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

August 2005 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 4, No. 11

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Statement Contributors Crossroads Cafe Full Circle.. …………4 Stuart Duncan Recordially, Lou Curtiss Summergrass ………7 Ramblin’... …………11 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Of Note. ……………13 Nashville Bluegrass Band Eric Uglum The Brothers Barton Virtual Strangers Hit & Run Bluegrass ‘Round About ...... …14 August Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

Y ERRATA Z SAN DIEGO NOT YOUR AVERAGE MUSIC STORY: Conversations on the Road to Salvation ROUBADOUR and Rock ‘n’ Roll with Michael Tiernan Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news In last month’s article, the woman in the adjacent photo was identified incorrectly. That’s not the pope’s assistant there with Michael Tiernan. That’s HIS MOM, Joanne Tiernan! The pub - MISSION CONTRIBUTORS lisher regrets the error. 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. Jim McInnes ©2005 San Diego Troubadour. Raul Sandelin Sven-Erik Seaholm José Sinatra The San Diego Troubadour is Mike Tatar dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Yvonne Tatar Lyle Duplessie , whose vision inspired Betty Wheeler the creation of this newspaper. D. Dwight Worden Cover Design: Chuck Schiele

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle Stuart Duncan Comes Home to Summergrass by Yvonne Tatar Stuart Duncan, the most influential to play the part with me. He wants to and virtuosic bluegrass fiddler alive, play the harmony lines.’ Apparently, I has crystallized a style, rendering it was already a bluegrass tenor player at ummergrass San Diego – transparent, deep, and faceted with a very early age. I couldn’t stop playing Southern California’s most excit - such brilliance that he has spawned a the harmonies,” he recalls. ing new bluegrass music festival S legion of imitators. As a young fiddler, A year later Duncan found himself returns for a third great year on August his abilities impressed the bluegrass in a band. “There was a band based out 26, 27, and 28 at the nostalgic Antique world, but his subsequent incorporation of Vista and Oceanside and, since all of Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista. of all the great fiddlers’ styles into a our fathers were Marines at Camp While always providing everything personal meta-style is only surpassed by Pendleton, it was called the Pendleton Stuart Duncan his clarity of phrasing, dynamics, from world-class entertainment to Pickers. I was eight years old and the Having gained respect in both the Doyle, the great left-handed Irish gui - groove, and intonation. noteworthy local talent, Summergrass ages in the band ran from eight to 15 bluegrass and country genres, Duncan tarist, along with many other great is pulling out all the stops this year in — Fiddler Magazine, Fall 2002 years.” has been the winner of the musicians. I believe it is available Duncan’s parents were local musi - bringing in the Grammy award-win - Reminiscing about his early years in International Bluegrass Music now.” cians who also volunteered for the ning Nashville Bluegrass Band as festi - San Diego, Duncan remembers his Association’s Fiddler of the Year for “I’ve been doing a monthly show local folk club in Escondido. As a val headliners. This stellar band is musical beginnings in North County. seven consecutive years, awarded the with the Hot Club of Nashville at the youngster, he frequently saw many uniquely fitting for Summergrass. His father was a Marine, the family 1999 Academy of Country Music Station Inn. It has a revolving cast of great groups perform for the club, such lived in Vista, and he began playing Fiddle Player of the Year, and has been guitarists but the core guys are Richard Fiddler great Stuart Duncan is a local as the Dillards and fiddle legend Byron music at age seven. included in Music Row magazine’s Top Smith from England on guitar and boy who grew up in the San Diego area Berline. Being self-taught, Duncan received Ten All Stars three times. “After the Charlie Chadwick on bass. John before moving to Nashville and “Byron was the biggest influence on very little training on the fiddle as a seventh IBMA award for Fiddler of the Jorgenson (another former Southern becoming one of the most well-respect - me in those early years. I kind of fol - child. “There was a classical teacher in Year, I was retired to the Hall of Shame, Californian) and Pat Bergeson are there ed musicians in bluegrass today. lowed him around. He was my begin - Vista that I went to for a couple of along with Jerry Douglas,” Duncan a lot, too. We occasionally have swing Duncan’s powerful influence and ning inspiration. After that, it was all weeks. At one point, she called my jokes. (Like himself, Douglas received mandolin players hop up on stage. It’s widely acclaimed musical prowess is the bluegrass legends, traditional and mom and said, ‘You know, Stuart just IBMA’s Player of the Year award, on exciting and on my road to knowing succinctly captured by Fiddler contemporary. Thanks to my father, I doesn’t have the discipline to continue dobro, for many years.) more about music in general. I’m just Magazine : also had a large record collection to with violin lessons. He almost refuses Besides playing with the Nashville seizing the opportunity to sharpen my delve into. Jazz, Django-era swing, Bluegrass Band, Duncan is busy work - claws.” Dixieland, and Irish were all in the ing on a few other projects. He has just “I’m growing, learning new ways. mix. Everything from Doc Boggs to finished participating in a CD pro - The more I’m learning, the simpler I’m Frank Zappa.” duced by jazz saxophone maestro Bill playing some things that used to be Duncan played in various other Evans that also included Jerry Douglas, hard. That’s where the real growth is. local bands as time went on. “I teamed Bela Fleck, Vic Wooten, Vinny Calutti, When you figure out a simple way to up with Alison Brown from La Jolla Sam Bush, Mark Egan, Pat Bergeson, do something that’s more musically and we were a young teen banjo and and John Scoffield. “Bill wrote a lot of effective than what you have done fiddle duo. Now she’s in Nashville like the arrangements. This was a major before.” I am. She and her husband head up effort and a departure for me to learn Duncan also has some advice for Compass Records.” the music. The CD should be out young players starting in the music Other bands included the High soon.” business today. He advises them to Window Boys with Walden Dahl and He is also busy working on his sec - have a back up plan to fall back on if Gold Rush with John Hickman. “Alison ond solo project. “It’s been 12 years times get rough. “I knew I could always played the dobro in Gold Rush and I since my first one. I’m not done yet go back home if things got really bad. I played fiddle and mandolin. Later on, I but it’s taking shape and will have a also think learning music theory when also did two East Coast tours with Lost couple of tunes I’ve written. It’s a you’re younger is a good thing. It may Duncan with Allison Krauss Highway.” Rounder release.” No stranger to song - help you land a better paying job soon - writing, he wrote three tunes on his er rather than later.” first solo effort: “Thai Clips,” “The Duncan is married with three chil - Passing,” and “G Forces.” dren: Joshua, age 14; Jonathan, age 10; He has recently finished a tune for and Darcy, age 7. He proudly reveals the Appalachian Pickers Society, which that “Josh is the math genius and is releasing a CD on the Windham Hill future engineer in the family. Jonathan label. “I wrote a tune for the clawham - is active in the Nashville Opera, having mer banjo and the fiddle named already participated in three operas in ‘Overbellow Reel.’ Dennis Crouch and full costume, complete with speaking Mike Compton played on it with me.” parts in French and Italian. He’s still Describing his musical style, walking around the house whistling Duncan elaborates, “I’m a mixture of the parts a month later. And Darcy is both traditional and progressive. I like taking piano lessons and doing real jazz that’s really outside except when it well.” gets so far outside that I forget what With Duncan’s demanding career the melody is. I always like to be schedule and the needs of the family, reminded of the melody so I try to his understanding wife Dieta keeps keep that in mind in my playing. That things running smoothly on the home part of my playing is traditional. I’m front. Jokingly, Stuart explains that, also influenced by a world of different “She sees so many other wives of musi - styles. When I think of traditional, I’m cians in the same boat, she figures speaking [of the time] before bluegrass that’s the way it’s supposed to be. But, — back to Eck Robertson, Clayton seriously, she’s a big part of making it McMitchon, and Clark Kensinger — all work.” those great players, before the ‘Orange Stuart occasionally finds his way to Blossom Special’ and before the fiddle Southern California for business and was a show instrument.” family. “I get out there to do sessions “I’m also just as influenced by with Lyle Lovett or to do The Tonight Kenny Baker playing with Bill Monroe Show , things like that. I also have fami - in the 1970s, too. Darol Anger calls me ly out there. My uncle lives in Laguna the ‘Bluegrass Traffic Director.’ When I Beach and my grandfather is out there, play, he’ll say, ‘Okay, now here comes too.” Scotty Stoneman. Ooops, here’s Benny Mark your calendar for August 26-28 Martin for a little while. Okay now, and come on out to Vista to see Stuart Kenny [Baker], you can come on in.’” Duncan play at Summergrass. Duncan comments on his other cur - Experience his talent live as he plays rent efforts. “I’m proud to have record - with the Nashville Bluegrass Band ed a couple of tunes on Alison Brown’s (Saturday and Sunday) and a special new CD, Stolen Moments on her fiddle extravaganza performance on Compass Records label. Also on the CD Sunday. Don’t miss it! are Mary Chapin Carpenter and John 4 www.sandiegotroubadour.com AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle n o s d r a h c i R

