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SAN DIEGO ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news

December 2003 Vol. 3, No. 3

what’s inside

Welcome Mat………3 Letter from the Editor Mission Statement Contributors Full Circle..…………4 Harold Land Lou Curtiss Front Porch…………6 Billy Midnight Parlor Showcase...…8 Tristan Prettyman Harmonija Rookie Card Ramblin’ …………10 Bluegrass Corner Radio Daze José Sinatra RantHouse The Highway’s Song.12 Eliza Gilkyson San Diego’s Finest/Lestats Classic Rock Allstars Of Note.……………13 Billy Midnight Annie Bethancourt J. Turtle Abbie Huxley Aspasia Aid ‘Round About ...... …14 December Music Calendar The Local Seen……15 Photo Page PHIL HARMONIC SEZ:

“God bless us, everyone!”

— Charles Dickens San Diego Troubadour • December 2003 welcomewelcome matmat

SAN DIEGO CONTRIBUTORS ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news FOUNDERS Lyle & Ellen Duplessie Liz Abbott Kent Johnson MISSION SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the Letter from the Editor local source for alternative coun- To promote, encourage, and PUBLISHER try, Americana, roots, folk, gospel, provide an alternative voice for the Dear Readers, and bluegrass music news, is pub- Lyle Duplessie great local music that is generally lished monthly and is free of A couple of weeks ago, the overlooked by the mass media; EDITOR charge. Letters to the editor must San Diego Troubadour received the namely the genres of folk, country, Ellen Duplessie be signed and may be edited for roots, Americana, gospel, and honor of “best paper for musicians content. It is not, however, guaran- bluegrass. To entertain, educate, GRAPHIC DESIGN without amps” by CityBeat. And teed that they will appear. and bring together players, writers, Liz Abbott although the category was a bit All opinions expressed in SAN and lovers of these forms; to PHOTOGRAPHY unusual, what was written was explore their foundations; and to DIEGO TROUBADOUR, unless much appreciated. expand the audience for these otherwise stated, are solely the opin- Paul Grupp types of music. ion of the writer and do not Millie Moreno But Lyle and I do want to represent the opinions of the staff or spotlight the fact that, though we To receive advertising rates and DISTRIBUTION management. All rights reserved. did come up with the original idea information, call 619/298-8488 or Ellen Duplessie e-mail [email protected]. ©2003 San Diego Troubadour. Kent Johnson and vision for this monthly paper, it would not have happened without Liz Abbott and Kent Johnson (aka Phil Harmonic), the San Diego Troubadour ADVERTISING P.O. Box 164 backbone of the whole operation. Had it not been for Liz, the La Jolla, CA 92038 Kent Johnson graphic designer, we would have had no more than a little E-mail: [email protected]. 1 WRITERS 8 /2 x 11” newsletter, photocopied to give away. Liz was able to Lou Curtiss put all of our ideas into form and, with her graphic art skills and Ellen Duplessie creative touch, give it the look that it has today…an attractive, Phil Harmonic unique, and credible-looking newspaper. Paul Hormick Kent Johnson’s energy, along with his distribution experience, WRITE TO US! Frederick Leonard brought the paper to the streets all across the county. His interper- Jim McInnes sonal skills naturally placed him in charge of advertising as well. Liz We want to hear from you! Bart Mendoza and Kent’s organizational skills carry the paper to this day. By the Send your comments, Philippe Navidad time the first paper was out, we had joined together as a team, feedback, and suggestions to: José Sinatra [email protected] Paul Williams complementing one another’s strengths and weaknesses. Lyle and or to San Diego Troubadour, Gus Williker I really consider all four of us to be the founders of the P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA Robert Woerheide Troubadour, as from the start we have all worked together to get 92038-0164. D. Dwight Worden the paper out for you, the reader. John Philip Wyllie I speak for all four of us when I say that our monthly read would have no soul without the grass roots efforts of all our great columnists and writers. Columnists Lou Curtiss, José Sinatra, Russell Bauder (Gus Williker), Les Brennan (Jimmy Diesel White), Paul Abbott, Jim McInnes, Dwight Worden, and all the other writ- ers who have contributed over the past two years have been the heart of the Troubadour, along with the photographers, especially our very own Millie Moreno. Liz, Kent, Lyle, and I just want to say thanks to all of you who’ve supported the San Diego Troubadour, whether through writing, photography, advertising, delivering, letters, or just by your encouragement. Thanks to all the musicians and to all of you who support our local music scene. And last but not least, thanks to CityBeat for the nice words! We at the San Diego Troubadour wish you and your families a happy and safe holiday season.

Cheers, Ellen Duplessie

3 December 2003 • San Diego Troubadour fullfull circlecircle

by Bart Mendoza

hile San Diego hasn’t Harold in the been thought of as W much of a jazz town until recently, the truth is that many famed jazz era musicians got their Land of Jazz start here, from Arthur Blythe to the Liggins Brothers. Even among such illustrious company, it’s clear that Though the Creole Palace was famous brother, Joe “Honeydripper” one of the most important jazz play- a mainstay, Fro Brigham’s band Liggins. Although Land considered ers ever to emerge from our town is played many other venues. “I was a his rhythm-and-blues road experi- saxophonist Harold Land. jitterbugger when I met Harold at the ence invaluable, he was soon back Born on December 12, 1928, in Club Romance in 1949,” says Mrs. at the Creole Palace, though by 1954 Houston, Texas, Land arrived in San Land. “That club was just two blocks he had moved to Los Angeles. Diego in 1933, at the age of five. His south of the Creole Palace.” Of the Mrs. Land states, “We lived in family lived at 1703 Imperial Ave. and band at the time she says, “They San Diego until 1954, and our son he found his love of music early. He played all the jazz, well really bebop, was born there. We left San Diego attended Memorial Jr. High in Logan that they could in a set, and all the when he was four and not long after Heights and then San Diego High jitterbuggers would be there. People that Harold joined up with Max School, graduating in 1946. just loved Fro’s voice and wanted to Roach.” Eastward Ho! Harold Land According to his wife Lydia, “He was dance.” Following a succession of In New York (1960). in the San Diego High School menial jobs, close friend flutist Eric Hear Ye was next, seeing Land orchestra, but jazz was his love. Dolphy invited Land to play a jam Merv Griffin Show, and The Mike as co-group leader with Red He’d had piano lessons, but after he session at Dolphy’s house. Both Douglas Show. 1971 saw a pair of Mitchell. It was released by Atlantic heard Coleman Hawkins, a saxo- Clifford Brown and Max Roach came releases by Land for Mainstream in 1961 and has been re-issued six phone was all he wanted to play. to check out Land for their musical Records: A New Shade of Blue and times since, including once in 1967 When he was 16 he was given a projects on Dolphy’s recommenda- Choma. It also saw the initial release under the “hip” title “And Keep On tenor saxophone. Mrs. Land recalls, tion. “Eric had known me since the of Damisi, an album with a tricky his- Swinging.” A series of indie releases “Harold had a music teacher who San Diego days and after I moved to tory. It would be reissued in 1972, followed, all stellar. Over the next was very strict. Everything had to be L.A., we became good friends,” Land ‘74, and ‘91 (at least), with each four decades he appeared on every a certain way, so for fun, whenever says in that interview. “He was issue containing a slightly different jazz label of note. The year 1963 saw the teacher would leave the room, beautiful. Eric loved to play any- choice of songs. You need the 1991 the release of Jazz Impressions of he would let go with music the way where, any hour of the day or night. CD re-issue to get it all. Folk Music on Imperial and 1967 had he wanted to play it, taking the same So did I.” Land passed the impromp- Next Land worked on a co-band The Peace-maker on Cadet, while songs and rearranging them.” He tu audition and was soon a rising leader production with Blue 1969 found Take Aim issued by Blue had just graduated when a friend, star in the jazz world, recording Mitchell, releasing Mapenzi for Note. bass player Ralph Houston, helped Harold Land as a young man enough material to appear on the Concord Jazz in 1977. It was fol- him join the Musician’s Union, set- pair’s 16 albums (including reissues) lowed by Live at Junk in 1980, a ting him on the path toward becom- On April 25th of that year the over the years. He left the employ of release only available in Japan, the ing a world-renowned musician. band, under the moniker the Harold Brown and Roach in 1956 due to a same year he joined the Timeless Land was influenced by other Land All Stars, cut four songs at family illness but continued to tour, All-Stars, which included famed saxophonists of the day, Savoy Records in Los Angeles, notably with Curtis Counce. Hutcherson, Billy Higgins, Cedar including Lucky Thompson and resulting in the regional hit “San More important, he began to Walton, Curtis Fuller, and Buster especially Charlie Parker, and Diego Bounce” (Regent 1020) when play sessions and went on to Williams. Xocia’s Dance on Muse became part of the house band at released in 1950. The song also become one of the leading horn came in 1981, with A Lazy Afternoon the Creole Palace as a member of proved to be a huge hit in Jamaica, players of his day. He’s on literally on the indie Postcards label Fro Brigham’s group. “During these where it was bootlegged under the dozens of the greatest jazz sides Land at the Jazz Bakery in L.A., 1990s released April 1995. jobs my closest friend and musical titles “Downbeat Shuffle” or ever released. Just check out this Unfortunately that would be his It was during this time frame colleague was the drummer, Leon “Coxsone Shuffle.” The other three roll call: five discs with Bill Evans, 13 last release for seven years. As fate that several rock luminaries let their Petties,” Land remembers. Quoted songs recorded at the session would with Dinah Washington, six with would have it, Land had a resur- love of Land’s music be known. On by Leonard Feather in the liner notes have to wait until the late seventies Thelonius Monk, 12 with Bobby gence of popularity in 1999 when July 25, 1969, prog-rock pioneers Yes to Land’s own 1959 album, The Fox, to finally see the light of day on a Hutcherson, four with Wes Paul McCartney recorded included a tribute tune called he spoke of his days in the club’s Savoy Records anthology, Black Montgomery — and that’s just the “Fabulous” on the B-side of the “No “Harold Land” on their debut album. small combo. “We played the floor California. tip of the iceberg. It’s an incredible Other Baby” single from his And none other than Led Zeppelin’s show and jazz sets too. Sometimes Land and Petties soon left the discography, which includes count- acclaimed oldies album Run Devil Jimmy Page took a shine to men like Hampton Hawes, Teddy Creole Palace to work on the road, less recording sessions for the likes Run. He didn’t release an album of “Fabulous” and recorded it, eventu- Edwards, and Sonny Criss came first spending a year in a group led of the Platters, Sam Cooke, Ella new recordings again until 2001’s ally seeing its release on countless down from L.A. and worked with us. by guitarist Jimmy Liggins and then Fitzgerald, Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Promised Land on Audiophoric. compilations and reissues since the This provided a great stimulus.” in the band of his slightly more and many, many more. Notably, Land Sadly, Land passed away on July 27, made the acquaintance of trumpeter early seventies. When asked about 2001, but he remained fond of San

