasers that most likely “Favorite Version of Your Life” entertains could certainly hold its own in any road - like “Dixieland,” “Johnny Appleseed points of interest include vocal cameos get the crowd out of their seats and the idea that we all are stars in our own house along Route 66, and Tony Wilson’s Waltz,” and “Marching Along the Ohio from Shawn Colvin and Marcia Ball, and singing along at live shows. “It’ll Come fictional dramas. “Worn Out Welcome” rendition of the Diamonds’ “The Stroll” Frontier.” A haunting “Amazing Grace” the album’s one cover tune, a nice rendi - to You” is a pleasing, swingin’, cool gui - provides the best glimpse of Stipian actually interjects a bit of grit and men - rounds out the set. tion of World Party’s “Is It Like Today.” tar instrumental that reminded me of irony: “The band was cool but the club ace into the overplayed classic. Certainly These songs breathe of tilled earth, Good as it is, it’s dwarfed by Gilkyson’s Johnny A. “You Is So Mean” is the bom - was lame.” there are also a few misfires among the whisking scarecrows, field mice, lazy originals. Whether you’ve followed bastic slow groove tune that every blues Caudill’s world, like Michael Stipe’s, is gems. Despite excellent guitar and sax rivers, slinging streams, even smoke and Gilkyson’s career for the last few decades band needs to have in their arsenal, and not a world of major political questions. work, Sam Cee’s “Johnny B. Goode” fails violence. They are American songs that or are just curious about her sound, this one works mightily from the start However, “shiny, happy people” are due to his insistence at crooning the stretch out like wide plains, turning one you’ll find Paradise Hotel a worthy, and with the lead vocal and organ exploding equally suspect. Think of Caudill as rocker, and Barry Franks arrangement of ear back for guidance from the Old thought provoking, addition to your with intensity. The only problem with Orange County’s Joseph Conrad: Colonel Frankie Lymon’s immortal “Why Do Fools World. At center is O’Conner’s fiddle, music collection. “You Is So Mean” is the almost fatal lyric prodding, stunning, seducing, Kertz stares out at the soulless chain of Fall in Love?” is just a little too different “I bought you a brand new Toyota, you screeching. strip malls connecting Dana Point to to work. But these are minor quibbles. said how ‘bout a Lexus please,” whhich is Perhaps a bit verbose, this album Fullerton. Grasping just enough moral Complete with superb liners notes, fans painfully yuppy for a growling blues may not click with O’Conner’s more strength, he mutters, “The horror, the of the early days of rock ‘n’ roll will find tune! folksy following. It’s a little like the quan - horror.” this to be an absolutely essential listen, All throughout the disc, the solos are tum physicist who shows up at your with the bonus of being a fascinating inspired and very skillfully executed. I also Super Bowl party insisting on talking look at a little known chapter in the early liked the way the band added some shop. The music is sublime. But, it also days of rock. musical surprises like switching from a lacks the popular hooks that appeal to straight-ahead back beat to a shuffle those who look to O’Conner for some within the same tune and also the cool “aw, shucks” Texas fiddlin’ or for a riffs/accents/kicks that the band hits revamped version of Django Reinhardt’s together with gusto. If you like your “Minor Swing.” blues “deluxe” style, this CD will not dis - With a 30-year career already under appoint. his belt, one might wonder whether O’Conner is near retirement. Forget it! He’s only 43 and has many decades to “pull a Picasso” or, at least, a musical Einstein. Quantum fiddle, anyone? www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