l l i

Recordially, Lou Curtiss B

: o t o h his month’s column is about records plus-title catalog, a roots music treasure first records in the late 1920s. If you don’t mine out of business. At any rate, I don’t P — how they’re recorded, who trove, as well as select new releases. Out- have this one and like southern Mississippi think it’s likely to happen soon. Trecorded them, and some bits and of-print catalog items and blues, this is for you. For many years I’ve been involved in pieces about collecting and reasons people new releases are available in ROUNDER 1009: Harry contributing to and finding additions to collect what they do. two forms: as downloadable McClintock Hallelujah! most of the major discographies. If you are First, it’s about speeds and the way they digital files and as limited I’m a Bum Also known a collector of any kind of vintage records, vary on the disc edition CDs that can be as “Haywire Mac,” discographies and, to a lesser extent, price records. In the purchased on line. “Radio Mac,” or simply guides are valuable tools. For a collector of early days of Complete liner notes, pho - “Mac,” Harry had a lively 78s, they are a necessity. One of the most 78s, most play - tos, and original album art, a career as a writer, important ones is Brian Rust’s Jazz Records ers (the wind comprising dozens of pages hobo, seaman, shepherd, 1897-1942 . You can get the most updated Lou Curtiss ups) would gear on some releases, will be painter, actor, cowboy, version from Storyville Press. Rust also put records up to available as Adobe® PDF poet, and recording together The American Dance Band play at 78rpm files, which can be down - artist. These are the Discography (which is out of print but you records. I use his selling songs from 1890- although many loaded at no charge at recordings he made for Victor Records might find a copy from Arlington 1954 and the artist who recorded them. of the early discs www.rounderarchive.com and which are between 1928 and 1931 and include his Housepress) and The Complete For those who during the also included on each disc. classic bum songs and cowboy songs, Entertainment Discography like blues from acoustic era This gives all of you a chance to hear including his best-known song, “The Big 1897-1942 , available from Da 1943-1970, I (when records some of the long-playing, short-selling Rock Candy Mountain.” Capo Press, suggest the Jimmie Rodgers recordings that my friend Mark Wilson and which lists all Mike were recorded ROUNDER SS-0145: I worked on during the late 1970s and the great vaude - Leadbitter and into an acoustic horn rather than with an Traditional Music on early 1980s. There’s a lot of good music ville, movie, Neil Slavens electric pick up) were Rounder: A Sampler Mark here that has been and show peo - book, pub - recorded at speeds varying Wilson put together out overlooked by too ple who made lished by from 71-81 revolutions per takes of various people many people, includ - records. Rust Record minute. The Edison from Rounder LPs he ing . . . also did a Victor Information Diamond discs were all produced, including Master Book , Services. It’s a recorded at 80rpm and ROUNDER 0108: Van Bessie Jones, Nimrod which lists in hard one to advertised as such. Holyoak Tioga Jim Workman, Buddy chronological find. In fact, if The famous Bristol ses - (Ranchhouse Songs thomas, Fields Ward, order a com - you find vol - sions — where the Carter and Recitations) This Alva Green, Olabelle plete Victor label listing. ume two, pick Family and Jimmie Arizona cowboy and Reed, Sarah Gunning, and Almeda Riddle. Rodgers were discovered song collector For those of you into blues up a copy for Following are the two Roy Acuff reissues — have never been issued appeared at and gospel, it’s Blues and Gospel me too. that I put together for at the correct speed. The some of the Records 1902-1943 by R.M.W. For the per - The Carter Family Rounder. portable equipment that S.D. Folk Dixon and J. Godrich, also son who col - was used recorded all those folks in Bristol Festivals during the late 1970s. ROUNDER SPECIAL available from Storyville. For lects ethnic SERIES SS-24: Roy Acuff people into old time country music from at 76.5rpm. That’s why Sara Carter’s voice ROUNDER 0141: Just 1936-1939 Steamboat music, it’s Country Music other countries sounds so much higher than on the group’s Something My Uncle Told Me Roy Acuff Whistle Blues Records: A issued in the following recording sessions. The original (subtitled “Blaggardy Folksongs This recording, Discography 1921-1942 by U.S., Dick Spottswood’s Ethnic Music on recording of Eck Robertson’s “Sally from the Southern United States) for which I won Tony Russell, available Records (nine volumes) from the University Gooden” (easily the greatest solo fiddle A collection of old bawdy songs an NARAS from Oxford University of Illinois Press. This one is expensive but recording ever and it was the first) was also sung by such old-time artists as Grammy, fea - Press. it’s a must have if these kinds of music are recorded at 76.5rpm. Not nearly enough Glenn Ohrlin, Smokey Rogers, tures Roy’s early Other discographies are your thing. attention has been paid to record speed on Jim Garland, Nimrod Workman, Sarah Gunning band with Clell more specialized, but the As far as the price guides go, I use reissues and only in very recent years has and Thomas Shaw. any attention been paid to the problem at Sumney’s dobro, Dynamite ones I use a lot are Country them as guides only, not Bibles. For the 78 ROUNDER 0158: Glenn Ohrlin The Wild all. Hatcher, and Red Jones (the Music Sources: A Biblio- era I refer to L.R. Dock’s American Premium Buckaroo Fine cowboy songs by this veter - It isn’t only a problem rooted in the Crazy Tennesseeans). Discography of Record Guide published by Books an songster from Mountain View, Arkansas, early 78 era. Merle Travis once told me a ROUNDER SPECIAL SERIES Commercially Recorded Americana to give me an idea of a 78’s who also appeared at many folk festivals. story about the time he and Cliffie Stone SS-24: Roy Acuff 1939-1941 Traditional Music by worth. I use most of the other guides recorded some guitar instrumentals in the ROUNDER 1026: Poor Man, Rich Man: Fly Birdie Fly These were the Guthrie Meade and Dick issued by a variety of publishers as a listing late 1940s for a Capitol transcription American Country Songs of Protest first recordings of Roy and Spottswood from the of what’s what, not what’s worth what. Recorded between 1923 and 1936, these University of North Values of records are constantly changing series. Cliffie thought it’d be a good joke Beecher “Bashful Brother The Monroe Brothers on Merle if he recorded them at a slower songs of social commentary include ones Oswald” Kirby, Jess Easterday, Carolina and the Southern and what a record’s worth to someone speed (probably about 76rpm) and they’d written by Blind Alfred Reed, Lonnie Pap Wilson, Folklife Collection Virginia Blues Country today may not be the same next week. Like come out faster than Merle could pick Gene Autry, the Dixon and Rachael Veach (the and Gospel Records 1902-1943 by Kip all hobbys or pastimes, record collecting is them when he’d make personal appear - Brothers, Harry McClintock, Smokey Mountain Lornell, University Press of Kentucky, a whole lot more pleasurable with the right ances. Merle said, “I showed him, though. I Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Boys). Discography of Western Swing and Hot String tools. People who put together discogra - Eagles, Uncle Dave Macon, just learned to pick them that fast.” Just lis - Mark and I also Bands 1928-1942 by Cary Ginell and Kevin phies and price guides are the unsung and the Monroe Brothers. ten to Merle’s Walking the Strings LP (or the worked on an album Coffey, and the Decca Hillbilly Discography heroes of record collectors everywhere. This one kind of got landed equivalent CD) and note the key that tunes by Missouri Fiddler Art 1927-1945 also by Cary Ginell. Joel Recordially, on by some conservative crit - like “Cannonball Rag,” “Pig Meat Strut,” or Galbraith. I don’t have Whitburn has compiled a number of books ics and wasn’t in print long, Lou Curtiss the title tune are played in. You can tell a copy of it and don’t that were published by Record Research although I always thought the right away by the oddball key the tunes are even have the disc Press, most of which are taken from musicians’ motivations on in that the speed at which they were number. Art came out Billboard magazine polls of top selling this recording were to air \ recorded is a bit off. You definitely need to to a San Diego Folk their social check those record Festival and we record - viewpoints speeds if you’re ed him in Mark’s La and should be viewed as looking to reissue Jolla living room. It’ll be nice to get a copy such. It’s a darned good stuff. of it again. All I have to do is click on to record. Speaking of www.rounderarchive.com. This is a won - reissuing stuff, ROUNDER 2018 Sam derful collection of vintage old time and Rounder Records Chatmon’s Advice San traditional music as well as blues, blue - has launched the Diego’s adopted grass, revival folk of all kinds, cajun, and Rounder Archive Mississippi bluesman even some rock ‘n’ roll. Now, if we could Series and the offi - spent time in our city get major labels (not that Rounder isn’t a cial Rounder from the mid-1960s into major label) like RCA Victor, Columbia, Archive Website. the early 1980s. From a MCA, and others to put on line what With this series, family of musical brothers they’ll never reissue — particularly stuff Rounder offers a that included Bo Carter, from the 78 era — what a grand world this means to purchase Lonnie Chatmon, and would be, except that it would probably many long-unavailable titles from its 4,000 half-brother Carlie Patton, Sam made his put me and other collectors’ shops like

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

Crossroads Cafe and Coffee House a Great Little neighborhood Hangout Third in a series covering San Diego’s best acoustic music venues by Raul Sandelin allowing the old blues 45s to seep dive bars excepted. With no real out of the P.A. system and fill up local hot spot, it is difficult to ertainly, the name of this the room warmly without mud, develop a local following. So, most new grog bog summons the echo, or decay. Paintings, many musicians simply migrate toward ghost of Robert Johnson with musical themes and some for the Beaches with an eye on that (COkay, okay…and Eric Clapton if sale, hang on the walls as do a vari - ultimate prize: L.A. In a day and you insist) along with some dis - ety of instruments. One of the age in which “live entertainment” carded coricidine bottles and owners can play them all and means two or more people crowd - envelopes of John the Conqueror encourages patrons to take them ing around the same Nintendo root. But the name also hints at down as their musical whims dic - Game Boy, it’s great to see a place the cultural conundrum in which tate. An upright piano equally where musicians and aficionados El Cajon finds itself now standing waits at the ready in case someone can simply hang out by day, then while hitching a ride into its own wants to take up an old rag or try play at night. When I was there, a musical future. Rock ‘n’ roll logic some impromptu barrelhouse. For guy just walked in and started would say that the more humble those not so musically inclined, working out some originals on the the beginnings, the more meteoric for the jam sessions later in the the rock ‘n’ roll fantasy. Clarksdale, evening. With no formal admission Tupelo, Liverpool, Rockaway prices, Crossroads relies on its food Beach, Hibbing. The more barefoot and beverages to keep the doors or blue collar the origins, the more open. Breakfast is served from 6am. melodramatic the rise to fame, And, there is also a lunch menu which is a good thing in a society with a nice assortment of salads, that loves its melodrama. burgers, sandwiches, and sides. (A But, El Cajon, despite being a dinner menu of Cajun and Creole treasure trove of wrong-side-of-the- dishes has been planned to debut track talent done good, has always Facts and Figures in the near future.) been shunned even by those who Everything is reasonable and could benefit from some humble Where: 169 E. Main Street, El Cajon (half a block east served casually. Yet, someone has Open Mic at the Crossroads beginnings on their resumes. Frank of Magnolia) really fine-tuned this menu above Zappa referred to it as a cowboy When: Sunday-Thursday, 6am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, standard roadhouse fare. Nothing and Thursdays, and live bands town and got out right quick. As a 6am-midnight. Most music starts between 7-8:30pm costs more than $7 and that every Friday and Sunday. There is result, the rumored “Cow Pie Music: Blues, classic rock, acoustic and electric open mic includes a fantastic Cobb Salad and street parking only, which is free Princess Concerto in F U minor” Capacity: Approximately 150 with indoor and outdoor stages a Montecristo to die for. Needless and not hard to find if you’re will - never made it onto vinyl nor into and seating to say, the bottomless thermos of ing to walk around the block. the reviewing parlor of Tipper Level: Local, but always open to new possibilities coffee keep the customers and the As its friendly environs indi - Gore. Lester Bangs always lament - cash register buzzing all day. cate, this is a family affair. Lenny ed how he had to escape the cul - Prices: Most events are free. Food (breakfast and lunch), $3-$7. Coffee and beverages, $2-$4. No alcohol. El Cajon may be po’ but it’s and Carol, the owners, are fulfill - tural void that was El Cajon. Given proud. That’s a good thing, right? ing their lifelong dream of running Information: www.crossroadscafeandcoffeehouse.com, that Bangs went on to write about After all, the blues wasn’t born a business that combines music 619/749-0623. such haute couture morsels as the along the Rodeo Drive Delta. So, and food. Their daughter Carly is Troubadour innards of CBGB’s and the outings downtown El Cajon is still a mix of the one you’ll usually find in the of early Black Sabbath, it’s hard to rating: Excellent neighborhood venue, especially for closeted musicians who want to step out and old and new. Thrift stores, discount front of the house, keeping your imagine that the dysfunctional, El polish their chops in a supportive, casual furniture outlets, and bail bonds - coffee hot, or cold if you prefer, Cajon upbringing that denied him atmosphere. Great for CD release parties or men on one side. New, trendy and wiping the blues away with lessons on how to hold opera glass - a quick bite before or after a show at ECPAC. eateries on the other. The East her friendly smile and engaging es somehow detracted from his County Performing Arts Center conversation. later ability to follow Sid Vicious (ECPAC) is just up the block. And, into the john for an interview. So, there is Internet access. Or, the spa - loaner guitar on stage. And, speak - a Summer Car Show and Concert despite El Cajon being a quintes - cious front windows provide ing of stages, there is one inside Series fill the streets on sential ground-zero for the writing enough light to read or simply and another on the patio for that Wednesdays and Fridays. of an American musical tragedy, its enjoy one of San Diego County’s summer evening inspiration. This summer’s events at name is shunned as a place too last vignettes of small-town Main Encouraged by the neighbor - Crossroads include a Sunday night provincial and outcast even for the Street. hood feel, patrons come and go blues jam, open mics on Tuesdays provincials and outcasts. One of the things that keeps El without ceremony. Some seem to This is why the Crossroads Café Cajon’s legacy at bay has been its come and go several times a day. and Coffeehouse means more lack of localized musical venues, Others linger to read or talk or wait today than a memoirist E-ticket back to the “land where the blues began,” to borrow from Alan Lomax. It is a much needed cultur - al force that is pulling those barefeeted (most people have two feet, don’t they?), blue collar types out into the open to write the next American musical rags-to-riches stories even if it takes a $4 half- Caf, quarter-Chai, with Steamed Milk squeezed from cows who grazed near Finnish Saunas to do it (FINE PRINT: Last item still to be considered for beverage menu). THE VENUE Crossroads is located in one of the oldest standing build - ings in El Cajon. The glass store - front recalls another time and place, perhaps an old dime store or soda fountain or mercantile exchange or feed store not unlike one a century ago in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The room is long and roomy with an assortment of mov - able chairs and tables. Though this isn’t a space originally built with acoustics in mind, the building’s wooden frame is sound-friendly, 6 www.sandiegotroubadour.com AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR summergrass 2005