P the many cover versions of her hus- h Jack Sheldon (later band leader for Diego. “We would return fairly o t o

: band’s music, Mrs. Land replies, The Merv Griffin Show) in 1957, play-

S often,” says Mrs. Land. “He would a

n “Harold wrote a lot of music,” says

D ing on his album Jack’s Groove and play there whenever he could, like i e

g Mrs. Land. “It’s hard to keep track of

o co-authoring the standard when he would play the Athenaeum

H

i everything. There have been so s “Fabulous.” in La Jolla or even the Summerhouse t o r

i many re-issues, especially since c

a As a solo act he signed to Inn, for two weeks at a time. He l

S CDs came out. And then they o Contemporary Records in 1958, loved it.” c i e

t change the names of things,” she y releasing three highly acclaimed albums in quick succession: 1958’s says of the record labels’ practice of brilliant Harold in the Land of Jazz endlessly repackaging an artist’s and Grooveyard, then The Fox on the catalog. “But we do get statements, small Hifijazz label in the year that so we know what’s out there.” followed. Contemporary Jazz Land continued to tour, includ- records re-issued the album in 1969. ing a stint in Las Vegas as star play- He next surfaced on Jazzland er with Tony Bennett. He also Records with a pair of classics: appeared on all the talk shows of the San Diego’s Creole Palace, a hot spot for black entertainment in the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, at West Coast Blues (1960) and day including The Tonight Show, The Third and Market St.

4 San Diego Troubadour • December 2003 fullfull circlecircle n o s d r a h c i R

Recordially, Lou Curtiss l l i B

: o t orable to me was The Upper Cellar at known out of towners. The era of the during those early years, along o h

P 6557 El Cajon Blvd. I first saw Fred Great Folk Scare was in full swing. The with Fred Gerlach and Hadley Gerlach there, who encouraged me to owner of Circe’s Cup was a guy named Bachelder, included Ed Ellison, buy my first Leadbelly record, and Hadley Butch Miller, who kept it open for three John Lee, Pattie Hodges, John Bachelder, who got me hooked on Big or four years before eventually drifting Read, Eric Hord, Hoyt Axton, Bill Broonzy. Along about 1960 Terry on. After that it became a pool hall the John B. Trio, the Wee Three Houston and I got up on stage at an (called Circe’s Cue — they only had to Trio, Bill Sherman, Judy Henske, open mic at The Upper Cellar and sang a change part of the sign), then a sand- and Jay Turner. I’m leaving a lot folk song (I don’t remember what it was) wich shop (with all the murals painted of people out, but I can’t put and when people actually applauded, I over in a dull flat white), and now the names to the faces. I was start- was hooked. Bob Stane, the owner of the building isn’t even there any more since ing to make trips to to L.A. Like many kids who grew up during club and Pete Serniuk (resi- the university has taken over the whole then to places like The Unicorn the ‘50s, I guess I was attracted to dent comedian and emcee) area. Many people who remember The and The Ash Grove and places (among other things) the Beat were encouraging and Cup also remember the cheap apart- in between like The Golden Movement. I read the books told us to come back, ments upstairs, which you had to turn Bear in Huntington Beach and and fantasized about which we did a few sideways to get in to. Bookcase, bed, hot The Prison of Socrates in being “on the times. During the early plate, and not much else. Living upstairs Newport Beach. road” and even ‘60s The Upper Cellar at The Cup was always bohemian stu- It was an interesting time, later did some of tried to move to a dent life at its worst but then downstairs more or less disappearing for a that, but first I had bigger location on there was some mighty good music. year or two during the early to check out the cof- University Avenue The other coffee house that made a ‘60s, and then making a come- fee house scene. It was and took a stab lot of noise was The Ballad Man in La back in the mid to late ‘60s 1957 (and I was still in at booking big Jolla, first run by a guy named Jay Turner with places like The Heritage, high school down at Mar name folk acts and then by Bill Sherman. I was only out The End, and The Land of Vista in Imperial Beach). I (I saw the there a few times, mostly to see someone Odin, which I’ll talk about later. don’t know exactly how it Terriers there) but I was familiar with from The Cellar or The all came about, but one of were only open for a short Cup. There‘s a song Jay Turner wrote Recordially, the first places I ventured into time. Bob went on to a long run as about The Ballad Man that I still hear Lou Curtiss was called The Zodiac. It was manager of the Ice House up in Pasadena people do today some 40 years later. on the street level of the same building and operates a coffee house in the L.A. That’s pretty high praise for a small place that housed the Pacific Ballroom on the area to this day. on Pearl Street in La Jolla. Forty years — second floor, near the corner of 11th and About the same time a bunch of San that’s almost a folk song. The Ballad Man Broadway. The artist I saw on that first Diego State students opened a place closed its doors at some point in the visit was Mickey Myers and I don’t called La Parise just a few steps off the early ‘60s. remember anything about him except SDSU campus. Inside the walls were cov- There were other coffee houses in that he used the Mickey Mouse ered with murals of the interior of a those early years too. A place called The Club theme song as a closing French bordello, and all the faces of Voodoo Man in La Mesa number. About a year later I went the many characters were was open for a short to The Zen Coffee House and those of the then time, but I never went Motorcycle Repair Shop down students there. There were also a Upper Cellar exterior at Broadway and India and and pro- couple of places — I saw Judy Henske there. I fessors at think three different ones have to say it made a more San Diego — with the same name: lasting impression on me. State. Not La Bohème, however Neither one of those long after the none of them lasted very places were around for place opened, long. very long, probably the ownership This was a time because of where changed and the when folk acts moved they were located. name changed to into the restaurants and At that time, down- Circe’s Cup, but the bars for the first time town San Diego mostly attract- interior murals stayed. (when folk became pop Interior of Upper Cellar ed sailors on liberty and a few reckless The Ivory Tower Jazz for a while) and clubs like souls (like me, occasionally) who were Quartet played there The Mantiki and others featured “striped more interested in other kinds of music. regularly and that’s where I saw Josh shirt trios.” Some of the performers who A coffee house that was more mem- White, Juanita Hall, and several well- were working in San Diego coffee houses Lou & Virginia Curtiss

5 December 2003 • San Diego Troubadour frontfront porchporch

Tristan Prettyman: Not Just Another Pretty Face by John Philip Wyllie Prettyman was recently offered channels a more of her energy into something that many coffeehouse songwriting and performing these ix years ago, she could barely musicians spend years striving for: a days, she continues to surf several play a guitar. Prior to the recording contract. But after confer- times a week. spring of 2002, only a small ring with her manager, she elected “I write a lot of songs in the S to turn it down. water, but unfortunately I forget circle of friends had ever heard her perform. And yet in March and “I play music just to play most of them,” she quipped. “[The again this month Del Mar’s Tristan music,” she explained. “I write for ocean] is a place where I can go and Prettyman found herself on a myself, not for the Billboard charts clear my head and be away from national tour, opening for critically or for breakthrough hits. My favorite everything. A lot of ideas come to acclaimed singer/songwriter Jason artists were never on the radio. me there, but it is also a place where Mraz. Her meteoric rise is as baffling When it comes down to it, music is I relieve my stress and get calm. I to the 21-year old Prettyman as it is for the artist and for the fans. If you feel fortunate to be able to come to a growing number of veteran are really touching people, that is home and go surfing and then go on local musicians who would love to reason enough to do it. If you have the road and play music.” be in her shoes. a fan base and can book your own The inner calm that she gains shows, you really don’t need a through surfing carries over when recording label.” Prettyman fears she is performing on stage. that her style may be compromised “There is a grace about her that once she is under contract, so she you usually don’t find in folks her has so far resisted all of the over- age,” explained singer/songwriter tures made to her. Jeff Berkley of Berkley Hart. “She Her thinking may fly in the has what I would call an old soul. face of conventional wisdom, but While she is very young, there is that doesn’t concern her. Music is something about her that seems very one of her passions and something experienced and aged. She also has that is uniquely her own. Surfing a lot of intense energy.” Prettyman with Jason Mraz however, was her first love. That energy and poise was on A regular at Pipes and Swami’s display at her recent Twiggs per- “It is hard to develop an indi- late at night or when I wake up first for more than a dozen years, formance as well as on her Love EP “I just picked up a guitar six vidual style. I tend to be easily influ- thing in the morning. My songs are Prettyman took to the waves at the CD. years ago and kept at it,” Prettyman enced, so that can be a problem. It about moments in my everyday life.” age of eight. Surfing was a way of More than a demo, but not a said nonchalantly prior to perform- has helped to come back to where I With a voice somewhat remi- life for the Prettyman family. By the highly polished recording according ing before an enthusiastic Twigg’s was by listening to my own record- niscent of Jewel and lyrics that often time she had emerged from Torrey to Prettyman, she calls it, “a sketch audience in early November. ings and then trying to recreate that ooze emotion and speak of heart Pines High School three years ago, of some of my songs so that people “Sometimes I feel like I don’t same raw sound.” ache and longing, it is easy to see Prettyman was an accomplished can hear them.” Recorded in two deserve [all this attention] and that I Songwriting, like many things how Prettyman, at the tender age of surfer as well as a model for Roxy weekends, the songs on the Love EP haven’t earned it, but at other times in Prettyman’s life, seems to come 21, has already established a loyal Surf Wear. Ironically, it was surfing were recorded in three takes each I feel like I just have to take off and naturally. following. And this could be just the that launched her musical career. with Prettyman accompanying her- run with it. I am my own biggest “The songs tend to come when tip of the iceberg. Her first attempt at recording, a self on the guitar and drums and critic. I often feel like I am not ready they come. I don’t sit down and say Tristan Prettyman performs at song called “Anything at All,” ended piano added later. for this. I was hoping something like okay, I have to produce a song. They Kelly’s Pub, 6344 El Cajon Blvd., on up on the critically acclaimed surf She sees her music as a work in this would happen eventually, but I come regardless of whether I am December 19. film Shelter. It turned out to be a progress and her style as one that is had no idea it would happen so happy or sad. I do most of it either soon.” life-changing event. While she still developing.