friday • september • 16 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER Jamie Laval , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 WEEKLY Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. MUSIC CALENDAR Michael Blea/Danny Sandock , sunday wednesday Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Main St., El every every Annie Bethancourt/Barret Johnson/ Cajon, 7:30pm. 7th Day Buskers , Farmers Market, DMV Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , Newport parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Ave., 4-7pm. thursday • september • 1 Molly Jenson , Lestat’s, 9pm. Eric Bogle , San Dieguito United Susan Tedeschi/Blind Boys of Alabama , Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg High Society Jazz Band , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 7:30pm. friday • september • 9 Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. Napa St., 7pm. Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4pm. Open Mic Night , Twiggs, 8:30pm. Michael Johnathon , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. SDMA Acoustic Music Fest , Claire de Int’l Silver Strings Submarine Band w/ 8pm. Lune, 2906 University Ave., 7pm. Billy Watson , Pannikin Del Mar, 8pm. Traditional Irish Music & Dance , The Field, 544 5th Ave., 5:30pm. every thursday Pete Thurston , Lestat’s, 9pm. Peter Sprague CD Release , Dizzy’s, 344 Joey Show , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak , Blues Jam , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Main St., Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. 7th Ave. 8pm. Emerson Band/Just Jon , Lestat’s, 9pm. El Cajon, 7:30pm. Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 9pm. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. Kyle Jester , Pannikin Del Mar, 8pm. Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Acoustic Cafe Open Mic/Open Jam , A.J. Croce/Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 9pm. saturday • september • 17 (88.3 FM). Milano’s Pizza, 6830 La Jolla Blvd., 7-10pm. friday • september • 2 Marcia Ball/Bill Magee Band , Belly Up JULIAN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL & The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , 10- Sue Palmer , Martini’s, 3940 4th Ave., 7pm. Simeon Flick , O.B. People’s Co-op, 5:30pm. Tavern, Solana Beach, 8pm. BANJO/FIDDLE CONTEST , Frank Lane midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Crossroads Cafe, Jim Earp/John Katchur , Crossroads, 169 Candye Kane/Sue Palmer , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Park, 2645 Farmers Rd., Julian, 9am-5pm. 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 7-10pm. E. Main, El Cajon, 8pm. Napa, 9pm. Diva Palooza , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. every monday Amelia Browning & David Owen ( Jazz), Mitch Manker/Bob Campbell/Lynn Main St., El Cajon, 7:30pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Turquoise Cafe-Bar Europa, 873 Turquoise Willard/Dave/Curtis/Gary Nieves , Dizzy’s, saturday • september • 10 Cindy Lee Berryhill & the Wigbillies w/ Backstage Lounge, Shelter Island, 7pm. St., 8:30pm. 344 7th Ave. 8pm. Randy Hoffman , Twiggs, 7:30pm. Open Mic Night , Lestat’s, 7:30pm. Swing Thursdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Sue Palmer , Toy Piano Festival, Geisel 9pm. Sue Palmer Trio , Pannikin/Bookworks, Library, UCSD, 2pm. Dave Stamey , Fallbrook Americana Tango Dancing , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 8pm. Flower Hill Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. Music Series, 331 E. Elder, 7:30pm. Highland Way , San Dieguito United tuesday every friday Saba/Adrienne/Tim Mudd , Lestat’s, 9pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, José Sinatra & the Troy Danté Inferno , every Farmers’ CD Release/Whiskey Tango/ Claire de Lune, 2906 University, 8pm. Roots Music Night on Lou’s Front Porch , California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. 4:30-9pm. Wild Truth , Casbah, 9pm. Allison Lonsdale (6pm) /Greg Laswell , Folk Arts Rare Records, 2881 Adams Ave., Simeon Flick , Borders Books, Gaslamp 7pm. Open Mic Night , Egyptian Tea Room & Jump Jones , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. Quarter, 8pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. Acoustic/Electric Open Mic , Crossroads Smoking Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Erika Luckett , Acoustic Expressions, 2852 Cafe, 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 7pm. saturday • september • 3 University Ave., 8pm. sunday • september • 18 Blues Jam , Blind Melons, 710 Garnet, 7pm. every saturday Kev , Cosmos Cafe, 8278 La Mesa Blvd., Afro Rumba , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. 8pm. Sea Chantey Festival , Star of India, Zydeco Tuesdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 7pm. Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg Embarcadero, 10am. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. 7:30pm. Sue Palmer , L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Del Open Mic Night , Cosmos Cafe, 8278 La Tim Mudd/The Gooses , Crossroads Cafe, Mar, 8pm. Old Town Jazz Band , Elks Lodge, 1400 E. Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. Hot Fudge Sundae Open Mic , O’Connell’s, 1310 Morena Blvd., 9pm. 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 7:30pm. North County Cowboys , Del Dios Country Washington, El Cajon, 1pm. Irish Music Jam , The Ould Sod, 7pm. Christian/Gospel Open Mic El Cajon. Info: Chet Cannon/Blue Aces , Redfield’s Store, 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8:30pm. Acoustic Circle , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Comedy Night w/ Mark Serritella , Lestat’s, , J.D., 619/246-7060. Lounge, Seaport Village Hyatt, 8pm. Biddy Bums/Jack the Original , Lestat’s, Main St., El Cajon, 2pm. 9pm. Eve Selis , Canyon Folk House Concert, 9pm. Hank Show , Cask & Cleaver, 3757 S. 8pm. www.canyonfolkhousecon- The Blazers , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. Mission Rd., Fallbrook, 7pm. certs.com or call 619/659-5753. Rodney Crowell , Viejas Casino, 5000 Gilbert Castellanos Quartet , Dizzy’s, 344 sunday • september • 11 Willows Rd., Alpine thursday • september • 29 tuesday • october • 11 7th Ave. 8:30pm. Sue Palmer/Candy Kane , 1002 N. Hwy. Rockin’ Blues Review w/ John Mayall & Tribute to Ray Brown w/ Christian Peter Himmelman , Acoustic Music S.D., the Bluesbreakers , Humphrey’s, Shelter McBride, Benny Green, Russell Malone, Renata Youngblood/Kelda/Carlos 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. 101, Leucadia, 7pm. Olmeda , Lestat’s, 9pm. Dehra Dun , Lestat’s, 9pm. Island, 7pm. Gregory Hutchinson , Neurosciences Jane Lui/Lindsey Young , Lestat’s, 9pm. Inst., 10640 Hopkins Dr., 8pm. Info: Seat Sniffers/Rip Carson , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Attom Carrol/Beaver Nelson/Jud 858/454-5872. Napa, 9pm. Newcomb/Four Corners in the Round w/ monday • september • 12 monday • september • 19 Steve Poltz , Lestat’s, 9pm. Jazz Mandolin Orchestra , Belly Up sunday • september • 4 San Diego Music Awards , Humphrey’s, Bill Evans Tribute , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. Rip Carson , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. Tavern, Solana Beach, 8pm. Shelter Island, 7pm. 8pm. Acoustic Circle , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 2pm. Jeremy Pelt Band , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. friday • september • 30 friday • october • 14 8pm. wednesday • september • 21 Lucie Blue Tremblay/Mary Dolan , Wild Jammin’ Women’s Camp at Big Chris James Blues Benefit , Patrick’s II, Divine M AG ees/Eddie Anthony , Lestat’s, 5pm. Acoustic Expressions, 2852 University Bear , through October 16. Info: www.wild 9pm. Ave., 7:30pm. The Knitters , Belly Up Tavern, Solana wednesday • september • 14 jamminwomen.com or 858/270-7922. Beach, 8pm. Patty Hall/Judy Eron , Crossroads Cafe, Etta James , Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, Jane Lui/Guys Swimer , Lestat’s, 9pm. thursday • september • 22 7:30pm. Juan-Carlos Formell , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 7:30pm. 8pm. Kim Divincenzo/Arden Kaywin/Blaine Transnational Jazz , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. Jim Earp , Borders Books, 1072 Camino saturday • october • 15 Long , Lestat’s, 9pm. 8pm. Del Rio N., 8pm. Annie Dru/Mike Dawson/The Cat Mary , Afro Rumba , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. 8pm. Big Rig Deluxe , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. Simeon Flick , Borders, El Cajon, 8pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. Allison Lonsdale (6pm)/ Greg Laswell , Truckee Brothers/Heathen Kings of Old , thursday • september • 15 George Svoboda , Pannikin Del Mar, 8pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. tuesday • september • 6 Los Lobos/Southside Johnny & the Lestat’s, 9pm. Lindsey Troy CD Release , Lestat’s, 9pm. Hart Ranch Band , NCBFC Meeting, Asbury Jukes , Humphrey’s, Shelter Big Daddy Orchestra , Tio Leo’s, 5302 sunday • october • 16 Island, 6:30pm. friday • september • 23 Napa, 9pm. Round Table Pizza, 1161 E. Washington, Caballero Verde Quintet , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Andy Stewart & Gerry O’Beirne , Acoustic Bluegrass Campout & Jam , Antique Gas Escondido, 7pm. Ave. 8pm. Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. & Steam Engine Museum, Vista (thru wednesday • september • 7 619/303-8176. Sept. 25). Info: 858/566-4594. saturday • october • 1 Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 9pm. Lost Chords Quartet w/ Carla Bley , The Gooses , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Angela Patua/Regina Dawn , Lestat’s, Neurosciences Inst., 10640 Hopkins Dr., Main St., El Cajon, 7:30pm. Train Song Festival , Old Poway Park, friday • october • 21 9pm. 10am. 858/566-4040. 8pm. Info: 858/454-5872. Fred Benedetti/George Svoboda , Dizzy’s, Country Joe McDonald , Acoustic Music Billy Watson , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. 344 7th Ave. 8pm. S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303- thursday • september • 8 Derek Evans/Kelly Rudick/Kristin Joseph Angelastro Duo , Pannikin Del sunday • october • 2 8176. Hot Rod Lincoln , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, Hoffman , Lestat’s, 9pm. Mar, 8pm. bohola , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Aaron Bowen/Carlos Olmeda/Kelda , 9pm. Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F Fabulous Thunderbirds , 4th & B, 9pm. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Lestat’s, 9pm. St., 9pm. Satisfaction/J. Turtle/Andrew Foshee , Eddie From Ohio , Lestat’s, 9pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. saturday • october • 22 Fremonts , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. wednesday • october • 5 Peter Mulvey , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak , Paul Sprawl , Lestat’s, 9pm. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Latin Harp Night , San Dieguito United thursday • october • 6 Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. saturday • september • 24 Dan Pratt Quartet , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. Raspberries/Shambles , 4th&B, 8pm. Adams Ave. Street Fair , Adams Ave. 8pm. between 33rd St. & 35th St., 10am-9pm. Anya Marina , Lestat’s, 9pm. The Passion of José Sinatra , Lestat’s, friday • october • 7 5:30pm. Ricky Skaggs , Ca. Ctr. for the Arts, sunday • october • 23 All-Country Australian All-Star Band , Escondido, 8pm. Rob Mehl , Dark Thirty House Concert, Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. 2pm. Utah Phillips , San Dieguito United Lakeside, 7:30pm. Info: 619/443-9622. Peggy Watson & Friends , San Dieguito Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. wednesday • october • 26 Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566- Doc & Richard Watson/David Holt , 4040. Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 7:30pm. Jason Mraz , Soma, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., 7pm. Working Cowboy Band , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Anna Troy , Lestat’s, 9pm. Napa, 9pm. saturday • october • 8 thursday • october • 27 sunday • september • 25 John Stowell/Rick Helzer , Dizzy’s, 344 Young Dubliners , Ca. Ctr. for the Arts, 7th Ave. 8pm. Adams Ave. Street Fair , Adams Ave. Escondido, 8pm. between 33rd St. & 35th St., 10am-6pm. Small Potatoes , Fallbrook Americana friday • october • 28 KSDS Jazz Festival w/ Sue Palmer/Dee Music Series, 331 E. Elder, 7:30pm. Dee Bridgewater/Red Holloway/ Saba/Blues Sanders/Schuyler Fisk , Robin Henkel/Timothy Daniel , Lestat’s, Bonerama/Jazz 88 All Stars , Foot of OB 9pm. Pier, noon. Lestat’s, 9pm. Ellen Johnson , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. 4pm. saturday • october • 29 Simeon Flick , Twiggs, 8:30pm. sunday • october • 9 Fred Benedetti Tribute to John Lennon , Storytellers Halloween , Templar’s Hall, Old Poway Park, 7pm. 858/566-4040. wednesday • september • 28 Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave. 8pm. Celtic Women , Humphrey’s, Shelter Berkley Hart , Lestat’s, 9pm. Campaign for Quiet , Lestat’s, 9pm. Island, 7:30pm. Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm.

14 www.sandiegotroubadour.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR the local seen n a P n h r o e t i o T :

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Sue Palmer & Steve Wilcox at the Trolley Barn Park www.sandiegotroubadour.com 15