FRIdAy thRU SUNdAy , A UGUSt 26- 28 at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, Vista . Welcome , Featuring he San Diego Bluegrass Society, the San Diego North County Bluegrass and Folk Club, and the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum welcome you to NAShVILLe BLUeGRASS BANd the third annual Summergrass San Diego! We’re glad you’re joining us for a tgreat weekend of world-class bluegrass music and lots of family fun. FIddLe extRAVAGANzA Vista will be welcoming home Stuart Duncan, the bluegrass world’s premier fiddler, appearing with the Grammy-winning Nashville Bluegrass Band as festival with Stuart Duncan, Gabe Witcher, and headliners. And to further celebrate the incredible talent Vista has launched onto the national scene, Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek will be special special guests Sara Watkins and Sean guests as Sunday’s Fiddle Extravaganza takes center stage.

Fragment, bluegrass phenoms from the Czech and Slovak Republics, will be back Watkins of Nickel Creek following their smashing California debut at Summergrass 2004, and Southern California’s internationally acclaimed Lost Highway makes its first Summergrass appearance. For more information about our outstanding lineup, turn the page! FRAGmeNt Once you’ve been inspired by all of this music, you’re going to want to win one of the fine instruments we’ll be giving away in our Instrument Raffles, courtesy of LoSt hIGhWAy these generous sponsors: Gibson, Deering Banjos, Taylor Guitars, and Tricopolis Records.

You’ll enjoy checking out the great selection of products offered for sale by our hIt & R UN BLUeGRASS vendors, which includes musical instruments and accessories, handcrafted prod - ucts, and a wide variety of other quality goods. Our performing artists will also be selling their CDs at the Artists’ Mercantile booth. BRotheRS BARtoN ANd In addition to the Bluegrass Camp for Kids, we’ve expanded the number of kids’ VeRdRIVe activities, including two Home Depot “Build It” sessions as well as music-themed o workshops (see page 10).

Special thanks to all our sponsors (see below) and to the many hardworking volunteers who are the heart and soul of this special weekend. 

Sandy Beesley Dwight Worden Festival Co-Chair Festival Co-Chair & President, 11 7° West • Virtual Strangers San Diego Bluegrass Society Corky Shelton President, San Diego North County Tom Garrison Bluegrass & Folk Club President, Antique Gas & Steam North Forty • Full Deck (gospel set) Engine Museum P L U S Instrument Raffles! Workshops and Kids’ Activities Advanced Communications Systems Clairemont Rentals Great Food and Vendors! Emma’s Gut Bucket Band Garcia’s Palms Vic Wintriss Dwight Worden

SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR summergrass 2005

When we’re in a mood to brag, we’re Nashville Bluegrass Band apt to point out that Summergrass pre - sented Fragment in its first-ever Summergrass is delighted to bring home one of California appearance. This phenomenal Vista’s great treasures — seven-time International band from the Czech and Slovak Bluegrass Fiddler of the Year Stuart Duncan — with Republics, winner of the 2004 European the critically acclaimed Nashville Bluegrass Band as Bluegrass Music Association band com - our festival headliners for 2005. NBB’s brilliant instru - petition, returns to Summergrass with a mentation and pure vocals have earned them sound that will totally capture your Grammy nominations for their last five recordings heart. The band features Jana Dolakova’s (with Grammy Awards for Unleashed and Waitin’ for angelic vocals, outstanding instrumenta - the Hard Times to Go ) and International Bluegrass tion on dobro by Henrich Novak, Tomas Music Association awards for Best Vocal Group and Jurena on guitar, Milan Marek on man - Entertainer of the Year. NBB features Mike Compton dolin, and Ricard Cifersky on banjo, play - on mandolin, Alan O’Bryant on banjo, Pat Enright on ing a compelling repertoire of both clas - guitar, Andy Todd on bass, and Stuart Duncan on sic and contemporary bluegrass songs. fiddle, with knock-out vocals and songwriting all around. With their high-profile participation in the O’ Brother Where Art Thou? and Down from the 117¡ West Mountain projects, and their unique style of bluegrass melded with influences from blues and African- American gospel traditions, they’ll be bringing one of the most celebrated sounds in the bluegrass world to the Summergrass stage.

Powered by the driving banjo and keen tenor singing of Kenny Wertz, formerly Lost Highway of Country Perhaps bluegrass music wasn’t invented in Southern Gazette, the California, but we offer Lost Highway as proof that some Flying Burrito of the finest, internationally acclaimed bluegrass groups Brothers, and the call Southern California home. Lost Highway features a Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, 117° West is a powerful new addition trademark sound defined by the smooth, soulful vocals to the San Diego bluegrass scene. The depth of their combined of Ken Orrick, Eric Uglum, and Dick Brown; powerfully musical experience lets them mix it up to great effect, with jazz, expressive lead guitar and mandolin by Uglum; Brown country, and pop influences flavoring their traditional bluegrass playing a rock-solid banjo and Orrick on rhythm guitar; sound. Dan Broder’s lead vocals are a big highlight, along with and highly accomplished fiddling in the style of Benny his strong lead guitar work. And Becky Green (bass and vocals) Martin and Bobby Hicks by San Diego native Mike Tatar along with Darren Weiss (mandolin) are top-notch musicians as Jr.; all solidly anchored by the bass playing of Joe Ash. well. Don’t miss them! Virtual Strangers These San Diego homegrown favorites have Fiddle Extravaganza performed throughout California, playing “tra - It’s going to be one for the history books when ditional bluegrass of today.” Mike Tatar leads three of the finest fiddlers ever to emerge from the band with his solid banjo playing and lead Southern California take to the stage on Sunday: vocals, anchored by Vonnie Tatar’s bass. Kit Stuart Duncan, called “the most influential and Birkett has a great flatpicking style that is all virtuosic bluegrass fiddler alive” by Fiddler his own, and Jon Cherry contributes fine man - Magazine ; Gabe Witcher, currently on tour with dolin playing. The icing on the cake is Mike Loggins and Messina and a member of the Jerry Tatar Jr.’s great fiddle work. Check out their Douglas Band, the Laurel Canyon Ramblers, and just-released CD, the Strangers’ first, in the Artist’s Mercantile. the Witcher Brothers; and special guest Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek. Full Deck Stuart Duncan They’ll be joined by guitarist extraordinaire Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek Sunday morning for an anticipated wild combination of North Forty will get off to a musical magic, mayhem, and mystery. great start with Catch the old- a special gospel timey feel of this set by Full Deck, fine San Diego r

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music. You won’t want to miss hearing some old P join Les and Lou favorites and perhaps some that are new to you in Sean Watkins Ann on Friday and Saturday in the workshop area this set, which will include some great a capella for a Get Acquainted Jam and on Sunday for a songs. Farewell Jam. Members of North Forty include Les Preston on guitar, mandolin, and lead vocals; Gabe Witcher Marke Foxworthy on banjo, dobro, and vocals; Beth Mosko on fiddle and vocals; and Lou Ann Preston on bass and vocals. 8 www.sandiegotroubadour.com AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR summergrass 2005 Brothers Barton & Overdrive This amazing band offers next-generation bluegrass and great brother harmonies – all in definite overdrive! They’re fresh from Nashville Bluegrass Band their big win of the 2005 National Bluegrass Playoffs at the Huck Finn Jubilee, which secured them a coveted showcase berth at Summergrass is delighted to bring home one of IBMA in October. Brother harmonies hold a treasured place in the Vista’s great treasures — seven-time International bluegrass repertoire, and in case you need reminding why, broth - Bluegrass Fiddler of the Year Stuart Duncan — with ers Paul and Loren are going to show you just how powerful that the critically acclaimed Nashville Bluegrass Band as tradition is. Add the high energy of banjoist Jami Lampkins (also our festival headliners for 2005. NBB’s brilliant instru - of the Lampkins Family band) and bassist Heather Grady to the mentation and pure vocals have earned them mix, plus the incredible fiddling of 13-year-old Christian Ward, Grammy nominations for their last five recordings and you’ve got something pretty explosive! In addition to their (with Grammy Awards for Unleashed and Waitin’ for stage appearances, this band will serve as faculty for the three- the Hard Times to Go ) and International Bluegrass day Bluegrass Camp for Kids (see page 10 for details). Music Association awards for Best Vocal Group and Entertainer of the Year. NBB features Mike Compton on mandolin, Alan O’Bryant on banjo, Pat Enright on guitar, Andy Todd on bass, and Stuart Duncan on fiddle, with knock-out vocals and songwriting all SUMMERGRASS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE around. With their high-profile participation in the (Subject to Change) O’ Brother Where Art Thou? and Down from the Ticket Booth opens two hours before the first show. Mountain projects, and their unique style of bluegrass melded with influences from blues and African- American gospel traditions, they’ll be bringing one of mAINStAGe WoRKShoPS & KIdS’ ActIVItIeS the most celebrated sounds in the bluegrass world to the Summergrass stage. 3 - 3:50 pm North Forty W orkshops and kids’ activities will be held in the workshop area in front of the Farm House, as shown y 4 - 4:50 pm Brothers Barton and Overdrive on the map, unless otherwise indicated.