6 San Diego Troubadour • December 2003 frontfront porchporch

by Robert Woerheide outside of San Diego. We’re try- Harmonija Delivers ing to impress some folks and ntil I met Rookie spread the word.” Card, I thought The album, tenta- Heavenly Harmonies U “pop” was a tively titled Near dirty word—right up Mint, will feature 12 there with “commercial- tracks and should by Paul Hormick ism” and “target market.” be released some- But that changed when this San Diego time next spring he music of Bulgaria is impos- band, fresh from a turbulent, lengthy or summer. sible to describe; to compare it formation and with demo CD in hand, If the songs to anything familiar could not T showed me what pop could really be. on their debut do it justice. In reviewing Le Mystère Their debut release, First Day of Class, demo release are des Voix Bulgares, a CD of the Bulgarian any indication, Women’s Choir, the BBC simply said, is a collection of well thought-out Rookie Card’s first “This is the most beautiful music in songs delivered with confidence but the world.” And for the past eight not presumption. official album should years the all-female quartet Harmonija Rookie Card—consisting of found- definitely get them has brought the same searing, sublime ing member Adam Gimbel (lead noticed. In a remarkably short period harmonies and seductively complex singer, rhythm guitarist), Nasrallah of time, they’ve managed to leap the rhythms of Bulgaria, along with other Harmonija Helewa (percussionist), Jason Hee hurdle so many other, more experi- offerings from Eastern Europe, to the (bassist), and Dylan Martinez (lead gui- enced, bands continue to trip over: stages and coffeehouses of San Diego. year, one in Mendocino and the other . . . but most happy, fun music I think tarist)—is doing everything it can to maintaining a sound all its own, with- “I feel high when I sing this in Maryland. Knowing that she wanted comes off cheesy. We try to make well get noticed these days. And that sticky out releasing an album full of tracks so music,” says Mary Ann Downs, one of to sing this type of music after attend- thought out, good music that might moniker, pop, is following right along. similar to one another they become the sopranos of the group. “The har- ing a Bulgarian concert, Hayes have something a little clever in the patently redundant. The only thing monies and rhythms, that’s what describes her initial steps to teach her- “I’m totally fine with that,” Gimbel lyrics. We don’t want to be a novelty redundant about Rookie Card is the moves me. It’s marvelous to sing.” self, “At first I would sing into a tape explains. “I think more than anything I band.” Downs fell in love with Bulgarian recorder while I played CDs of the write pop songs, and we dress them satisfying nature of their songs. Like So what do they want? Fame and music while she was performing with a Bulgarian Women’s Choir. I would do up different ways: country, indy rock, sherbet on a summer day, these guys success? The two seductive tangents of Slavic chorus in Boston and joined the it over and over until I memorized the blues, whatever. I’m geared to write couldn’t have come around at a better the rock ‘n’ roll triangle, sex and Bulgarian chorus, Malaika, when she songs,” she says. McGuire adds, something that’s catchy, and I hope time. Just in time to save pop—but no drugs? Fortunately, they are able to see moved to San Diego. “Because the music is not in English, that is the main mission of what we pressure, guys, honest. our harmonies have to be right on.” past such artistic distractions. “If I When two of its members moved do. Pop to me just means a catchy away and Malaika disbanded, Downs The women realize that a whole could snap my fingers and [get us] got together with neighbor Sue program of eastern European music huge success, that’s not really what we McGuire and Marie Hayes, a fan of might be difficult for the average lis- want,” Gimbel says, “but if we could Malaika, and formed Harmonija. Two tener. If they are performing at a cof- quit our day jobs and do Rookie Card years later Sanna Rosengren joined the feehouse, fighting the espresso full time that would be great. ensemble. Rosengren says that after all machine, they might mix in some jazz “The problem with trying to be a this time the band has gelled and it is tunes. “We are ambassadors, not musician is you gotta have a day job. now effortless to sing the difficult har- purists,” explains Rosengren. In a con- We [recently] went on a four-day monies and rhythms. cert setting with a more receptive audi- Rosengren, a trained musician ence, they will perform more of their road trip and just had so much fun, Rookie Card at the Casbah Rookie Card at M-Theory from Sweden who has played Brazilian Bulgarian material. and kept saying it would be so great if Harmonija performs the evening of we could do this full time.” and other music, explains the unique song, and we’re all about that.” beauty of the Bulgarian music. December 6 at the Unitarian In the meantime, the band has its This may be true, but for many of “Bulgaria fell under the Ottoman Universalist Church in Hillcrest. Find sights set on the future. “We’re going us the term pop still has a bad after- Empire, but they still used the western out more about these women and their back into the studio to record an taste. If Rookie Card is pop, then it is scale,” she says. The western scale is wonderful music at www.harmonija.com album. We’ve got enough songs we’re pop at its best, pop the way it should the do re mi that we have all grown up happy with to make a record, and still with. This mixture of East and West be, pop on artistic steroids. have some left over. We’re going to produced something, “different Proof in point: First Day of Class is take some time to get our CD out to enough but not impossible to under- really only a demo, but it has managed more people—record labels and press stand,” she says. to get Rookie Card considerable atten- “It’s a challenge to sing,” says tion in San Diego, garnering a nomina- McGuire, who has a degree in musical tion at the 2003 San Diego Music engineering. Some of the harmonies Awards for Best Local Recording. rely on what she calls “crunch notes, Gimbel tells of their surprise at the seconds that don’t resolve.” She also nomination: “We were shocked. Our says that the method of singing differs CD says right at the top that it’s a from that found in most music familiar to us. Instead of using the chest as the demo. And not just a demo but a resonator, typically the way an opera debut demo. To have it nominated for singer gains projection and volume, the Best Local Recording was just unreal.” source of resonance is the head. This The four-song demo has been re- gives a different timbre to the voice, as released to include seven songs and well as a penetrating projection. can be picked up at Lou’s Records, M- The rhythms are also unfamiliar to Theory Music, The Muse, and Off The western ears. Some of the songs are in Record. rhythms of 7/ , 5/ , or even 11/ , requir- 4 4 4 What makes Rookie Card remark- ing the singers to count 1-2-3-1-2-1-2, able is their energy and conviction, or 1-2-1-2-1-2-3-1-2-1-2 to themselves coupled with just the right amount of as they perform. Hayes says, “It took me an entire year to learn the count tongue-in-cheek humor. Whether it’s 7 coming up with anagrams for their for /4.” As none of the women speak band name (they’re up to 16, includ- Bulgarian, they use a variety of meth- ing OREO KID CAR and I ADORE ods to learn their repertoire. They pick ROCK) or lacing their songs with care- up songs from Bulgarian records, recre- ful sarcasm, these rockers maintain a ating not only the difficult harmonies, palpable wit. but the unfamiliar words as well. They This wit is something Gimbel rec- also attend workshops given by ognizes with reluctance. “[Humor is] a Bulgarian immigrants and attend the small part of our music, I’d like to ‘Bulgarian Camps’ that are held each think. I’ll try to be interesting or clever

7 December 2003 • San Diego Troubadour parlorparlor showcaseshowcase

by Ellen Duplessie

he mysterious Billy Midnight. Who is he? Where did he come from? How come the music this group puts out is so good? And how come I haven’t T heard more about them? Okay, even my questions are a bit confused as to whether Billy Midnight is a “he” or a “they.” Billy Midnight could be a cool stage name for a solo artist. It is actually the name of this four-member group. I had at least found out that much before I ever heard and them play but the rest was, to me, still a mystery. In a little promo blip in the 2002 Adams Avenue Street Fair program, this band was described as “Pink Floyd meets Gram Parsons.” This really sparked my curiosity. I wanted to know more. I won- dered why I hadn’t heard of them before. The answer was simply that they didn’t travel in the same folk-country-rock circles that I did, which basically cen- tered around Java Joe’s, Mikey’s, and the whole coffee- house scene. Little did I know that they had already won a San Diego Music Award in 2001 in the “Best Roots, Rockabilly, or Swing Band” category, and that Billy Billy in Fiji Midnight had already been together since 1999. So, back in September of 2002, I made my way to the DiMille’s Stage at the Street Fair just in time to catch their act. I was immediately captivated by their show. Not only were they amazingly talented musicians, but they played some great original music as well. After their performance, I told them that we’d like to do a story on them. A year passed by since then. I Bobby in Fiji had read a couple of mentions about them in CityBeat’s “Locals Only,” and that was about it. We still hadn’t gotten around to doing their story. Then I saw them again this past September on that same stage on Adams Ave. They were even better than before. Billy Midnight was still much of a mys- tery to me and, like a good detec- tive, I had to investigate. Not only Bobby on drums would I get my questions Billy answered, but I knew that this was one group that, in my humble opin- The Brothers Shaddox ion, the whole world should know about. Of course, the San Diego Troubadour doesn’t quite reach the whole world, but at least we can get the word out to a few more folks. So finally I was able to sit down last month with the founders of Billy Midnight at Gelato Vera in Mission Hills to solve the mystery. Here is what I found out — first of At the Adams Ave. Street Fair Wild and crazy guys (l to r): Jeremy Cooke, Bobby Shaddox, Billy Shaddox, Ben Cook all, the band was formed by brothers Billy 8 San Diego Troubadour • December 2003 parlorparlor showcaseshowcase

