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

February 2007 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 6, No. 5

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Contributors Sneaky Pete Kleinow Full Circle.. …………4 Songwriter Showcase Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 Yale Strom Klezmer Music Parlor Showcase …8 Jimmy and Jeannie Cheatham Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Highway’s Song. …12 Diana Jones John Jorgenson Of Note. ……………13 Eben Brooks Podunk Nowhere Fishtank Ensemble Earl Thomas Mike McGill ‘Round About ...... …14 February Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

FEBRUARY 2007 TROUBADOUR welcome mat

Remembering Sneaky Pete RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news by Liz Abbott wanted only to hear songs from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack and do their neaky Pete Kleinow (1934-2007), stupid line dances. No one told us you ground-breaking steel guitar prodi - couldn’t do the cotton-eyed joe to “Dark MISSION CONTRIBUTORS S gy, whose unique stylings influ - End of the Street.” To promote, encourage, and provide an FOUNDERS enced a generation of young musicians, John Jorgenson, who also played alternative voice for the great local music that Ellen and Lyle Duplessie died last month in northern with Kleinow, shares the following is generally overlooked by the mass media; Liz Abbott from complications of Alzheimer’s memories. (Jorgenson comes to Dizzy’s namely the genres of alternative country, Kent Johnson Disease. During a music career that Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and on March 1. See page 12 for details.) spanned 60 years, Kleinow helped shape bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring PUBLISHERS together players, writers, and lovers of these Liz Abbott the California country-rock genre during forms; to explore their foundations; and to Kent Johnson the late 1960s and 1970s. Spotted in expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS 1968 by playing with a Sneaky Pete Kleinow Liz Abbott country band at a small club in North SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for Simeon Flick Hollywood, the two, along with Chris alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Chuck Schiele Hillman, would soon form the Flying by tiny versions of Los Angeles and New blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, York City! His eccentric and creative is published monthly and is free of charge. ADVERTISING Burrito Brothers, which blended country abilities obviously extended beyond Letters to the editor must be signed and may be Kent Johnson music and together to cre - edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed Joanna Schiele ate a radical new sound. Over the next music, as he would explain to us how he would set up mini explosions in the that they will appear. BUSINESS MANAGER 30 years Kleinow would earn recogni - models to blow up the trucks and build - All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Joanna Schiele tion as one of the most sought-after and The Cheatin’ Hearts, circa 1983 — Bill Bryson, Kleinow, Jorgenson, Kittra Moore, Bob Knight, ings! TROUBADOUR, unless otherwise stated, are DISTRIBUTION respected steel guitarists in the business, Steve Duncan “We ended up playing together for a solely the opinion of the writer and do not Kent Johnson playing in hundreds of sessions with a represent the opinions of the staff or couple years around the L.A. scene Dave Sawyer long list of top artists. “In 1983 I put together a country management. All rights reserved. Mark Jackson before he got too busy with the special In addition to his music, Kleinow band in L.A. called the Cheatin’ Hearts Peter Bolland effects. I met his old bandmate Chris ADVERTISING INFORMATION concurrently enjoyed a successful career Indian Joe Stewart with a couple friends — Kittra Strejan Hillman with whom I formed the Desert For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488 as a film animator and special effects (now Moore) and Bob Knight. We all or e-mail [email protected]. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Rose Band. I really cherish that time and artist, which began in 1963 when he three sang and Bob and I played guitar, Steve Covault am still pretty amazed that the first steel SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. moved to California and was hired by but we needed a rhythm section and Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: player that I was ever in a band with WEB MASTER Gumby creator Art Clokey. His work for steel player to fill out . I Will Edwards was the incredible Sneaky Pete San Diego Troubadour film and television lasted into the 1990s. brought in my friend Bill Bryson on bass P.O. Box 164 Kleinow!” WRITERS Bill Herzog, friend of the San Diego and Steve Duncan on drums. I couldn’t La Jolla, CA 92038 Liz Abbott Troubadour remembers, “. . . I was a believe my ears when Kittra said she A note from , member E-mail: [email protected]. Mike Alvarez huge fan of Sneaky myself. I really got could get Sneaky Pete to come play with of and the Flying Burrito WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the Lou Curtiss hooked on his unique style after buying us. I had seen him with the Flying Brothers: San Diego Troubadour? Go to Paul Hormick “Pete was a one of a kind genius and Jim McInnes the third Flying Burrito Brothers LP. I Burrito Brothers at the Palomino in the www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click a dear friend. Aside from his pioneering on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of Bart Mendoza think that is the best sampler of ’70s and loved his playing on so many animation works he was a unique and locations we deliver to. Chuck Schiele Sneaky’s diverse stylings to this day. records, he had already been legendary Sven-Erik Seaholm Actually, all through the ’70s and ’80s if for a couple decades by then. I can’t innovative steel guitarist with a sound SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW Derek E. Shaw I saw Sneaky listed on an album’s cred - remember if we even rehearsed with like no other. Odd tuning on an antique If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for José Sinatra its, I would buy the album whether I him before our first gig, but I remember eight-string Fender. Wonderful! You review, send two copies to: San Diego Steve Thorn knew the artist or not. If Sneaky Pete the gig well. It was at the Club Lingerie, always knew it was Sneaky Pete playing! Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038. D. Dwight Worden I am so glad to have known Peter Craig Yerkes played on it, it had to be cool. and there were heavenly sounds coming ©2007 San Diego Troubadour. “As a matter of fact, when I had my from his amp that night! I was really Kleinow and I will miss him.” Cover design: Chuck Schiele band back in the O.C. thrilled to be on stage with one of my country craze of the mid ’70s, my steel heroes, but the fact that he really liked The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , player and I decided that we were going our band and wanted to become a mem - whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper. to do every song off the ground-break - ber was just amazing. ing Gilded Palace of Sin album (complete “He was with us the first time we with pedal steel distortion and phase went into a studio to do some demos, shifting). That didn’t always go over so and I remember him not being able to well with the dance floor masses who get any sound out of his steel guitar until he unscrewed a control plate from the top of the guitar and dangled it out - side by its wires! No matter, the sounds that came out were unique and we all felt honored to have his creative tones and playing on our songs. “Sneaky graciously arranged for us to be able to rehearse in the warehouse Flying Burrito Brothers’ album cover showing where he made the miniature cityscapes Kleinow on lower left, along with (clockwise from top left) Gram Parsons, Chris Etheridge, for film effects, and it seemed so surreal and to be playing country rock surrounded