a 5 - 6 pm 117° West Dinner Break 6 - 7 pm /AGSEM 6:15-7 pm Get Acquainted Jam with d exhibits and Les and Lou Ann Preston Lost Highway i demonstrations Virtual Strangers Perhaps bluegrass music wasn’t invented in Southern r 7 - 7:50 pm Brothers Barton and California, but we offer Lost Highway as proof that some f 8 - 8:50 pm Overdrive of the finest, internationally acclaimed bluegrass groups Fragment call Southern California home. Lost Highway features a 9 - 9:50 pm trademark sound defined by the smooth, soulful vocals of Ken Orrick, Eric Uglum, and Dick Brown; powerfully mAINStAGe expressive lead guitar and mandolin by Uglum; Brown WoRKShoPS & KIdS’ ActIVItIeS playing a rock-solid banjo and Orrick on rhythm guitar; 10 - 10:50am Virtual Strangers 10:30am - noon Home Depot Kids’ Activity – and highly accomplished fiddling in the style of Benny 11 - 11:50am Fragment Woodworking Project (Home Depot y area) Martin and Bobby Hicks by San Diego native Mike Tatar Noon - 1pm Lunch Break /AGSEM 10:30 - 11:20am EZ Jam — If you can play three Jr.; all solidly anchored by the bass playing of Joe Ash. a exhibits and demonstra - tions chords, you can jam! Nashville Bluegrass Band 11:30am - 12:20pm Strumsticks — for kids of all d 1 - 1:50pm ages! Fun for all beginners. 2 - 2:50pm Hit and Run Bluegrass r 1 - 3pm Home Depot Kids’ Activity – 3 - 3:50pm Lost Highway Woodworking Project (Home Depot

u Brothers Barton and 4 - 4:50pm area) This young Colorado band has racked Overdrive Guitar Workshop Fiddle Extravaganza up some impressive awards in its short t 1:30 - 2:20pm with Eric Uglum It’s going to be one for the history books when 5 - 5:50pm Hit and Run Bluegrass history, winning the 2005 SPBGMA and Tomas Jurena

three of the finest fiddlers ever to emerge from a Dinner Break International Band Championship, the 6 - 7pm /AGSEM 2:30 - 3:20pm Mandolin Workshop with Mike Southern California take to the stage on Sunday: exhibits and demonstra - Compton and Milan Marek 2003 Telluride Band Contest, and the s Stuart Duncan, called “the most influential and tions 2002 Rockygrass Band Contest. 3:30 - 4:20pm Banjo Workshop virtuosic bluegrass fiddler alive” by Fiddler 7 - 7:50pm Fragment They’ve been invited to showcase at 4:30 - 5:20pm Fiddle Workshop Magazine ; Gabe Witcher, currently on tour with 8 - 8:50pm Lost Highway the International Bluegrass Music 5:30 - 6:20pm Strumsticks — for kids of all ages! Loggins and Messina and a member of the Jerry Nashville Bluegrass Band Association’s World of Bluegrass in 9 - 9:50pm Fun for all beginners. Douglas Band, the Laurel Canyon Ramblers, and October, a sure sign that they’ve 6:30 - 7:15pm Get Acquainted Jam with Les and the Witcher Brothers; and special guest Sara arrived on the bluegrass scene. Their Lou Ann Preston Watkins of Nickel Creek. winning combination includes youthful They’ll be joined by guitarist energy, polished vocals, hot picking extraordinaire Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek (including some exceptional guitar flat - WoRKShoPS & KIdS’ ActIVItIeS for an anticipated wild combination of picking by Rebecca Hoggan), and a 10:30 - 11:20am The Roots of American Music with musical magic, mayhem, and mystery. mAINStAGe sound that seems simultaneously Sandii Castleberry and Ron Daigh contemporary and traditional. Hoggan 9 - 9:50am Full Deck (gospel set) (for families and kids of all ages) 10 - 10:50am 117° West 11:30am - 12:20pm Dobro Workshop with is joined by Erin Coats (bass and y vocals), John Frazier (mandolin and 11 - 11:50 am Nashville Bluegrass Band Henrich Novak and Michael Witcher

a Bass Workshop vocals), and Aaron Youngberg (banjo). 12:15 - 12:45pm Bluegrass Camp for Kids 12:30 - 1:20pm At Summergrass, they’ll be joined by on Stage 1:30-2:20pm Spoons with Aunt Sandii and Uncle

Sara Watkins d special guest Michael Witcher, whose 1 - 1:50pm Fiddle Extravaganza, Ron — a hands-on activity for kids world-class dobro playing needs no featuring Stuart Duncan, of all ages. (Home Depot area)

introduction to Southern California n Gabe Witcher, Sara 2:30 - 3:20pm EZ Jam — If you can play three Watkins, and Sean Watkins audiences. Hit & Run’s latest CD will chords, you can jam! hit the streets just a month before u 2 - 2:50pm Hit and Run Bluegrass 3:20pm Instruments Raffle Drawing Brothers Barton and Farewell Jam Summergrass and is sure to be a hot s 3 - 3:50pm 3:30 - 4:20pm with Les and Lou Ann seller at our Artists’ Mercantile. Overdrive Preston 4 - 4:50pm Fragment 5 - 5:50pm Hit and Run Bluegrass

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR summergrass 2005

SPECIAL HAPPENINGS FOR KIDS Summergrass is featuring some talented young musicians on stage, including the Brothers Barton and Overdrive (with 13-year-old Christian Ward playing an awesome fiddle), Hit & Run Bluegrass, and Tomas Jurena, an incredible young guitarist who plays with Fragment. In addition, the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum offers lots of interesting exhibits and cool old stuff to explore. Following are some of the scheduled highlights of particular interest to kids.

FRIDAY 6:30pm Get Acquainted Jam — All ages. Kids welcome!

SATURDAY 10:30am-noon Home Depot “Build It” Activity 10:30am EZ Jam — All ages. Kids Welcome! 11:30am Strumsticks — Fun for kids of all ages! 1-3pm Home Depot “Build It” Activity 5:30pm Strumsticks — Fun for kids of all ages! 6:30pm Get Acquainted Jam — All ages. Kids welcome!

SUNDAY 10:30am The Roots of American Music with Sandii Castleberry and Ron Daigh — For families and kids of all ages! 12:15pm Kids’ Bluegrass Camp Performance on Stage 1pm Fiddle Extravaganza, featuring Stuart Duncan and Gabe Witcher, with special guests Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek 1:30pm Spoons with Aunt Sandii and Uncle Ron — A hands-on activity for kids of all ages! Make a set of spoons to take home, and learn how to play them. 2:30pm EZ Jam — All ages. Kids Welcome! 3:30pm Farewell Jam — All ages. Kids Welcome!

Kids’ and Families’ Workshops with Sandii and Ron: Seasoned performers Sandii Castleberry and Ron Daigh will take you on a musical journey back in time on Sunday with some of America’s most beloved songs and their instruments (10:30am). They will also facilitate a hands-on workshop building and learning to play spoons (1:30pm). MMM . . . Food . . . Bring your appetites to Summergrass! The Antique Gas Strumsticks: Great for kids of all ages and & Steam Engine Museum will be providing a wide vari - adults alike, strumsticks are a fun and easy way to ety of tasty food for purchase during the festival. All make music. Enjoy the experience as Margaret Broberg shows you how to play some food sales benefit the Museum. Look for Mexican food familiar songs. Strumsticks will be provided for use during the workshop on a first-come, at South of the Border; tri-tip at the BBQ Pit, burgers first-served basis. and hot dogs at Jack’s Snack Shack, the Bake Shop for a great breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, plus pies, EZ Jam: Join in the fun and learn how to jam at this workshop with Jon Lebrum and ice cream, and other goodies for your sweet tooth, and Doug Johnson, featuring popular jam tunes in the key of G. If you can chord G, C, and more! See map for food locations. D, grab your instrument and join in! Jon and Doug will take you through each song several times, starting off slow and bringing it up to speed, while teaching jam etiquette along the way. Need Directions? Get Acquainted Jam: Don’t be shy! Join Les and Lou Ann Preston for a fun jam, and Getting to the Summergrass Bluegrass Music Festival is easy! meet people you can jam with all weekend. The Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum (AGSEM) at 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista, CA 92083 is located in San Diego’s North County between I-5 and I-15, and Bluegrass Camp for Kids between CA-76 and CA-78. This camp offers kids ages 6-16 a chance to jump into From the north, on I- 5: Exit I-5 onto CA-76 East. At approximately 7 miles, turn right bluegrass in a big way. Brothers Barton and Overdrive will onto N. Santa Fe Ave. At 2.2 miles, turn right to enter AGSEM on Museum Way (at the serve as the main instructors for the camp, which runs signal). approximately three hours each day of the festival. The camp features instrument instruction on fiddle, guitar, From the north, on I-15: Exit I-15 onto CA-76 West toward Oceanside. At approximate - 1 banjo, bass, and mandolin; group practice; and an ly 10 /2 miles, turn left onto N. Santa Fe Ave. At 2.2 miles, turn right to enter AGSEM on opportunity to perform on the festival stage on Sunday. Museum Way (at the signal). Pre-registration is required. Go to www.summergrass.net From the south, on I-5: Exit I-5 onto CA-78 East. Exit at Melrose Dr. and turn left. Go to for more information and for a registration form. Scholarships dead end and turn right on N. Santa Fe Ave. At 1 mile, turn right to enter AGSEM on are available to kids who need them. Museum Way (at signal). A special thanks to D’Addario Strings, Emma’s Gutbucket From the south, on I-15: Exit I-15 onto CA-78 West. Exit CA-78 onto Escondido Ave. in Band, Vic Wintriss, and Dwight Worden, who are among Vista and turn right. Turn left onto S. Santa Fe Ave. (third stoplight). Go about four miles our generous Kids’ and turn left at Museum Way (at signal) to enter AGSEM. Camp sponsors. SAVE THE DATE! Plan to join us August 25-27, 2006 for next year’s SUMMERGRASS!