Bobby Shaddox. I also found out that these two guys “We really like the Bay Area. For roots rock and we really cut our teeth. We did lots of covers because are very smart. When they stayed for a month in Fiji this Americana-type music, that’s the place to be. We’ll at that time we only had about 10 or 15 originals. We past year, the islanders expressed the same thing after probably still go up there a couple times a year. San jammed a lot, too,” Billy remembers. “I didn’t really start hearing Billy playing some of his lead guitar for them. Diego is not a great town for the Americana/country- writing much until after this band got started.” “He’s a smart man, a very smart man!” the Fiji folks pro- rock kind of music we play, but there is a scene that The boys played around town at local bars and claimed. we’re grateful for. There is an audience, and sometimes venues, gradually gaining a following. The band gradu- “People in our Western culture don’t appreciate it can be small, but there are enthusiastic people out ated to gigs at the Casbah and the Belly Up. Now that musicians like that. It’s like, if you can play guitar or any there and we’re grateful for that,” Bobby shares. they’ve stopped trying so hard to get out and “make it,” instrument really, there’s a certain science about it.” Billy Billy adds, “Adams Avenue Street Fair has been everything’s just starting to happen for them. For shared. “Our culture just thinks of it as a nice hobby.” great for us, and we’ve gained a lot of new fans through example, instead of trying to get a gig at the Belly Up, Billy has a degree in civil engineering, while Bobby has that.” this popular venue just called them up out of the blue one in art (graphic design), both from SDSU. Growing up together in a musical family in Dehesa to book them. They opened there in October for the Not only are they smart, but they are also wise. out in East County, they moved to Jamul when they Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. They both have jobs to support their music. They play were in high school. The brothers were immersed in They’ve released three CDs altogether, the first because they love it and it’s a huge part of who they music at home. They both learned rhythm guitar, but it being the demo called Live at the Tradewinds. The next are, but they have realized that enjoying what they do is seemed like Billy never really differentiated between album is their self-titled CD, released in 2001. The third most important, rather than trying to “make it big.” rhythm and lead when he started playing. recording is Live at Earthling. Billy has recently finished “Think about all the people that you really enjoy,” “My dad, the way he plays, has a real Doc his solo album Mellow Me, an acoustic version of some Bobby enthusiastically shares his words of wisdom. Watson style of holding the pick and using his new Fiji-inspired songs. Bobby has his creative projects “They weren’t out to be stars. It’s just that they were fingers. He combines a lot of melody with rhythm. I going as well. He heads up his own group called good, and people realized it. I think that if you try too grew up with that sound just ingrained, and I Bobby Fantasy, which usually includes players from Billy hard, it’s not going to happen to you. I think that what naturally emulated that.” Midnight. He spent quite a bit of time playing with the makes you more famous is if you really like and enjoy Billy continues, “When I got my first electric Stereotypes but has now left them and is joining up what you’re doing. Then people will notice that and guitar, I was really into Jimmy Hendrix. I’d sit and listen with Greg Loaicono from the Mother Hips to play in a they’ll come see you.” to him all the time. I wanted to learn how to do that. I new band called Sensations. That band will be playing “We had a record deal and we turned it down. It never learned how to read music or some shows together with Billy Midnight. would have been one more voice in the equation that anything. I just listened and tried to learn things by ear. The best way to sum up is to start back at the would have really complicated things . . . like someone When I play, I try to tap into that feeling where you’re beginning with the words that first intrigued me from telling us to play this style or that,” adds Billy from his just trying to get something out. It doesn’t happen all the Adams Avenue Street Fair promo blip. This came mathematical mindset. the time. It’s really a magical thing when it happens.” from their own bio on the billymidnight.com website: “We talk about music being fun and Bobby excelled as a rhythm player and he also “Their youthful, live energy, tight harmonies, and Billy’s having a good time, but when it’s about money and learned drums. In addition, he was a natural lead vocal- raw (often experimental) guitar style has earned them the financial obligations, that’s just too stressful. We’ve ist and front man with stage charisma to spare. comparison of “Pink Floyd meets Gram Parsons.” Listening closely to they boys’ sound, one can definitely detect a always said that as soon as we stopped enjoying it, By the time they were 15 or 16, they started childhood steeped in California rock, à la the Beach Boys, we’d quit.” They both agree. playing together in various bands, most of which were the Eagles, and the Byrds. Billy Midnight’s rootsy, West The boys figure that if you’re good, people will rock. Bobby was the front man for their earlier bands, Coast sound borrows from the past while still pushing eventually find out through word of mouth. putting on quite a show with influences by such theatri- ahead in a fresh direction. ‘Our music is something your “We don’t hype at all,” declares Bobby. cal acts as David Bowie and Queen. In 1999 Billy dad might dig. It’s got harmonies and riffs that remind him “Yeah, we’re really bad at promoting ourselves,” Midnight was formed, with Bobby taking over on drums of the Rolling Stones, but then we’ll dive into a noisy wall of sound that he can’t relate to and it’ll freak him out. He’s Billy adds, laughing. and harmony vocals. Billy headed up the band on guitar never listened to the Pavement or Wilco albums that we They recently gleaned more wisdom through a bad and lead vocals. Ben Cook, another intelligent member have.’” experience on their last tour. This is where another of the band majoring in the academic study of religion “The band’s latest release is a return to do-it-yourself mystery unfolds, one that has not yet been solved. In at UCSD, joined in on bass. The newest member is rock ‘n’ roll. Everything from the recording to the packag- April of 2001, the band booked a West Coast tour. Jeremy Cooke, who must be pretty smart as well…at ing has been a labor by the boys themselves. The songs Being on a tight budget, they either camped or slept in least he knew enough to join such a fantastic group! range from raw country ballads to progressive songs of space exploration such as ‘Mir,’ a song Roger McGuinn their van. After a gig one night in Eugene, Oregon, they Jeremy was added to play fiddle, lap steel, and “vari- might have created had he ever collaborated with Yes. were invited to stay the night at the home of a guy who ous noisemakers.” Their new band took on a whole new Billy Midnight is taking California rock into new territories; lived three doors down from the venue. They accepted direction. it’s the sound of the song from the past surrendering to the offer. “At first we were more like a straight country- the noise of the future – coyotes howling above the roar “At some point during the night I either fell out of rock thing. The country music was what we grew up of four lanes of traffic en route to field of bermuda grass bed or got up to go to the bathroom or something, and with — my dad and my grandpa were these bluegrass grown on solid granite beneath a sky of birds dodging jet planes carrying humans to the moon and back.” I fell down. I hit my head really bad and had some picker-country singer/songwriter guys. And then I saw hemorrhaging in my brain. It really messed me up. So this group — The Band — who mixed rock, country, If that description doesn’t get you out to one of that was the end of touring for us.” Billy remembers. folk, and blues,” Bobby recalls. their shows, then nothing will. I hope now that you’re at Bobby interjects, “We had to stop the tour and he He continues, “What stood out for me about least as curious as I was. They say that curiosity killed had to stay in the hospital for a week. At a certain point The Band was that there was history in their songwriting. the cat. But at least the cats surely find some fantastic, we thought he was going to die. We didn’t know what They pulled from the roots of American music. And amazing things along the way! was wrong. We thought that maybe he’d had an they were really rough around the edges. No one in The Billy Midnight will play Friday, December 5 and aneurysm or something. Band had a perfect voice. I think for Billy — he kind of Monday, December 15 at the Ould Sod, and on “Yeah, I cracked my skull.” found his voice there, because Billy doesn’t have a pol- Saturday, December 6, at the California Club with Rookie “I personally think he was hit by someone, because ished Michael Bolton-type voice or anything, but his Card and Bart Davenport. See page 13 for a review of he couldn’t have fallen like that. It was really strange. voice is the Billy Midnight CD. Find out more at After that, he had to recover at our parents’ house for soulful. Soulful, yet not polished.” billymidnight.com and bobbyfantasy.com. six or seven months.” “Yeah, The Band was a major influence, along Since that dark day in 2001, the band has given with the Mother Hips.” Billy agrees. much thought to their vision, goals, and direction. So, in time, Billy Midnight evolved from plain They’ve chosen not to tour at this time. Touring was country-rock to an eclectic, psychedelic mix of country, draining, both financially and emotionally, so they’ve blues, and roots-rock. decided to simply stay here in San Diego and just play “Our first CD was basically just a demo to get their great music for all their local fans. gigs. We landed all these 3-4 hour gigs and that’s where 9 December 2003 • San Diego Troubadour ramblin’ramblin’