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle

TEXAS Texas Songwriter Showcase SONGWRITER TRIVIA Musical Campfire at Alpine ’s “LA Freeway” was a sizeable hit for Jerry Jeff Walker, best known as the composer of “Mr. Bojangles.” Clark began writing the song after a late night trip back to L.A. by Steve Thorn home with the Music City’s movers and Van Zandt was special, so was Lovett’s and “Thing Called Love” (a big cover hit following a gig in San Diego. shakers of the day (Rodney Crowell, Steve collaboration with film director Robert for ) continue to be concert Source: Rusty Miller interview with n February 28, fans of the Texas Earle, etc.), his closest relationship was Altman, who passed away last November. favorites to this day. With Bring the Guy Clark on the radio show This Is songwriting tradition will have a with a fellow Texan singer-songwriter: the Not every singer’s transition into acting Family , Hiatt finally found his musical Americana. www.guyclark.com rare opportunity to see and hear late . has been smooth (just ask Tony Bennett niche. Twenty years and several O ’s ancestors originally four living legends together on stage at a Following the 2004 release of the doc - or Mariah Carey) but in Altman Lovett later, he remains a vital songwriting force. founded the town of Klein. Today, it’s a special songwriters’ showcase. The four umentary Be Here to Love Me: A Film About found a perfect mentor for his offbeat suburb of Houston. troubadours, who are also old friends, Townes Van Zandt , much was written comical delivery. The Altman films ( The have long been recognized as exceptional about Van Zandt’s bout with manic Player, 1992; Short Cuts , 1993; Ready to Source: www.lylelovett.com storytellers in their own right through the depression, the ensuing insulin shock Wear , 1995; and Cookie’s Fortune , 1999) is an honorary Texas song - poignancy of their songs that have therapy, and the long-term memory loss, established Lovett as a sought-after char - writer. While Clark, Lovett, and Ely are touched and inspired countless fans. A which came as a result of the radical med - acter actor. native sons of the Lone Star State, once-in-a-lifetime concert experience! ical treatment. Clark preferred to remem - Lovett’s most recent album of new Hiatt is a Hoosier. Maybe that explains ber Van Zandt as more than another tor - material was My Baby Don’t Tolerate in why the welcome carpet is always mented artist wrestling with demons. 2003. In the same year he also recorded rolled out for Hiatt on Late Night with The first songwriter has provided the “Townes and I were best friends for 35 Smile , an album celebrating popular songs David Letterman . Both Hiatt and the stamp of authentication on his songs of years,” said Clark. “We never tried to in contemporary cinema. show’s host hail from Indianapolis. the working man. write together, and we never played gigs After several decades compiling an together for that whole time. He was just john hiatt Ely archivist Jason Demiola wrote that impressive discography, the second song - the smartest, brightest, funniest guy I Joe “saw Jerry Lee Lewis playing on a writer’s music is currently the focus of ever met in my life. For all his ‘dark’ repu - flatbed trailer in an Amarillo dust storm attention — no longer is it about his tation, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone when he was six years old. Attracted famous hair or his prior marriage to an smarter — or funnier.” by free hot dogs and cokes, his par - actress. This year the Academy of Recording ents nudge up to the front of the stage. The third songwriter waded in differ - Arts and Sciences has honored Clark by Of the four songwriters, it is Joe Ely who A Pontiac dealer is selling cars. He ent musical categories before becoming a nominating his latest album, Workbench probably possesses the most eclectic musi - announces a “piano playin’ fool from major voice in Americana. Songs , in the best contemporary folk/ cal background. From opening for the Ferriday.” He remembers the micro - And the fourth songwriter has become Americana category. The album’s title Clash to jamming with saxophonist phone blowing over from the strength a West Texas music legend, continuing refers to Clark’s talents as a major artisan. and singing duets with for - of the wind and everyone wearing the legacy of recording artists Buddy During the time he spent in California, mer San Diegan Rosie Flores, Ely doesn’t bandanas over their noses.” Holly, Roy