10 www.sandiegotroubadour.com AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER

by Dwight Worden by Sven-Erik Seaholm I’ve dealt with a few over the years who had to have interpreted that as “must be ices contributed by these volunteers SUMMERGRASS committed”). The implied message would In case you haven’t noticed, the annu - is many thousands of dollars. In addi - GO TEAM, GO! be that every band (or team) needs to Sven-Erik Seaholm al Summergrass Bluegrass Festival is the tion, volunteers from the Antique Gas e’ve all heard the adage, consist of people who are all trying to primary focus of this month’s issue. and Steam Engine Museum (AGSEM) push or pull in the same general direc - Conversely, Hollywood Boulevard is Although we hope you always read the handle all the food service and staff “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’ .” A tion. This compatibility of objective is strewn with the detritus of justly forgot - San Diego Troubadour from cover to the various museum exhibits and the Wfriend of mine once para - ten bands who were all on the same page cover, this Summergrass issue is a must gift shop. In addition, AGSEM provides phrased a story to me wherein upon just as important as personal issues, read for bluegrass lovers. If you haven’t a great venue for the festival and hearing the coach of the Chicago Bulls which is why accordion players rarely with their business plan but whose already done so, go back and read the camping. pass this bit of wisdom along, Michael show up to auditions for metal bands, music, in the parlance of the industry, Summergrass Program (pp. 7-10), which • The bands that play at Summergrass Jordan replied, “No Coach, but there is even though they have not been express - sucked. includes a run down on the band lineup, are selected by “committee of the one in ‘Win’.” ly discouraged from doing so. Some bands are conceived as com - workshops, the Kids’ Music Camp, and whole,” which means that final deci - The dichotomy of group effort and pletely democratic, and others are auto - all the other activities that make up the sions on band selection are made by individual achievement is inherent in cratic either by design or default. three fun-filled days of bluegrass music the Boards of Directors of the SDBS any situation that involves more than Sometimes they start as one and become at Summergrass. You won’t want to miss and NCBFC. Some Summergrass rep - the other. While each paradigm has its the fascinating article about Stuart one person attempting to accomplish the resentatives attend the International particular strengths, so too do they all Duncan and his headlining band, the Bluegrass Music Association trade same goal, be it a basketball team, a busi - have weaknesses. This is where compro - Nashville Bluegrass Band and learn show each fall to hear and “shop” for ness, or a band. mise and sacrifice generally enter in. about how this local San Diego boy made bands, and many bands send us pro - The lions of Africa are an illuminat - good and is now generally recognized as motional materials for consideration. ing example. They are among the world’s This is not to infer that I have all the the bluegrass world’s top fiddler (see The process includes most powerful predators and are capable answers on this, which is one reason this page 4). 1. setting an overall entertainment of reaching speeds of up to 30 mph when column is called The Zen of Recording. Following are some inside tidbits about budget in the fall chasing down their prey. But being large Sometimes this stuff is just an out and Summergrass that you may not know. 2. searching for bands — either and brawny also has its disadvantages, in out riddle, and I’ve got my own personal issues to deal with on the subject. • Summergrass is a joint venture, pro - solicited by the Summergrass that these pursuits cannot be sustained duced by the North San Diego County Entertainment Committee or by for more than a hundred yards or so Within the band construct or even in Bluegrass and Folk Club, Inc. and the bands’ submitting press kits on before the lion tires. For this reason, a the studio, I’ve generally tried to assess their own San Diego Bluegrass Society, Inc., pride of lions will call upon cooperative my strengths and weaknesses honestly 3. blind listening of CDs submitted by both non-profit corporations. All prof - strategies when hunting. They often fan and early, so as to avoid conflicts and various bands its from the event are plowed back out along a broad front or semicircle, or confusion with regard to my contribu - into Summergrass and the non-profit 4. selection of headliners even line up on either side of their prey. tions at crucial junctures in the collective activities of these organizations to 5. selection of other national, They slowly creep up and, once within creative process. For instance, I am quite support and promote bluegrass music. regional, and local bands, which striking distance, bound in among the adept at artistically reacting to things. A • Summergrass’ total budget for 2005 is can hopefully be completed by the startled animals. good example would be where a guitarist about $40,000, $25,000 of which is end of December and all within It’s also worth noting that lions love is trying several different riffs out, look - spent to hire A-list bands. The rest budget — not an easy task! to roll around in elephant crap. ing for something that strikes his or her goes for everything from insurance, • Summergrass always seeks to hire at proverbial fancy. In this state, musicians stage lighting, and sound equipment Apparently they’ve figured out that if least one top national headliner (this quite often wouldn’t even be able to to supplies. There are no paid staff year it is the multiple Grammy-winning you’re trying to stay close to your target, remember anything they’ve just played, working for Summergrass. The NCBFC Nashville Bluegrass Band) and it’s better to smell like a grass-eating ele - but I do. Sometimes, that little spatter of and the SDBS run the entire operation always reserves slots for prominent phant than a blood-thirsty lion. Makes with the help of a volunteer board of local bands (this year’s Summergrass sense, but why certain bands’ members Some differences in aim are less obvi - paint splashes off the often blank canvas directors (including yours truly who includes 117° West, North Forty, the have apparently adopted this behavior ous. While it’s prudent to define the at the right side of my brain and paints serves as president of the SDBS and Virtual Strangers, and Full Deck). remains unclear. Before this analogous goals and roles, they’re quite often the whole freakin’ Sistine Chapel in co-chair of Summergrass 2005 along Summergrass seeks to present a mix - train of digressing thoughts becomes approached from opposite poles. (You there. Suddenly I’m on the scent like one with Sandy Beesley of the NCBFC). ture of old favorites and talented new completely derailed, let me just point out like that? Yeah baby, you know you do). of those lions, and I’m probably just bands. Bands interested in being con - • There are about 80 volunteers who that despite all these tactics, lion hunts What I mean to say is that just as every - about as difficult to pull off the hunt. sidered next year’s Summergrass can donate their time to SDBS and the are still only successful less than half of one who plays music does so for their The bottom line is that while my tan - NCBFC, and another 100+ who donate go to the Summergrass website the time. own personal reasons, you can only gents are hopefully fun to read here, their time to the Antique Gas and (www.summergrass.net), click on Confused? Good. If the preceding expect their contributions to stray so far they’re not always timely or even appro - Steam Engine Museum to make “Summergrass 2006,” and follow the from their origins. priate when put into the context of a Summergrass a success. The SDBS instructions on submitting the neces - words seem strange, yet hold an oddly For instance, it’s not a good idea for band situation. and NCBFC volunteers perform such sary information. familiar ring, you’re probably in a band. a guy who just wants to jam to be in a While I feel it’s my personal responsi - tasks as staffing the box office, pro - • To keep the process open and fair, It’s there from the outset. Look bility to consistently strive for the better - viding security, laying out and moni - any Summergrass board member who through musicians’ classifieds and you’ll band that is 100 percent dedicated to get - ment of self and craft, there are some toring the camping areas, hiring and plays in a band or who has a family undoubtedly see “must be team player” ting signed to a major label, regardless of working with vendors, along with a member in a band that is being con - or “must have commitment” (although what an awesome soloist he is. cases where one just has to be honest variety of other tasks. They earn free sidered abstains from participating in with themselves and others and speak admission for their services but are that part of the voting. the words of that great philosopher otherwise not paid. The value of serv - • Each year we wish there was more Popeye: “I yam what I yam.” money to hire additional bands, but It’s been my observation that bands we are proud of the great lineups we developed with an understanding and have had and are especially proud of empathy for each other’s strengths, weak - the outstanding lineup this year. nesses, and desires often operate most • Summergrass has a wonderful cast of efficiently and productively for the supporting sponsors, including Gibson longest periods of time. Original Acoustic Instruments, Taylor Looking to the animal kingdom once Guitars, Deering Banjos, and more, it’s often helpful to remember the Tricopolis Records, each of which has story of the frog and the scorpion: donated an instrument for the The scorpion asks the frog if he can Summergrass Raffle. Other sponsors ride on his back across the river. The frog include D’Addario, Home Depot, says, “No way. You’ll sting me.” The scor - Beaudry RV, the San Diego pion replies that he wouldn’t do that, Troubadour , and Advanced Communications Systems. We could - because he’d obviously be killed as well. n’t do it without their help! After considering it for a moment, the frog reluctantly agrees. So there they are • If you’d like to get involved with Summergrass next year (yes, planning halfway across, when the scorpion sud - has already started!), visit our web denly hauls off and stings the frog. As page at www.summergrass.net and they both sink to their deaths, the frog send an email to our volunteer coordi - cries “Why would you do this, when you nator at [email protected] knew you’d die too?” The scorpion calm - or to me and Sandy Beesley, festival ly says “Dude, seriously…what did you co-chairs at: festivalchair@summer - think would happen? I’m a scorpion.” grass.net. We would love to have you! Sven-Erik Seaholm is an independent producer owns and operates Kitsch and Sync Production (www.kaspro.com) He is currently recording with his band The Wild Truth (www.thewildtruth.com, who will be : appearing at the Casbah on September 2. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song s n e v e t S