Bluegrass Corner Radio Daze

STORIES CULLED FROM THIS DEEJAY’S 30+ YEARS IN THE BIZ by Dwight Worden Mike and his Tricopolis Records are a constant presence at most by Jim McInnes Here are three key individuals festivals West of the Mississippi. you should know who make blue- The colorful Tricopolis booth carries www.homespuntapes.com is the grass music happen in San Diego. a stunning collection of bluegrass premier site for instructional videos Mixed Media (part two) WAYNE RICE CDs, guitars, banjos, dobros, and on every instrument imaginable, Wayne pro- every kind of paraphernalia a blue- some of which feature many blue- duces and grasser could want. grass greats. e (my future wife, hosts KSON’s Mike says he wants to be the www.tricopolisrecords.com, Mike Sandi, and I) chatted “Bluegrass main source for our bluegrass needs Nadolson’s site, offers event calen- W for a couple of hours and is well on his way to achieving Special” every dars, event tickets, CDs, products, about whatever ... including my pas- that status. If you need information Sunday, 10pm- and instructional aids. sion for playing basketball 365 days midnight, for or supplies, stop by his booth at your Now that you have some prac- a year. Finally, I had to go. As I which he next festival visit, or check out his tice materials, here are a few tips on Wayne Rice great web page any time: www.tri- reached the front door of my friend’s received IBMA’s how to maximize the benefits of your Jim McInnes Broadcaster of the Year award in copolisrecords.com. practice, no matter how much, or house, Sandi shoved a note into my 1995. Now entering its twenty-sev- MIKE TATAR is president of the San how little, time you have. jacket pocket and said goodbye. seem like USA Today!). Two days When I got into my car I read the enth year, Wayne plays the best of Diego Bluegrass Society and sits on 1. ESTABLISH A GOAL for each session later he and I met at The Loading bluegrass music, featuring local the board of the California Bluegrass and make it modest, i.e., today I note.”Give me a call. Let’s play bas- Zone, a convenient watering-hole. bands and new material. This year Association as San Diego’s regional am going to learn all the 7th ketball.” The next day I called her We had been amiably chatting for he produced the annual IBMA representative. He also hosts a chords in every key; or learn a and we met at the playground near almost an hour when Sandi walked awards ceremony in Louisville, weekly web-based bluegrass radio new song or practice reading her house in P.B. She looked so hot in and joined us at our table. I (stu- Kentucky, generally considered to show, “Bluegrass Central,” where music. in her sweats! I could tell right away pidly) introduced her as my girl- be the “best ever,” having served as you can hear great music and dis- 2. EXERCISES It’s important that you master of ceremonies in prior years. cussions on bluegrass topics. It’s on that ... this woman had never even friend, the Music Director and exercise your techniques every As an active musician throughout every Sunday, 11am-1pm, and seen a basketball! Assistant Program Director at (the session, such as scales and his career, he was a member of rebroadcast on Wednesdays, noon- After crushing Sandi in 36 con- original) KPRI 106.5 (The Enemy!). arpeggios. Brush Arbor, a country/gospel group 2pm. He also plays banjo in Virtual secutive games of “Horse,” we went “Who’s ever heard of Skedge?” I 3. FOCUS Turn off the television and that recorded for Capitol records in Strangers, one of the area’s top per- to her bayside condo and watched chuckled as Sandi and I drove home. the early 1970s and was named focus on your music—15 minutes of forming bands where he takes on the sun glistening on the water. “I hope he sends me a copy, ‘cuz I Vocal Group of the Year by the the lion’s share of lead singing. Look focused practice is better than an When it was time for me to leave I don’t know where to find one.” Academy of Country Music in 1973. for Virtual Strangers to open at the hour of noodling in front of the TV. asked her if I could kiss her. She A few weeks later came the new As a five-string banjo and guitar Rhonda Vincent concert at the La 4. METRONOME Practice with a player (and he sings, too!) he cur- Paloma theater on February 9. metronome at least some of the kissed me above and beyond all my Skedge. There I was ... in pictures rently performs with Lighthouse and time. Get a loud one so you can expectations. I won’t go into details. and in words ... only it was no Grassology, two local bluegrass hear it over your instrument. Over the next few months, Sandi longer an interview with me, it was bands. 5. TAKE IT SLOW! Practice new mate- and I would hook up whenever and an interview with WE! Wayne knows absolutely every- rial slowly and correctly. While wherever we could, usually at my The day after the issue came out, body in the bluegrass world and has learning, never (without reason) low-rent hovel in P.B ... or in her Sandi was called to the (original) been a major influence in bringing go so fast that you make mistakes. Jeep at the top of Mt. Soledad ... or KPRI 106.5 general manager’s office. top national acts to San Diego. He Practice doesn’t make perfect, it in her Jeep in the KGB parking lot ... When she walked into his office, he has emceed many local shows and makes permanent! If you practice or in her Jeep in the desert ... or on was holding up, at eye level, a copy has generally acted as “Mr. San it wrong, it goes into your muscle Diego.” They don’t call him the top of her Jeep.... of the brand new issue of Skedge. Virtual Strangers memory incorrectly and then you Bluegrass Ambassador for nothing! have to unlearn it and relearn it, In July of 1981, Sandi divorced She spent the next 18 months El Cajon even declared a Wayne Mike has been a key leader in which is much more difficult. her radio deejay husband and looking for work in the business she Rice day in 2001! We are lucky to helping SDBS evolve into a vibrant 6. SPEED When learning, occasion- moved in with her new radio deejay loved. have him. and active San Diego organization, ally it’s okay to play fast deliber- boyfriend, even though her employer having organized the first MIKE NADOLSON is owner and ately as an exercise to help build (the original 106.5 KPRI) had explic- Summergrass Festival last August. operator of Tricopolis Records in speed, but only after you’ve His stature in the local bluegrass itly told her that she could not date Lake Elsinore. He has produced lodged the piece in your muscle community is reflected by his being Jim McInnes! (Huh?) So we had sepa- many successful local concerts and, memory slowly and accurately. rate phone lines after she moved in for the last two years years, has named Chair of the 2004 Summergrass committee by his 7. BE PATIENT As a rule it is good to ... and we never talked about our undertaken the production of some have long-term goals. If you are a peers, which under his guidance respective jobs when we were key bluegrass festivals, including the beginning to intermediate player, Great American Festival in Hesperia promises that next year’s show will together. That way we couldn’t be be even better than the first one. decide on a five-year goal. and the Temecula Bluegrass Recognize that there is no short- accused of sharing “trade secrets”! Festival. This year, Mike took over RESOURCES FOR BLUEGRASS cut. Studies show practice is way A couple of months later, I production of the annual Julian MUSICIANS more important than talent in received a call from a guy who Bluegrass Festival in September, www.jaybuckey.com offers free determining how good you wanted to interview me for his tiny which had a strong first-year show- stuff you can access and download become. radio fanzine, Skedge (a publication ing with the Ronnie Bowman and sells instructional products. Jay 8. HAVE FUN! Reserve a portion of Committee in a rare San Diego whose circulation made this paper Buckey’s Virtual Band products fea- every practice session for fun: appearance along with perennial ture bluegrass classics, both instru- play whatever you like. favorites Bluegrass Etc. and mental and vocal, which let you play Silverado, led by Mike on lead guitar along on your instrument at varying 9. GET OUT AND PLAY! Whatever your and vocals. speeds. level, try to get out and play with others. It’s fun and instructive. www.firebottle.com/flatpik is Steve Whatever you can play in your liv- Kaufman’s site, which caters mainly ing room at the A level will proba- to guitar players. Whatever your bly drop to B or lower until you get instrument, though, consider getting the hang of playing with others! a copy of his Four-Hour Bluegrass Next month I’ll have more info Workout, a set of CDs that allow you and tips for you bluegrassers out to play along with each song, once at a slow speed and once up to there! Silverado with Dennis Caplinger speed. Also included is a music book.

10 San Diego Troubadour • December 2003 ramblin’ n o t s RANTHOUSE e W

n o ) Hosing Down v m GUS BIDS ADIEU o s c t . o s n o o T i t

: c o u t d o o accepting their monetary bets that I r by Gus T. Williker h

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g wouldn’t carry it out. e u l b . This is the end, my friend the … w One of the more provocative I won a hundred bucks that w w (

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So long, farewell, alf … alveeter f o