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by José Sinatra we? Pray God we’ll achieve it soon. h P But now? To quote the modern Sometimes the fun times are nothing euphemism for a guilty plea, I don’t but elusive dreams Daze Floating in our own tears, drowning in think so. screams. A woman who’s got it together Can’t ever hold onto something when takes over as C.E.O. at an ailing cor - by Jim McInnes there’s nothing there poration and turns it completely Life’s had a bikini wax; it’s all bare. around; people call her “strong.” A Physical need Fun with Cell man burns down a few houses and a What a vicious mouth to feed! Phones Trying to end the hunger, growing couple of forests; people call him a Jim McInnes colder pyromaniac . Wishing to be younger, getting older any people call me at 103.7 We’ve got to get along, people, During the preceding 15 minutes, her Don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t The scintillating Mr. Sinatra The Planet without even real - before this name-calling begins trying husband had been repeatedly calling my bitch.* izing it. Sometimes they acci - to define us. M her on his cell phone from the parking attempt at an excuse: dentally trigger their cell phone’s one- Ah, I feel another hit coming on. I tend to agree with those who lot at her place of employment. He If you think we’re putting down all touch dialer, something they’d pro - When I finished those lyrics and kept getting a busy signal. He was lis - claim that we’re all imperfect, to women, who of course aren’t really grammed in an effort to win concert tening to KPBS radio as he sat in his slapped them on someone else’s some degree. We all have harbored usually animals but humans , that tickets and stuff. So, smartass deejay car. When Betty came to the car she music, I felt as if I’d done my good skeletons in our closets. Or, like me, means we’d be trying to put down that I am, when I get a call like that, was ashen and upset, telling John they deed for the day. Raw passion and real human beings instead of skele - men as well, since a lot of times when I say, “Hello? Hello?” and I can couldn’t go to lunch because the painful yearning redeemed by love. tons, but only with their consent. I’m they’re humans as well. We certainly hear people conversing, unaware that I police were on their way. Naturally, Not a new idea by any measure, but not saying I’m immune. As a matter of are when we’re on stage. Why would am listening, I simply put them on Johnny wanted to hear the message. lookin’ pretty frisky all spiffed up for fact, for the longest time (somewhat hold...and 30 to 45 minutes on hold we want to put ourselves down? A As he listened to the playback, he the Aughts, anxious to do a lap dance like an eternity to average folk) my isn’t uncommon! human divided against itself, laterally commented, “Shite, he sounds just on receptive eardrums. Duh! own chief claim-to-fame was having or horizontally, is yucky and gross. like a guy I heard being inter - In January I received a The song’s first public perform - spent nine months existing as essen - Pictures of the Black Dahlia make me viewed just a few minutes call during my show from ance with the Troy Danté Inferno tially a comatose vegetable in the nauseous, as a matter of fact. ago on PBS!” a woman who was look - went splendidly (I used a cheat body of my own mother, before birth. No, I entirely dig humans of all Duh! ing over her husband’s sheet) and was enthusiastically There; I’ve said it. Now I’ll continue, What Johnny did - shades, shapes, and sexes . . . pla - cell phone bill (Is there received. Our second try a week later fresh. n’t realize is that during tonically, honorably, reverentially. no privacy??). She invoked a lot of appreciative laughter one of his attempts to If I’ve grossed you out, I apologize. And females really tend to make me asked me, “What num - call Betty, he had actual - (along with Skid Roper’s delightful But please stay with me while I put horny sometimes. ber is this?” I told her it ly connected to her “Stuck in Hell’s Basement with You”) this woman-bashing myth to rest, For my final, spurious evidence was 103.7 The Planet answering machine. and I think it’s a keeper. insofar as it concerns the Hose. Yeah, that I do not and will never think of a radio request line. She said Expecting another busy signal But one time . . . Ah mo’ nail this one good. woman like some piece of meat, I beg that there was a $30 call to us and not really paying attention, his She was stunning and gloriously The charge: Hose, isn’t it a fact you to consider my following state - on her hubby’s cell bill. “No kidding?” cell phone had transmitted the PBS complimentary, until she said, “That that in some of your songs, you refer I replied. “Imagine that!” Then she ment as sworn testimony; I actually interview to Betty’s answering line about ‘my bitch’ sucks. My girl - to women as “whores”? asked, “What was he talking about?” have a notarized affidavit somewhere machine, setting off her panicked ter - “How the hell would I know what he friends think so too. Take it out, it’s What? Excuse me, I don’t think so . but can’t locate it at the moment: ror alert to the cops! Embarrassed, she was talking about?” I responded. “It demeaning.” Women? Never! One single woman? I have never, ever, as it concerns had to call the police and admit that it wasn’t my week to keep track of him!” Which, I guess, is more than a Well, maybe . . . but : women, chewed up, swallowed, or was all a silly mistake. But she went on and on, “Why would River in Definition. Because one woman in one (okay, digested even a piece of one. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! he spend so much time on this num - “I’ll certainly consider it,” I lied, three or four) song happens to That’s all I have time for this Meat, I have. I recognize the dif - ber?” as she was probably trying to shedding an internal tear or two for believe totally . . . I mean 100, 150 month. I gotta charge up my cell ference. get me to confess that it was really a the unborn litter I had envisioned phone’s batteries. percent . . . in the great American I hope someone can be brave phone-sex service! Finally I suggested implanting in her womb. capitalistic system, becoming, in enough to see this for what it is: that she ask him what the call was P.S. - Many of you didn’t “get” last I’ve long been accused by the effect, the C.E.O. of her own body . . . proof of my respect for the fairer, about. Poor guy. They’re probably month’s column, “Ultimate Name unenlightened of writing lyrics that which nobody should be able to con - finer sex. divorced by now. Drop List, Part One.” There are two are . . . oh, what’s that weird word . . . trol except herself (or in conjunction Or at least my restraint. When Betty, wife of Modern things you should know: oh, yeah: massagynistic. I think. with myself) . . . some people insist Rhythm’s bass player, Johnny Gun, A.) It was inspired by a friend of my * Copyrot 2005 The Hose. Lyrics Nothing could be further from my on calling her and her kind the “W checked her messages at work recent - wife and I who constantly peppers reprinted by permission after lengthy current version of the truth. word.” In doing so, they completely ly, she was startled to hear a voice on conversations with names of celebrities arbitration with the bitch. I have never even been to a mas - overlook her sense of entrepreneur - the machine saying (and I’m para - she has met and/or slept with, and; sage parlor. Our band refuses to ship, her courage, her strength. In phrasing), “I am a member of a terror - 2.) I am the laziest man on Earth. In license our music to massage parlors short, dear people, this “whore” has ist organization. I know where you live fact, when I won the “Laziest Man on and I know your daily routine. My or any other establishment that treats got a brain, as well as a bod (some - Earth” competition in 1997,I asked comrades and I can destroy you at any men like horny bipeds willing to pay thing increasingly rare in most chicks that the judges place the $233 win - time and you will never see it com - money for intimate gratification. today, sadly). ner’s check in my shirt pocket. I was ing.” Stunned, she called the police to wearing the shirt at the time. We always want equality, don’t Or how about this fragilely valid report a terror threat.

12 www.sandiegotroubadour.com AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Nashville Eric Uglum The Brothers The Virtual Hit & Run Bluegrass Band Shenandoah Wind Barton Strangers Bluegrass Twenty Year Blues by Dwight Worden Originals Stepping Out Without Maps or Shenandoah Wind is one fine CD by by Mike Tatar one great musician, Eric Uglum. From by Mike Tatar by Dwight Worden Charts the opening title cut, “Shenandoah My first real exposure to bluegrass Wind,” to the final track of Eric’s haunt - Having been involved with the blue - The Virtual Strangers, one of San by Betty Wheeler happened one Sunday while I was paint - ing solo guitar finger-picked version of grass music scene for as long as I have Diego’s top bluegrass bands for many ing a hallway back in the mid-’80s and “Battle Cry of Freedom,” this is top- affords me the pleasure of meeting a years, has just released their first CD The title of Hit & Run Bluegrass’ sec - trying to find some good music to listen notch stuff by Eric with the help of some great number of people. Having a family titled Stepping Out . Comprised of 13 ond CD hints at music that finds itself in to. A local college station, which had a true bluegrass greats of our time. Allison who shares my love of the music helps, cuts, including two instrumentals uncharted territory, a description just as five-hour bluegrass show, was playing Krauss lends her voice to the title cut too. I met the Barton brothers in the late (“Shenandoah Breakdown” and “Up on apt for the band itself, because of its the “New Tennessee Waltz” by the “Shenandoah Wind.” Rob Ickes of Blue ‘80s at the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival the Blue Ridge”), Stepping Out will please uncommonly diverse musical influences, Nashville Bluegrass Band and it caught Highway and multi-time “dobro player in Grass Valley where we jammed togeth - their many San Diego area fans, as they backgrounds, and trajectory. my ear. I was hooked! The vocals of Pat of the year” winner plays on four cuts. er along with other young musicians have done a bang up job of recording This music is solidly in the bluegrass Enright, and Alan O’Bryant — what a Stuart Duncan of the Nashville Bluegrass there. Back then it was easy to see their and presenting their music. camp — and it’s extraordinarily accom - combination! Fast forward 20+ years Band and seven-time “fiddle player of passion and proficiency. Led by the strong lead vocals and plished music, given the youth of the later and Enright and O’Bryant are still the year” delivers exquisite fiddle on all The Brothers Barton: Originals , the title driving banjo of Mike Tatar Sr., the CD’s band members (Wyoming native Erin singing together. This band set a blue - cuts except for Eric’s solo guitar closing of their first album, features Loren mostly emphasis is on straight ahead, hard driv - Coats, for instance, is in her early 20s, grass standard back then that many piece. Ron Block of Allison Krauss and on guitar and Paul playing mostly man - ing bluegrass with covers of some great but she’s been playing bass since she was aspire to but few attain. Union Station sings and plays guitar or dolin. I say mostly because they both tunes of the past as well as covers of nine). Enriching their authentic bluegrass Twenty Year Blues , their latest release, banjo on most cuts, and Chris Stuart of play other instruments. Guest musicians more modern classics like “Lonesome sound, however, is an unusually wide continues that tradition for the band. Chris Stuart and Backcountry contributes include Ron Stewart on banjo and fiddle Pine” and “Big Spike Hammer,” which range of musical influences and stops This CD is a well-executed album, both two of his original songs (“Shenandoah on selected tracks, former Bluegrass Boy have minor chord progressions and along the way, including jazz guitar and vocally and instrumentally. The core of Wind” and “Farewell for a Little While”) Richard Greene on fiddle, Mark Schatz added complexities characteristic of voice studies at Berklee School of Music, the band — O’Bryant on banjo, lead and and lends his fluid voice to three cuts. on bass, and Joseph Sampson on low many of the great modern tunes. Mike’s plus a B.A. in music and comparative lit - harmony vocals; Enright on guitar, lead Eric’s stepson, Christian Ward, plays fid - whistle on “Hot Club of Oildale.” They wife Yvonne Tatar sings harmony vocals erature (Virginia native Rebecca Hoggan), and harmony vocals; and Stuart Duncan, dle on “Jamie Raeburn,” with Janet have written all the material on this effort and anchors on bass, while Kit Birkett intensive mentoring by Grammy-winning a San Diegan, on fiddle and harmony Beazley of Chris Stuart and Backcountry and, in my humble opinion, the album is plays a strong rhythm guitar with his bassist Gene Libbea; and, with this new vocals; is still the same. Returning mem - playing tinwhistles on the same tune. Irl well done. trademark double-picked leads and solos. release, the contributions of North bers Mike Compton on mandolin and Hees holds down the bass on all cuts The first cut, “The Good Old Times,” Jon Cherry contributes sweet mandolin Carolina bluegrass treasures Kenny and vocals, and, for this album, Dennis except for Eric’s final guitar solo, and captures the imagery and feel of songs and harmony vocals, and sings lead on “I Amanda Smith as producers. Crouch on bass, are both accomplished Roger Gillespie provides discrete and written in bluegrass country back East. Just Think I’ll Go Away.” Mike Tatar Sr. Arriving just one year after their first on their respective instruments. tasteful percussion on three cuts. Perhaps with a little California feel, the also plays some dobro on two cuts, and release (an unfaded beauty called Beauty “Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom,” not What makes Shenandoah Wind stand song is nonetheless nicely executed with Kit Birkett steps out to sing lead on the Fades ) this CD touches all the bases to be confused with another tune of a out is the depth of Eric’s talent. a ballad-type sound. “Red Diamondville” classic “Hot Corn, Cold Corn.” A special we’ve come to expect from this band in similar name, is a well-done tune that Notwithstanding the stellar supporting is a peppy instrumental that showcases added bonus is “Sweet Emma,” a Virtual its short history – a hardcore groove and sets the mood for the entire CD. With cast, this CD is about Eric and what a both boys’ talent for picking. “California Strangers original tune, a tribute to San hot picking (including Hoggan’s out - Enright singing lead, “Travelin’ Railroad great musician and singer he is in his Rain” is about leaving Oklahoma and Diego’s Queen of Bluegrass, Emma standing guitar flatpicking), spot-on Man Blues” has a Jimmy Rogers’ feel and own right. His voice is hauntingly clear coming out to the Bakersfield area where Radcliffe, which tells her story through vocals, traditional tunes, four first-rate an upbeat sound. “That’s All Right” has and melodious, and he sings lead as well these guys grew up. The CD ends with music and well crafted lyrics. originals, and tributes to some unexpect - Compton singing lead with Enright on as you will ever hear it done. Eric’s guitar “Sarah’s Waltz,” a tender selection writ - If you have spent any time in the San ed sources (Kitty Wells’ “I’ve Kissed You tenor. Although the core blend is a little playing, both rhythm and lead is excep - ten by Paul for his wife, Sarah. Diego bluegrass scene, chances are you My Last Time,” and Bonnie Raitt’s “Any different, the total sound is all Nashville tional, and his mandolin playing is out - There are many different musical fla - have heard the Virtual Strangers. If you Day Woman”). Also notable are the girl- Bluegrass Band. O’Bryant covers the next standing. vors on this CD — definitely some blue - liked what you heard, you will definitely duet vocals on “Single Girl, Married Girl.” song, “Old Riverman,” with his usual Shenandoah Wind , his first solo CD, grass as in “There’s a Road Out There like this CD. Even if you haven’t heard Without Maps or Charts demonstrates style and grace. confirms what insiders have long known: Waiting” among others. However them but like bluegrass of the hard driv - that Hit & Run’s work in the studio is as “Hush,” an a capella song, had me the man can do it all. If you think Eric is “Steppin’ Stones” is a tune reminiscent ing, toe-tapping variety, you will enjoy compelling as their live stage presence, looking at the liner notes. The Nashville tucked in the back and carried by the of Dawg music, which was invented by this fine first effort by one of San Diego‘s which won them the Telluride Band Bluegrass Band sound was there, but I supporting cast of greats, think again. He David Grisman. Then there’s “Hot Club premier bluegrass bands. Be sure to see Contest (2003), the Rockygrass Band didn’t recognize Compton singing lead is at the center of each cut, expressing of Oildale,” which has a distinct Django them at Summergrass. Contest (2002), and earlier this year the because it reminded me of the Fairfield his musicianship and subtle sense of taste Reinhart sound suggested by the title. SPBGMA International Band Four. This song really shows off the vocal in a way that makes this a CD you will A lot of blue notes here were inspired Championship in Nashville. You’ll want prowess of NBB, and there aren’t many never tire of. To top it off, Eric co-pro - by Grisman and Tony Rice, not quite to be front-and-center for their bands whose members can all sing. So, duced the CD, participated in the mix - note for note, but rearranged to give the Summergrass appearances, with special vocally, this album never gets stale. ing, and did the final mastering in his Barton Brothers their own identity. guest Michael Witcher on dobro, and All 13 cuts on the album are good, own studio. The only mystery is why While some of the vocals get a little then I’m betting you’ll join the long line great Nashville Bluegrass Band style. This such talent is not better known. Perhaps lost in the picking at times, this CD is that will be forming at the Artists’ is a real honest to goodness album with this CD will begin to change that. good listening. So, if you’re interested in Mercantile for this CD. stellar musicianship when needed, out - what these young men are up to, The m Shenandoah Wind is a definite must have standing, soulful vocals, and an all for any bluegrasser or acoustic music fan. Brothers Barton: Originals is a fine effort around great sound. I highly recommend it. with its mixture of different styles and arrangements. Phil Harmonic Sez:

“Resolve to keep happy, and your joy shall form an invincible host against difficulty.” — Helen Keller www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

AUGUST CALENDAR WEEKLY

every sunday every wednesday Baja Blues Boys/Billy Watson , Ramona 7th Day Buskers , Farmers Market, DMV Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , Newport monday • 1 thursday • 11 Oaks Park, 25341 Ramona Oaks Rd., 6pm. parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Ave., 4-7pm. Mac Cohn/Suzanne Vega , Humphrey’s, John Hiatt/Shawn Colvin , Humphrey’s, Mark Jackson Band/Jim Earp/Peggy Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg High Society Jazz Band , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Shelter Island, 6:30pm. Shelter Island, 7:30pm. Watson , Acoustic Expressions, 2852 St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. Napa St., 7pm. Stephen Kellog & the Sixers/Curtis University Ave., North Park, 7pm. Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4pm. Open Mic Night , Twiggs, 8:30pm. tuesday • 2 Peoples , Lestat’s, 9pm. Kev CD Release , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Traditional Irish Music & Dance , The Field, Main, El Cajon, 7pm. 544 5th Ave., 5:30pm. every thursday Hank Williams Jr. , Embarcadero Marina friday • 12 Peter Case , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Blues Jam , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Main St., Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Park South, 7:30pm. Mansfield St., 7pm. 619/303-8176. El Cajon, 7:30pm. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. Abrams Brothers , NCBFC Mtg., Round 7th Day Buskers , Trolley Barn Park, Powerhouse Quintet , Dizzy’s, 8:30pm. Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Acoustic Cafe Open Mic/Open Jam , Table Pizza, 1161 E. Washington St., Adams Ave. at Alabama St., 6pm. (88.3 FM). Greg Laswell/Molly Johnson , Lestat’s, Milano’s Pizza, 6830 La Jolla Blvd., 7-10pm. Escondido, 7pm. Bill Magee Blues Band , TGIF Jazz in the 9pm. The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , 10- Sue Palmer , Martini’s, 3940 4th Ave., 7pm. Parks, Calavera Hills Park, Carlsbad midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Crossroads Cafe, wednesday • 3 Village Dr. & Glasgow St., 6pm. 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 7-10pm. Laurie Lewis/Tom Rozum , St. Peter’s sunday • 21 every monday B.B. King Blues Festival w/ B.B. King/ Eamonn Carroll , The Field, 544 5th Ave., 6pm. Episcopal Church, 334 14th St., Del Mar, Rufus Wainwright/Ben Folds/Ben Lee , Tango Dancing , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 8pm. Swing Thursdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Kenny Wayne Shepherd/Joe Bonamassa , 7:30pm. Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 6:30pm. Copley Symphony Hall, 1245 7th Ave., 7pm. Open Mic Night , Lestat’s, 7:30pm. 9pm. Head First , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Main, Jackie Greene , Belly Up, 6:30pm. Al Green , Palomar Starlight Theater, El Cajon, 8pm. Pala, 7:30pm. every tuesday every friday East/West Quintet , Dizzy’s, 8pm. Robert Wetzel , Acoustic Expressions, Hal’s Angels , Elks Lodge, 1400 E. M-Theory New Music Happy Hour , Whistle California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, Amber Rubarth , Lestat’s, 9pm. 2852 University Ave., North Park, 7pm. Washington Ave., El Cajon, 1pm. Stop, South Park, 5-7pm. 4:30-9pm. Jim Earp , Pannikin Del Mar, Flower Hill Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Acoustic/Electric Open Mic , Crossroads Open Mic Night , Egyptian Tea Room & thursday • 4 Mall, 8pm. Orchestra , Coronado Music Festival, Cafe, 169 E. Main St., El Cajon, 7pm. Smoking Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Trevor Davis/Saba , Lestat’s, 9pm. 6pm. Blues Jam , Blind Melons, 710 Garnet, 7pm. Cindy Lee Berryhill & the Wigbillies , every saturday Dizzy’s, 8pm. David Grier , Clarke House Concert, 8pm. Zydeco Tuesdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 7pm. Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg Pete Thurston , Lestat’s, 9pm. saturday • 13 Info: 619/291-4954. Open Mic Night , Cosmos Cafe, 8278 La Evan Bethany/Jenn Grinels/Annaliese , Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. The Brombies , Wynola Pizza Express, Lestat’s, 9pm. Irish Music Jam , The Ould Sod, 7pm. Amelia Browning Jazz Trio , Turquoise Cafe- 4355 Hwy 78/79, Julian, 6pm. Bar Europa, 873 Turquoise St., 8:30pm. friday • 5 Comedy Night w/ Mark Serritella , Lestat’s, Doyle Dykes , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Hot Fudge Sundae Open Mic , O’Connell’s, Fabulous Ultratones , Trolley Barn Park, 9pm. Mansfield St., 7pm. 619/303-8176. monday • 22 1310 Morena Blvd., 9pm. Adams Ave. at Alabama St., 6pm. Judy Taylor & Wild Oats , Fallbrook Christian/Gospel Open Mic , El Cajon. Info: Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums , TGIF Al Jarreau/Rippingtons , Humphrey’s, Americana Music Series, 331 E. Elder, Shelter Island, 7pm. J.D., 619/246-7060. Jazz in the Parks, Calavera Hills Park, Fallbrook, 7:30pm. Info: 760/723-2563. Carlsbad Village Dr. Glasgow St., 6pm. Tom Baird/Nathan , Crossroads Cafe, 169 Lonestar , Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, E. Main, El Cajon, 8pm. tuesday • 23 6:30pm. saturday • 27 DON ’ T MISS Guitar Extravaganza w/ Peter Pupping/ Stanley Clarke/Bela Fleck/Jean-Luc Summergrass Greg Campbell/Patty Hall , Crossroads William Wilson/Eric Foster/Justin Ponty , Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 8pm. (see pp. 7-10), 10am-10pm. Cafe, 169 E. Main, El Cajon, 7pm. Froese , Carlsbad Village Theater, 2822 Kev , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy ROBIN HENKEL Primasi , Pannikin Del Mar, Flower Hill State St., 8pm. Info: 760/943-0755. wednesday • 24 78/79, Julian, 6pm. and his CD Release of Mall, 8pm. Anya Marina/Olderman Hands , Lestat’s, Simeon Flick , Borders Books, 159 Nathan James/Ben Hernandez , Dizzy’s, 9pm. Mesa Blue , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Fletcher Pkwy, El Cajon, 7pm. BAD BONGOS 8pm. Main, El Cajon, 7:30pm. John Wesley Harding , Acoustic Music Amelia Browning CD Release , Lestat’s, Speechwriters/Thomas Lee/Jennifer Lee , S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303- original blues-based funk with jazz saxophones 9pm. sunday • 14 Lestat’s, 9pm. 8176. City Fest , Robinson & Fifth Ave., Hillcrest, Heloise Love , San Dieguito United August 19 @ Lestat’s, 9pm 10am-7pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Look for a feature story on Robin, who will be saturday • 6 thursday • 25 Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. John Kaizan Neptune w/ Gunnar Biggs/ the Troubadour cover boy later this year. Living Water Carnival & Bluegrass Reiko Obata/Masayo Norikura , Dizzy’s, K.C. Groves/David Long , Clarke House Tom Cahoon , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Festival , Santee United Methodist 8pm. Concert, 8pm. Info: 619/291-4954. Main, El Cajon, 8pm. Church, 8964 Magnolia, 2:20pm. Cecilio & Kapono , Humphrey’s, Shelter Rock for Aids w/ Gregory Page/Greg Flamenco/Gypsy Trio , California Ctr. for Chet & the Committee , Patricks II, 428 F Kenny Edwards , Wynola Pizza Express, Island, 7:30pm. Laswell/Trevor Davis/Emerson/Jon the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 8pm. 4355 Hwy 78/79, Julian, 6pm. Kruger/Derek Evans , Lestat’s, 9pm. St., 9pm. Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 9pm. The Evergreens/Numskuls , Lestat’s, 9pm. Blues Party , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main, El Cajon, 6:30pm. Baja Blues Boys , Patrick’s Irish Pub, friday • 26 13314 Poway Rd., 9pm. tuesday • 16 Geoff Muldaur , Acoustic Music San monday • 15 Summergrass (see pp. 7-10), 3-10pm. Elvis/Elvis Music of Elvis Presley & Elvis Acoustic Alliance w/ Tim Walikis/Ren Diego, 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Cowboy Junkies/Dar Williams , Kermit Ruggins , TGIF Jazz in the Parks, Costello, Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 9pm. Daversa/Mike Spurgat/Mike Officer/ 619/303-8176. Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 7:30pm. Shant/Renata Youngblood/Kai Brown/ Mick Overman , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Calavera Hills Park, Carlsbad Village Dr. & Glasgow St., 6pm. Andrea Reschke/Christiane Lucas/Scarth Main, El Cajon, 7pm. sunday • 28 Locke , 3105 Ocean Front Walk, Mission tuesday • 16 Smokey Robinson , Palomar Starlight Sue Palmer , L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Del Summergrass (see pp. 7-10), 9am-6pm. Beach, 7pm. Mar, 8pm. Bobby McFerrin & Chick Correa , Theater, Pala, 7:30pm. Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 7:30pm. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy , Humphrey’s, Flamenco/Gypsy Trio , California Ctr. for Gilbert Castellanos Quartet , Dizzy’s, the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 4pm. 8:30pm. Shelter Island, 8pm. wednesday • 31 Benchmark , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. David Olney , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Bongo Blues w/ Billy Watson/Ben Citizen Band/Diane Waters , Lestat’s, wednesday • 17 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. 9pm. Main, El Cajon, 8pm. Hernandez/Nathan James/Robin Henkel , Judy Collins/Richie Havens , Humphrey’s, High Grass Rollers , Acoustic Expressions, Robbie Schaefer/Amber Rubarth , Lestat’s, 9pm. Shelter Island, 7:30pm. 2852 University Ave., North Park, 7pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. sunday • 7 Louisiana Red , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Blue Largo , Pannikin Del Mar, Flower Hill Mansfield St., 7pm. 619/303-8176. Bill Evans/Jody Stecher , Banjo Mall, 8pm. monday • 29 Mary Dolan/Patti Logston , Lestat’s, 9pm. Workshops (2pm) & Concert (7:30pm), Chasing Paper CD Release/Dehra Dun , Johnny Clegg Band/Taj Mahal , Acoustic Expressions, 2852 University Lestat’s, 9pm. Humphrey’s, Shelter Island, 7pm. Ave., North Park. thursday • 18 Tom Griesgraber/Jerry Marotta/Eric Wollo , Dizzy’s, 8pm. Gipsy Kings , Viejas Casino, Alpine, 8pm. John Mark/Mozella , Lestat’s, 9pm. Acoustic Underground w/ Tom Griesgraber/SethHoran , Lestat’s, 9pm. monday • 8 friday • 19 International Folk Music Camp (thru Aug. 8), Folk Dance Ctr., 4569 30th St., 3pm. Sue Palmer , Trolley Barn Park, Adams Info: 619/992-9831. Ave. at Alabama St., 6pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Big Time Operator , TGIF Jazz in the Backstage Lounge, Shelter Island, 7pm. Parks, Calavera Hills Park, Carlsbad Village Dr. & Glasgow St., 6pm. New West Guitar Quartet , Dizzy’s, 8pm. Greg Campbell/Jim Earp , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Main, El Cajon, 7:30pm. tuesday • 9 Calima Duo , Pannikin Del Mar, Flower Hill Chet & the Committee , Patricks II, 428 F Mall, 8pm. St., 9pm. Band in Black , Cask & Cleaver, 3757 S. Mission Rd., Fallbrook, 8pm. Randy Rigby/Ed Edwards CD Release , wednesday • 10 Dizzy’s, 8pm. Jim Earp , O.B. Farmer’s Market, 7pm. Gipsy Kings , Viejas Casino, Alpine, 8pm. Mesa Blue , Crossroads Cafe, 169 E. Robin Henkel CD Release , Lestat’s, 9pm. Main, El Cajon, 7:30pm. Ian Tyson , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. saturday • 20 Laurie Lewis/Tom Rozum , Fallbrook Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers/Black Americana Music Series, 331 E. Elder, Crowes , Coors Amphitheater, Chula Vista, Fallbrook, 7:30pm. Info: 760/723-2563. 7:30pm. The Temptations , Humphrey’s, Shelter Jonny Lang , Viejas Casino, Alpine, 8pm. Island, 8pm. New Lost Melody Boys , Bird Park, 28th Jack the Original/Just Jon , Lestat’s, 9pm. St. & Thorn, 5:30pm. Howling Coyotes , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy 78/79, Julian, 6pm.