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t Eastwood’s man-with-no-name char- o film. If you’re over 25 or so, you may how. Was I just a misfit (duh) or was h can git cheesy, so I decided to make it P acter: battered cowboy hat, serape I, in some rude way, showing disre- short ‘n’ sweet like a minigoat’s teet. recall those disturbing few years (!), cheroot, stubble, the works. I was spect toward their recreational I’m taking my retirement from the Our man fer all seasons, Gus Williker when America found in country even able to borrow a pair of cow- Troubadour. My demanding career as a music a viable alternative to disco lifestyle? boy boots from Bruce, a retarded superpinup (www.WhiteHotTrash.com) Aug. 2003 – Vol. 2 No. 11 – RantHouse and New Wave and again started to The beer was delicious. The combined with my hugely successful You see, deejays can’t just say swag, lose its collective mind (once again guy down the street. dance floor magically parted when I hat biz (www.ClunkerStore.com) have which is bad enough. NOPE, they have confusing style with substance). Line My first bit of trouble was with made my exit. sucked up all my time. I thought ‘bout to pronounce it ‘schwag,’ as if those dancing (to me as visually repulsive the doorman (named Yancy or Nancy, The only further words spoken to trying to write a moving, masterful crappy CD singles and Incubus posters as the concurrent robotic/aerobic I think) who demanded that I take the me were from the two malcontents are some kind of pirate’s booty. farewell, but a “Best Of”* seemed like styles) was becoming quite the rage, big silver cap gun out of its holster who followed me out and tried to the right way to sum up my turn at the Nov. 2003 – Vol. 3 No. 2 – RantHouse but of equal importance to well-exe- and leave it back in my car. I gave grab me as I unlocked the driver’s Troub (okay, okay, it’s also pretty much Everybody Hurts when they’re exposed cuted dance steps was the crisp him my practiced squint and hoarsely door to my car. They are words as a cut ‘n’ paste job…so yeah, I’m a lazy to R.E.M.’s music. It’s the End of the whispered, “Yeah . . .,” still feeling fresh in my ears today as they were basturd, too). “manliness” of the accepted uni- World as We Know It? No, but I am pretty secure with that can of mace I My column began in October 2001, form. Yup, them was the days when when originally screamed so long worried ‘bout losing my lunch, let alone always had in my back pocket. and carried the moniker “Gus Knows my religion. the gals was purdy and the dudes ago: Best.” It was quickly changed to thunk, drank, even talked like Texans I went into the club. No sooner “You mother! You mother! Dang! Hope ya got at least one giggle out “Local Yokels,” and finally finished up — ‘least ‘til closin’ tam. Some of the had I settled down in the one avail- You mother!” the gender-confused of my column over the last couple as “RantHouse, The Local Music most gawdawful commercial country able booth in a corner than a pretty apes cried as they rolled around the years. Thanks fer readin’! Scene (Well, Mostly).” Here’s sum crap was hungrily gobbled up in waitress appeared, politely asking parking lot pavement, clutching their highlights… xoxo, them days, and the aftertaste even me to take my feet off the table. faces as I drove off into another San Gus Dec. 2001 – Vol. 1, No. 3 – Local Yokels now occasionally burps up like a When she returned with my frosty Diego sunset. I’d get a new can of Yes, I have the talent, but you have a *Lazy Basturd Part II. The “Best Of” lonely, jilted mechanical bull. mug and pitcher, I paid and tipped tear gas in the morning. receiver, and you should feel good was culled from whatever issues I Even after the craze dried up, her. But under the brim of my hat I And I’d use the hundred bucks to could dig out of my second-level stor- ‘bout the part you play each week: most guys kept their Stetsons hang- could only see her delicious thighs buy something I’d never had before: turnin’ yer knob. age room minutes before writin’ this ing some place in their living rooms for a remarkable amount of time: she my own pair of brand-new cowboy column and does not reflect the totality hadn’t left. I raised my orbs of steel March 2002 – Vol. 1 No. 6 – Local of my genius. for years, before eventually storing boots. Yokels them away in the closet or passing to encounter a smile that threatened They never go out of style. P.S. I’ll be a little hurt if I don’t git any Oh sure, when the deadline dings at them on to their kids on Halloween. to melt my prairie oysters. “Are you Have a merry one and a happy the door, plenty o’ writers have no e-mails, or at least one letter to the They were rarely just tossed out, for real?” she asked sweetly. one, folks. I’ll see you next year, God problem fillin’ thar columns wit’ editor, so write … dang you … “Yeah. . . . Got a spittoon here, willing. watered down junk, like wine coolers [email protected] serving as valued reminders of ma’am?” in a canteen. happy times when the wearer was a self-assured sombitch, a genuine, The next 20 minutes were Aug. 2002 – Vol. 1 No. 11 – Local high-falutin’ party dawg. thrilling, as far as I was concerned. I Yokels feigned indifference to the fact that I, Instead o’ whinin’ like a billionaire pop Oh, Lord. Then came Hip Hop. a mysterious loner, was becoming star who lost his touch (‘cept on his But that sad story will not concern crotch, which has bin tugged more us today. the talk of the room. Every lady want- times than the Queen Mary), I decided Anyhow, I divulged my plan to ed me alone, (oh, yeah), and all the to take the criticism to heart and make some friends and had little trouble guys wanted me dead but seemed sum changes. baffled trying to figure out why and Dec. 2002 – Vol. 2 No. 2 – Local Yokels It’s time fer every patchwork publica- tion ‘n’ media halfwit to come out with thar “Best of”lists fer 2002. It’s a bun- cha generic crap like “Best Jazz Band” or the “50 Most Beautiful People,”and I fer one ain’t gonna play that lame game. (Donald Rumsfeld? I KELLY’S PUB reckon it’s beautiful to blow folks up? Whut ever happened to big-boobed 6344 El Cajon Blvd. • 619/286-0400 gals fer world peace?!) LIVE ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLY Jan. 2003 – Vol. 2 No. 4 – Local Yokels ☛ Are you a regular reader who can’t ☛HAPPY HOUR 4-8 P.M. make it thru the month without Metamucil and MY column? Or, could ☛$2 PINTS AND $6 PITCHERS ya take it or leave it like a free can OF PABST ALL THE TIME Koozie from K-mart? ☛MONDAY: KARAOKE NIGHT March 2003 – Vol. 2 No. 6 – Local ☛TUESDAY: BERKLEY’S OPEN MIC Yokels & FREE POOL “Free Bird” ain’t just fer Skynard no more. Yer favorit double-wide deejay has busted loose like a rabid goose december Highlights and dropped his last gig like seagull doo on a day-tripper from Des Moines. Friday, Dec. 5 VERTIBIRD June 2003 – Vol. 2 No. 9 – RantHouse Saturday, Dec. 6 JAKE Hey, 94.9 ... we’re all really proud that Friday, Dec. 12 ROCK TRIO W/ JOEY HARRIS yer deejays don’t talk over the music, Saturday, Dec. 13 ANYA MARINA but howz about shutting up that whiney promo guy, eh? I’d rather hear Friday, Dec. 19 TRISTAN PRETTYMAN Harvey Fierstein sing “Frère Jacques” over an intro than yer cooler-than-thou Music provided by Java Joe craptalk. www.javajoes-sd.com

11 December 2003 • San Diego Troubadour thethe highway’shighway’s songsong e i s s e

Eliza Gilkyson: A Warm Presence on l p Lestats Adds Live u D

n e l a Chilly Evening l E

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t Taping of o h by Ellen Duplessie the way. Her poetic and personal P lyrics expose her gift as a songwriter, along with a sound that reminds me Local TV Show hat a lucky lady I am! I of a mixture of Patty Griffin, got to go see Eliza

Lucinda Williams, and Casey P

to Diverse h

Gilkyson to hear some of o

t

Chambers, though she’s totally o

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the best music I’ve ever heard. And K

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unique. Unique, yet so familiar. n

t

to catch her show in the warm and

J

Eliza tells how her father moved o Schedule h

intimate setting of Jimmy Duke’s n

s

the family to Hollywood when she Je o her that night. I feel bad about the nn n home was a privilege indeed! I knew Gr Gr inel was very young. He was a folk fact that after I tell my friends about egor s, Tr little about her, other than having y Pa oy G singer and was one of the few to her or let them listen, I can’t even ge arla heard her name mentioned in the nd, bridge the gap from folk song to lend it to them because I’m hooked! and same circles with Kim Richey, who is commercial success. But this accom- I just can’t get her songs out of my by Phil Harmonic a definite favorite of mine. To think plishment was not looked upon head. To live one week without that trio followed with tight originals that I almost didn’t make it out that fondly by his folkie peers. In fact, one CD would be more of a sacrifice that showcased her incredible night makes me feel extra thankful an Diego has never had as she said that they really didn’t like than I am willing to make. Okay, I’m that I did. many venues for musical voice. I especially liked the song him for that and were quite angry selfish…but at least I want to make Now living in Austin, folk singer talent as it does today. “God Bless the Pretty People,” about it. One of his many songs is sure that you know about Eliza S extraordinaire Eliza comes from a which almost became the theme the well known and loved by all, Gilkyson, so that you can enjoy her With the number of clubs and long family line of folk singers. Her song for a reality TV show called “Bare Necessities”…yes, the theme music as well. coffeehouses increasing, you can stories usually preface her songs, song from the classic Disney movie I am now a hopeless fan for life. I also add a number of spaces that Rich Girls. At times Grinel’s voice which are sung with a slight cyni- The Jungle Book. can’t wait for my next chance to see was reminiscent of the group cism gathered from the well-traveled promoters are leasing, such as His daughter’s songs are even her again. And I hope that you will Heart, but her Peggy Lee style on roads of life. But included also is an house concerts, halls, and com- better. They are so good that they get to see her too! idealism that she has seemingly not munity centers. But how many the song “Friction” demonstrat- are addicting. I bought one CD from allowed to be trampled under along of these actually suit the needs ed her diversity and talent. of the musician? Performing third was Robin One coffeehouse has risen to Henkel, a powerhouse of a musi- n o s the forefront as a great place to cian whose drug of choice is the d r a

h blues. A virtuoso guitarist and c perform. Lestats on Adams i R

Old Farts Don’t Fizzle l l innovator, he is what the old i Avenue near Felton Street, which B

:

s jazz musicians would call “a cat,” o is also open 24 hours, has con- t o h man! Outside of performing, he by Philippe Navidad the Headhunters) on bass, P stantly improved in ambience, teaches music and offers and Peter Rivera (Rare Earth) lighting, seating, and sound. Owner John Hustler is the “rhythm clinics” to his students hat separates the on drums. All of these ageless man responsible for making who learn concepts and how dif- Classic Rock masters shared vocal chores, available this wonderful space. ferent instruments work togeth- Allstars from so often even improving on W His involvement and backing, er. Annie Dru joined Robin for a many other touring R&R their original renditions of along with the vital contribution clever, racy original song by Dru seminal hymns like “Green- revival shows is its similarity of sound man, Louie Brazier, has that set up the last performer, to a real Revival —emotions Eyed Lady,” “Land of 1,000 turned Lestats into a first-rate one of the queens of racyism: are soaring, flowing freely Dances,” “I’m Losing You,” concert hall. Brazier’s dedication, Anya Marina. Marina’s wistful from their healthy, happy and the transcendent working countless hours to give vocal style is smooth and easy to pores. “Tobacco Road.” the musicians the best sound listen to and was welcome to my Spencer Davis Luckily, the local show possible, has been key in making ears, especially as the evening also included the double-bar- this one of the best small music wound down. Marina, a multital- reled blast of occasional adju- Breeze (a.k.a. Jason venues in San Diego. ented persona, writes, sings, and tants Spencer Davis (the Mershon) will be taking an Lestats has begun hosting a plays guitar, but what commands Man!) and J.J. Breeze (the Box extended break from the live television show every the attention of her audience the Tops). The sextet created group to focus on his musi- Wednesday called San Diego’s most is her banter between songs rocking symphonies of several cal, Heaven Rocks, while the Finest, which features local music and her masterful story-telling classics (“I’m a Man,” “The others remain perpetually on talent. Musician-songwriter ability. She is one comedian who l to r: Spencer Davis, J.J. Breeze, Dennis Noda Letter,” “Gimme Some tour. Your soul will thank you Delmus Jeffrey from Sing on the is very funny and entertaining. The enthusiasm on stage Lovin’,” “I Just Want to for tracking them down and Web.com, a co-sponsor along This first show was high- is real. The vocals are inspir- Celebrate”) that may never treating it to the Classics. with Lestats, is the man behind lighted by an impressive roster of talent deserving of being on tele- ing and passionate, the full- receive finer readings. these shows, the first of which vision. It will be interesting to ness of the arrangements was taped on November 12. see whether the final edited ver- amazing for so small a group, Jeffrey and Kelley Buhles video- sion captures an essence that the musicianship masterful taped the entire event, which was hosted by local musician grabs you and causes you to say, and tight as a spandexed rear Jenn Grinels and Lestats barista “I really like that show” in addi- end. Troy Garland and included excel- tion to determining the show’s The Allstars recently ignit- lent performances by Gregory success. San Diego’s Finest is ed the stage at Sycuan, and Page, Robin Henkel, Anya taped live every Wednesday the happy pilgrims in atten- Marina, and the Jenn Grinels evening at Lestats. dance were gifted with one Band. of the most surprising, superb Gregory Page, a master song- concerts of the year. writer who plays old vintage The core of the group acoustic guitars, recreates an (veterans who’ve been authenticity reminiscent of together now for 12 years) 1930s’ jazz songs. He was joined consists of Jerry Corbetta on stage by violinist Floyd (Sugar Loaf, the Four Fronius who offered traces of Joe Seasons) on keyboards, Venuti with a style that blended Dennis Pinera (Blues Image, very well with Page’s tunes. Co- Iron Butterfly) on guitar, host Grinels and her top-notch Dennis Noda (Cannibal and l to r: Spencer Davis, Dennis Pinera, J.J. Breeze

12 San Diego Troubadour • December 2003 ofof notenote

Various J. Turtle Abbie Huxley Annie Billy Artists Turns Pop [R.E.D.] Bethancourt Midnight by Phil Harmonic by Frederick Leonard Aspasia Aid The Garage by Phil Harmonic J. Turtle, formerly of Jason and This is a different CD. Imagine This 13-song CD has an by Phil Harmonic Jane, has a newly recorded solo Freddie Mercury (my left eye- Sessions added surprise track that rein- demo CD, titled Turns, contain- brow raises) buried in one of his forced a feeling I had prior to Here is one CD that everyone ing five formidable songs that he tongue-and-cheek, campy show by Frederick Leonard hearing it — I had a flash of a should own. For all of you that wrote, produced, mixed, and tune melodies — only on a cof- country Pink Floyd with Gram received a free one, I suggest recorded, except for “A Sonnet feehouse open-mic-night guitar. This debut solo effort by Annie Parsons and Roger McGuinn. that you go buy another one or in Lieu of a Special Occasion” by This is what opens the CD with a Bethancourt features 13 tunes There is a fusion of something two to send to someone you Brian Hurley, who wrote the track called “Laughing Eyes.” It’s rendered, with a few exceptions, here at any rate. A band that is know. There are many reasons lyrics. And I must say that Turtle hauntingly weird and trippy. It’s on one guitar and one sweet traditional and underground at for doing this. One is to help did an excellent job of recording even a little uneasy. I even find voice. The cover of this CD the same time. A true dichotomy Aspasia acquire the money need- and producing these tunes. He myself a little shaken as soon as shows her jamming in front of that bleeds itself into the songs, ed for her operation, which of adds various percussion, instru- it’s over. Resolve is then estab- an auto garage, open-mic style. both lyrically and musically. course is why this CD was com- mentation, and vocal back- lished on the second tune, “For The Garage Sessions was pro- This stellar band, comprised of piled in the first place. The sec- grounds to create a complete Me,” which is more of a key- duced by her father and partially the Shaddox brothers, Billy (gui- ond reason is to expose the package with a high quality pro- board Oasis/Verve take and still influenced artistically by her tar and vocal) and Bobby (drums, incredible local talent to other fessionalism. His capabilities and kinda trippy but a little more mom, this humble production vocals), Ben Cook (bass), and parts of the country. The all-star technical knowledge enable him tangible on pop terms. And I boasts no pretentions. Jeremy Cooke (fiddle, lap steel), line up includes Lisa Sanders, to enhance each song with feel somewhat better. I’ll get my standard quota of can deliver with a high intensity Jason Mraz, Gregory Page, Steve nuance and dynamics layered on Then we’re back to the suspicion over with first. On sev- kickback energy that ignites and Poltz, Tom Brosseau, Lindsay and top of catchy melodies and intel- Freddie thing on song three, eral tracks you can hear the influ- amps the voltage of any soul to Anna Troy, Carlos Olmeda, Dead ligent lyrics. titled “Humble Pie,” and my ences of Joni, Alanis, and Jewel’s more inspirational, thought-pro- rock West, Patrick Dennis, Atom Jason (J. Turtle) grew up in eyebrow raises itself again. And too-many-syllables, rocking firm- voking soundscapes. Orr, Berkley Hart, Angela Correa, northern California and was wouldn’t ya knowit, according ly on her sleeve. But I don’t In “Golden Coast,” writer Billy and Bushwalla. trained on the piano from the to a seeming logic, track four of wanna talk about that. Why? Shaddox states, “Somewhere it Most of the recording and time he was five years old Pop [R.E.D.] resumes a more Because this humbly recorded seems I lost my dreams or it production was done by Gregory through high school. His high palatable soundscape. Only this demo-esque CD has a couple of might be that they were all taken Page on Ben Pan Recordings school a capella choir experience time it resonates hauntingly serious “hits” on it in raw form away.” “Long Time Lady,” which except for Jason Mraz’s “Most helped develop his vocal abilities more so like the Beatles’ — the truest test of a great song, to me is a metaphor for Mother Unusual,” Bushwalla’s “White and by his senior year he took “Because.” which exceed any of my modest Earth, is a captivating piece. “Old Girl in a Soul Train Line,” and a up the acoustic guitar. He began Now, this work bears some criticisms. Saloon” talks of the many gigs version of “When You Wish writing songs in community col- brilliant musical ideas. And Abbie “My Beloved” is a beautifully where you are “payin’ your Upon a Star,” which were all lege and, while attending the can definitely sing very “chops” written ballad that’s free of influ- dues.” Billy Midnight’s sound recorded and produced by Peter SDSU School of Music for four vocal parts, stunning in some ences and truly her. Lyrically runs the gamut of emotions, Brentnall. The Truckee Brothers years, he was starting to play cases. There are gorgeous speaking, she sings so sweetly a from the intoxicating “Rancho (Patrick Dennis and Atom Orr/ local coffeehouses. The positive arrangements and plenty of universal message, transmitted in Ghost Town” to an insightful Christopher Hoffee) were respon- feedback he received encour- unique musical situations. But a gorgeous time-transcending song about space station Mir. sible for recording and produc- aged him and in 2000 he there’s another element. melody, that seems to swirl “Green and Blue” is a highly ing their individual efforts in formed a duo with his friend This is the kind of recording through its pretty changes. And reflective, hypnotic dream-like “Toro Toro” (Dennis) and Jane, called Jason and Jane, that challenges the listener with her talent shines through like a piece. Every song on this CD is “Smoke Machines” (Hoffee) as which lasted until February its own unorthodox musical ray of hope. superb, but what is truly notable was Angela Correa on her 2003. The following months behavior. With no expectations “Lemonade Iced Tea” touches are the exceptional harmonies of “South Sea Juan.” Add Page’s after breakup were filled with for the norm, it contains some- on a classic theme, while the the Shaddox brothers. Their handling of Lisa Sander’s “Crazy intense songwriting. Turns is the thing familiar while also bearing lyrics are the kind that could be cohesive blend and matching for You” and another by Mraz result. “Day Five’s” melody the unfamiliar. In some cases spoken either to her lover, or to tones evoke the likes of the Everly “On Love in Sadness,” Poltz’s bounces through its lovelorn while exploring a variety of influ- God. She does a wonderful job brothers or the Louvin brothers. “Sex You Up,” and “My, My, message. “Naked Hands” is a ences, he wears them proudly here, balancing interesting Flawless arrangements, excellent My,” written by Jeff Berkley, haunting ballad with a chordal within the arrangements. On the metaphors with raw images of lyrical phrasing, and musicianship Calman Hart and (a not-credit- progression and walk-down other hand there is something her realism. She offers admis- of the highest quality breed this ed) Dave Howard. melody that hints at an influence that demonstrates an affection sions and ponders the most chal- charismatic sound. The last two Because of the stellar list of of Gregory Page. J. Turtle is defi- for a retro sort of show tune lenging of all questions. (you’ll tracks, “Home” and the surprise performers, there may be a time nitely a new name to add to the quality here, and it seems to pop have to listen for yourself...). track have a driving beat that in the near future when this long list of talent spilling over up consistently as a recurring She’s young but is thinking like a becomes magnetic and infec- collector’s item may not be the brim of this cup of San theme. matured woman. tious. I really liked all 14 songs available. To order the CD on Diego mocha. And it’s from Nashville, no “En Cuanto a Mi” testifies that well enough to put it in my car, line, go to less. anything sung in Spanish is www.lousrecords.com/order:HTML. I beautiful. This is by far my along with the Wallflowers’ know that Aspasia is incredibly favorite track for its inherent Bringing Down the Horse. I have a grateful to those who have con- beauty alone. It sounds like habit of listening to just one CD tributed and to you for purchas- another hit to me. Although it’s for weeks. so when I say I’ll put it ing her CD. in Spanish, I would bet that one in my car, it’s got to be pretty could probably sing along with special. it, anyway. And, once again, See cover story on Billy Annie is talking about bigger Midnight in this month’s issue, things in simpler terms . . . sacri- pages 8-9. Billy Midnight plays fices, waiting, dedication. the California Club on Saturday, Siempre. December 6. See calendar, p. 14. Beware of hidden tracks.