14 www.sandiegotroubadour.com AUGUST 2005 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR the local seen t l u t a l v u o a v C

o e t C v l

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v : t o o S t

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o o e h t v o P e t h S P

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Roy Book Binder at Acoustic Music San Diego

Christopher Dale at his CD Release P h

Alan Iglesias of Crossfire at Julian Blues Bash o t o t l :

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Bari & Anna Zwirn @ Crossroads Open Mic P h o t o s :

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Billy Thompson at Blues Bash in Julian

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Jeff Berkley at Christopher Dale CD Release

Kornflower and Kev Greg Gross @ Crossroads Open Mic Alan James @ Crossroads Open Mic s d o o W

m i T

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Stephen Smith (l.) w/ Les & Lou Ann Preston s d o o W

m i T

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Bob Cool @ Crossroads Open Mic

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 15 AuguSt 26-28 advaNce ticket s are available online at www.summergrass.net or at the following lo
cations: (Please phone for current store hours and latest ticket availability) Acoustic Expressions Buffalo Brothers Guitars Valley Music Store 2852 University Avenue 4901 El Camino Real 530 East Main Street San Diego, CA (North Park) Carlsbad, CA 92009 El Cajon, CA 92020 619/280-9035 760/434-4567 619/444-3161 Antique Gas & Steam Scotty's Guitar Shop Engine Museum Gift Shop 348 E. Grand Avenue 2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue Escondido, CA 92025 Vista, CA 92083 760/489-9251 760/941-1791 (VISA, MC, AE)

SUMMERGRASS TICKETS GATE PRICE ADVANCE PRICE

Children age 10 and younger are FREE with adult admission! 3-Day/Fri. thru Sun. $42 $36 Friday $12 $10 Saturday $16 $14 “I have a vision, of a nation in which people gather with guitar, banjo, fiddle, and other instruments, where parents play music with Sunday $14 $12 children, husbands with wives, and friends with friends.” Ticket booth opens two hours before the show begins each day. Parking (non-campers): $2 per vehicle. Bring lawn chairs, sunscreen, and hats. Festival is outdoors, rain or shine. — David Harp, Instant Blues Harmonica SORRY, NO PETS ALLOWED IN FESTIVAL AREA OR DAY PARKING LOT Pets permitted on leash in campground only. q WE HAVE A GREAT TIME PRESENTING r Free Live Music Nights: First Tuesday of the month, 7-9:30pm, Round Table Pizza, Escondido.

Campouts: Jamming, music workshops, a potluck, learn come joiN the fuN at the (usually in April and July) new tunes, visit new and old friends. Festivals: From 1999-2002 we produced the Julian Bluegrass San Diego Bluegrass Society Festival for Julian Lions Club charities. In 2003 NCBFC We sponsor three regular bluegrass events every month and SDBS jointly created something completely new: the around San Diego County, plus special concerts featuring first Summergrass San Diego Festival. We’re delighted to nationally recognized bluegrass bands. do it again! OUR THREE REGULAR MONTHLY EVENTS News: Bimonthly newsletter, The Bluegrass and Folk Broadcast , with extensive acoustic music event listings and articles, 2nd Tuesday: Fuddruckers, La Mesa, 7-10 pm. Open mic, blue - and The President’s Half-Time Report for “in-between” grass karaoke, and outdoor jamming. updates. 3rd Tuesday: Fuddruckers, Chula Vista, 7-10 pm. Open mic. 4th Tuesday: Cheezy Pizza (formerly Godfather’s), Clairemont P Mesa, 6-9 pm. A featured band, plus open mic, blluegrass karaoke, The San Diego North County Bluegrass & Folk Club is a non-profit club and outdoor jamming. dedicated to presenting, playing, and preserving bluegrass and folk music. Club members Become a member! For just $20 per household annual include musicians of all skill levels, from beginners to pros, and those who just like to listen. It’s a great group of fun, friendly folks. membership fee, you help support the San Diego Bluegrass Society and receive: For more information, call 760/724-1785 or 760/726-8380, or visit www.northcountybluegrass.org • inTune newsletter • Tweener Great people. We couldn’t do any of it without our volunteers! To our members, SDBS, and the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, thanks to all of you for your hard work! • the latest information on concerts, festivals, We invite you to join the fun with NCBFC: Family membership is only $15 per year! and especially Summergrass! Visit the club’s booth at Summergrass to join or to pick up a sample newsletter. Stop by our Summergrass booth, in the vendor area, and pick Come by and say hi. We’d love to meet you! up free copies of our newsletters and a membership form. Or call our information line: 858/679-4854. By becoming a member, you receive all the inside information on bluegrass happenings in the Southern California area. QUESTIONS? THE SAN DIEGO BLUEGRASS SOCIETY SINCERELY HOPES YOU ENJOY See the program inside on pages 7-10, surf to THIS YEAR’S SUMMERGRASS AND WILL JOIN OUR ORGANIZATION. www.summergrass.net, or call 858/679-4854 HAVE A GREAT TIME! ✁ for recorded information. Summergrass ADVANCE TICKET ORDER FORM CAMPING INFORMATION Order now and save! Advance ticket prices are $2/day off regular price ($6 off for a 3-day Camping is available ONLY with a ticket purchase, and preferred camping will be assigned on ticket). Advance ticket orders by mail MUST be received by August 8! Children ages 10 arrival to those who have made advance purchases. (Camping is also available at the gate.) On- and under are FREE with adult admission. site dry camping spaces are $33 each and can be used for any portion of the period between No. of Advance 3-day Tickets _____ @ $36 each Wednesday, August 24 at 4pm through Monday, August 29 at noon. Optional electric power No. of Advance Friday Tickets _____ @ $10 each for Thursday evening through Sunday at 6pm is available by reservation for an additional $75 No. of Advance Saturday Tickets ___ @ $14 each per campsite. Please include payment for camping and electricity on the ticket order form, adjacent. No. of Advance Sunday Tickets ____ @ $12 each Camping (per space) _____ @ $33 each FOR EACH CAMPSITE , PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING : Electric Power Reservation ______@ $75 each RV length (without tow vehicle): ______Total Enclosed: $______RV type (pop-up, travel trailer, motor home, fifth wheel, bus): Name______Address ______Check here If tent camping ______If handicapped ______

City ______State ______Zip ______VEHICLE LICENSE STATE AND NUMBER (FOR RV AND VEHICLE ): Phone ( ) ______Passenger vehicle: ______Email ______RV: ______(for Summergrass use only)

Mail this form, your check made payable to Summergrass, and a business-size self-addressed stamped envelope to: Summergrass San Diego c/o Judy Hass, 9930 Dichondra Court, San Diego, CA 92131-1806