13 December 2003 • San Diego Troubadour thethe locallocal seenseen

wednesday • 31 DECEMBER CALENDAR Steve Poltz & the Rugburns, Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach. Call for info. First Night Escondido w/ Bluegrass Etc./Baja Blues Boys/Westlin tuesday • 2 saturday • 6 friday • 12 friday • 19 Weavers/Anya Marina, 6pm-12:15am. Willie Nelson, 4th & B. Call for info. Robin Henkel, Coyote Bar & Grill, Patrick Landeza Hawaiian Slack Key, Info: 760/788-7509/www.firstnightescon- Virtual Strangers, SD North County dido.com Bluegrass/Folk Club, Round Table Pizza, Boys Choir of Harlem, Ca. Ctr. for the Carlsbad, 6:30pm. Normal Heights Comm. Ctr. 4649 Hawley 1161 E. Washington, Escondido, 7pm. Arts, Escondido. Call for info. Joe Marillo/Gary Lefebvre, Dizzy’s, 8pm. Blvd., 7:30pm. Info: 619/303-8176. Peter Bolland, First Night on the Embarcadero, KSON Stage, 6pm. Earl Thomas, Seville Auditorium, SD City Jim Earp, Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Autumn/Teflon/Matthew Foster/Jack the Peter Sprague & Pass the Drum, Dizzy’s, College. Call for info. Hwy 78, Wynola, 6pm. Original/Leigh Taylor Band, Twiggs, 8pm. New Years Eve Party, Lestats. Call for info. Not Quite Open Mic Hootenanny, San 8:30pm. Renata Youngblood/Kat Parsons/Jim wednesday • 3 Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Baja Blues Boys, Patricks Irish Pub, Bianco/Until John, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Poway, 8:30pm. Truckee Brothers/Ray Argyle, Lestats, Sue Palmer Supper Club w/ Deejha Info: 858/566-4040. 9pm. Marie & Sharon Shufelt, Caffe Calabria, Carol Ames, Tio Leos, 5302 Napa St. WEEKLY 3933 30th St., 6pm. Harmonija, Mtg. House, 1st Unitarian Sven-Erik Seaholm Band/Gandhi Tristan Prettyman, Kelly’s Pub, 6344 El Church, 4190 Front St., 7:30pm. Cajon Blvd., 9pm. Deborah Liv Johnson, Christ Lutheran Method, Tio Leos, 9pm. every sunday Church, 4761 Cass St., P.B., 7pm. Tom Brosseau/Gregory Page (American Big Daddy Orchestra, Tio Leos, 5302 Rock Trio w/ Joey Harris, Kelly’s Pub, 7th Day Buskers, Hillcrest Farmer’s Folk Singers), Millies by the Bay, Pacific 6344 El Cajon Blvd., 9pm. Napa St., 9pm. Hot Club of Cowtown, Casbah, 8:30pm. Beach, 8pm. Info: 858/273-1880. Market/DMV parking lot, 10am-1pm. Billy Midnight, Ould Sod, Adams Ave. North Star Sessions/Kevin Tinkle/ Collin Elliott/Dave Easton/Randi Driscoll, Irish Dance, 3pm/Michael McMahon, Madafacts/Pariah, Lestats, 8:30pm. Twiggs, 8:30pm. saturday • 20 7pm, Dublin Square, 554 Fifth Ave. J.J. Slyde Pro Blues Jam, Tio Leos, 5302 Kova & Dehra Dun, Lestats, 9pm. saturday • 13 Sue Palmer, Bookworks, Del Mar, 1pm. Traditional Irish Music, Tom Giblin’s Napa St., 8:30 pm. Pub, 640 Grand Ave., Carlsbad, 3pm. Robin Henkel, Patricks, Poway, 9pm. Deborah Liv johnson, Bamboo Yoga, 1127 The Mavericks, 4th & B, Info: 231-4343. Loma Ave., Coronado, 8pm. Celtic Ensemble, Twiggs, 4pm. Jake, Kelly’s Pub, 6344 El Cajon Blvd., Will Edwards Band, 101 Artists Colony, thursday • 4 9pm. Mermaids Journey/Christiane Lucas/Jim Cobblestone (Irish Music & Dance), Encinitas, 7pm. Bianco, Twiggs, 8:30pm. The Field, 544 Fifth Ave., 5-6:30pm. Eleonor England, Prioli Bistro, Solana Flying Putos (ex-Beat Farmers), Tio Leos, Saba/3Simple Words/Mosaic/Mundaka/ Beach. Info: 1-800/206-4258. 5302 Napa St., 9pm. Christy & Aliah Selah & Friends, Galoka Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss, 9-10:30pm, Lucy’s Falling, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Vegetarian Cuisine, 5622 La Jolla Blvd., KSDS (88.3 FM). Stand Up for Kids Benefit w/ Sven-Erik Billy Midnight/Rookie Card/Bart Anya Marina, Kelly’s Pub, 6344 El Cajon 9pm. Info: 858/551-8610. Seaholm Band/Gandhi Method/The Cat The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Davenport/Two Pump Chump, California Blvd., 9pm. Mary/Vertibird/HM75/Acoustic Funk Club, 5522 El Cajon Blvd., 9:15pm. Rice, 10-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Society/Peter Bolland/Danielle Lo The Enchanted/Angela Correa, Lestats, sunday • 21 Presti/Carol Ames/Dave Howard/Lisa 9pm. Sanders, Humphreys Backstage Lounge, sunday • 7 Aliah Selah/Mama Christy & Friends, every monday Shelter Island, 7pm. 101 Artists Colony, Encinitas, 7pm. Open Mic Night, Lestats. Call 619/282- Tom Brosseau/Gregory Page, KSDT, sunday • 14 0437 for info. Charlie Daniels/Kelly Bowlin Band, UCSD, 10pm-midnight. Info: ksdtradio.org. Lucy Falling/Angela Correa/The Walking, Sycuan Casino, 8pm. Third Coast Jazz Band/Eleonor England, Lestats, 9pm. Open Mic Night, Rosie O’Grady’s, Lestats. Info: 1-800/206-4258. A.J.Croce/Steve Poltz, Croce’s, 8pm. tuesday • 9 Normal Heights, 7pm. Meghan La Roque/Gentle John/Josiah/ wednesday • 24 Jenn Grinels (Irish music), Blarney Stone, Clairemont. Anna Troy, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Gospel Overdrive, SD Bluegrass Society tuesday • 16 Itai/Pepper Sands, Lestats, 9pm. Mtg.. Fuddruckers, La Mesa, 7pm. Blind Boys of Alabama, Ca. Ctr. for the Hot Club of Cowtown, Dark Thirty Arts, Escondido. Call for info. every tuesday friday • 5 Productions, Lakeside, 7:30pm. friday • 26 Open Mic Night, Casa Picante, 10757 John Bosley, Golden Goose, 10001 Main Reservations: 619/443-9622. Saba/Gregory Page/Annie Dru/Robin Woodside Ave., Santee, 7:30-9:30pm. Ave., Lakeside, 7:30pm. wednesday • 17 Henkel, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Traditional Irish Music, Blarney Stone, The Cat Mary, 101 Artists Colony, wednesday • 10 Sue Palmer Supper Club w/ Deejha Marie Powerthud w/ Joey Harris, Tio Leos, 5302 Clairemont, 8:30pm. Encinitas, 7:30pm. & Sharon Shufelt, Caffe Calabria, 3933 30th Napa St., 9pm. Traditional Irish Music, The Ould Sod, Deejha Marie & Pieces CD Release Sue Palmer Supper Club w/ Deejha St., 6pm. Normal Heights, 8:30pm. w/Sue Palmer, Dizzy’s, 8pm. Marie & Sharon Shufelt, Caffe Calabria, 3933 30th St., 6pm. Driver Jake/Trevor Davis, Lestats, 9pm. Pete Thurston/Chris Carpenter/The saturday • 27 Inside/Snow on Roses/Katie Strand, Saba/Mike Flynn/Soothsayers/Katie every wednesday Strand, Lestats, 8:30pm. thursday • 18 The Strummers w/ Peter Sprague/Sarah Twiggs, 8:30pm. & Sean Watkins, 101 Artists Colony, Open Mic Night, Metaphor Cafe, Vertibird, Kelly’s Pub, 6344 El Cajon Blvd., Sue Palmer w/ Candye Kane Calypso Encinitas, 8pm. Escondido, 8pm. Restaurant, Leucadia, 7:30pm. 9pm. thursday • 11 The Inside/Anna Troy, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Open Mic Night, Twiggs, 6:30pm. Meghan La Roque/Jim Bianco/Tim Tod Steadman, Tio Leos, 5302 Napa, 9pm. Meghan La Roque/Eddie Anthony/Jamie Pete (She Blonde Swede)/Renata Open Mic Night, Adams Ave. Studio of Mudd, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Robin Henkel, Lestats, 9pm. Crawford/Sara Bancroft, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Youngblood, Lestats, 9pm. the Arts, 2804 Adams Ave, 8pm. Billy Midnight, Ould Sod, 9pm. Skelpin, Dublin Square, 554 Fifth Ave., 8:30pm (also on Saturday night). Brehon Law, Tom Giblin’s Pub, 640 Grand Ave., Carlsbad, 9pm (also Wed. & Sat. nights). Live Taping of San Diego’s Finest TV Show , Lestats, 8:30pm (no shows Dec. 24 & 31). Hatchet Brothers, The Ould Sod, 9pm.

every thursday Rockabilly Thursdays w/ Hot Rod Lincoln, Tio Leos, 5302 Napa St., Call for info. Celticana, Dublin’s Town Square, Gaslamp, 9pm. Open Mic Night, Just Java Cafe, 285 Third Ave., Chula Vista, 7-10pm.

every friday Songwriter Showcase w/ SHEMM, Bridge Brigitte/Josi’s Ghost/Renee Buchenroth/Karen Real, Caffiends Lounge, 634 Broadway, 609pm.

every saturday Open Mic Night, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 9015 Mira Mesa Blvd., 8pm.

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