Orbison, and Waylon Clark made dobros for the Dopyera broth - believe in musical barriers, he simply Source: www.joeely.com Jennings. ers’ National Dobro Company. He now plows through them. The songwriters — Guy Clark, Lyle makes Flamenco guitars in his own work - The Amarillo, Texas, native first Lovett, John Hiatt, and Joe Ely — will be shop. Workbench Songs includes many recorded tapes as part of the Flatlanders, Live at Antone’s (2000) probably serve as a bringing over a century of combined tracks worthy of its Grammy nomination, an adventurous band that featured Butch better introduction to Ely than his studio musical talent to the Viejas Casino’s con - including “Tornado Time in Texas,” There are three phases in Hiatt’s lengthy Hancock and . The releases. cert series this month with the Texas “Cinco de Mayo in Memphis,” and recording career. After arriving in 1972 recordings initially didn’t register This year looks like a productive one Songwriter Show, a summit for the “Magdalene.” Nashville in the early ’70s, Hiatt was firm - much of a buzz, but Ely, Hancock, and for the indefatigable Ely. This month sees uniquely individual talents of these four ly entrenched in the singer-songwriter Gilmore went on to develop individual the release of a new CD, Happy Songs from participants. lyle lovett regiment, which became synonymous cult followings in the alternative country Rattlesnake Gulch . Also this year, the with the decade. For every James Taylor, scene. University of Texas will publish a collec - , Jim Croce, and Cat It’s been a roller coaster career for Ely, guy clark tion of Ely’s writings. Stevens that received plaudits, there were bouncing between the major labels and The Texas Songwriter Show with Guy dozens more aspiring singer-songwriters smaller independents, such as Hightone Clark, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, and Joe Ely waiting for their curtain calls. Hiatt was Records. The concert circuit has remained takes place on Wednesday, February 28, one of them. his bread and butter, and riveting live 8 p.m, at Viejas Casino, Alpine. For Hiatt’s first two albums were released performances captured in Live Shots details, go to www.viejascasino.com on Epic Records. Hangin’ Around the (1980), Live at Liberty Lunch (1990), and Observatory (1974) and Overcoats (1975) failed to connect with the public or the influential music critics of the time. By the end of the ’70s, Hiatt had moved to a different town (Los Angeles) and another (MCA). He was no longer wearing the singer-songwriter ID but was aggressively being promoted as an After several successful forays into big American counterpart to the British New band swing ( Lyle Lovett and his Large Band , Wave’s angry young men, Elvis Costello Although he is the elder statesman of the 1987), gospel ( Joshua Judges Ruth , 1989), and Graham Parker. The scowling photo - four, Guy Clark’s repertoire is revered by or Baja California day tripping ( Road to graphs of Hiatt on the album covers of both veteran performers and musical neo - Ensenada , 1996), it will be interesting to (1979) and phytes. Clark was born in a rural America see what Lovett brings to the musical (1980) seemed contrary to the ebullient where family conversation and interac - campfire and storytelling imagery of the life-of-the-party persona he demonstrated tion were essential. In small West Texas Alpine concert. A graduate of Texas A&M in his live shows. towns like Monahans (Clark’s birthplace), University with degrees in German and By the time All of a Sudden (1982) was relationships were golden. journalism, Lovett has taken an academic released, Hiatt had moved on to another “It’s [Monahans] just a little piece of approach to his songwriting craft through record label (Geffen), but he was still per - desert,” said Clark during an interview astute observations on the human condi - ceived as a “modern world” artist. All of a with Rusty Miller, host of the This Is tion. The Klein, Texas, native has also Sudden was memorable for producer Tony Americana radio show. “I was out there been influenced by Van Zandt’s body of Visconti’s (T-Rex, David Bowie) involve - not long ago, and it reminded me how work. ment and great Hiatt tracks, including bleak it is . . . but there’s something about “Townes Van Zandt, I think, is regard - “Walking Dead” and “I Look for Love.” the desert that I’ve always loved, being ed by any singer-songwriter from Texas in (1983) included pro - born there. It’s flat, so flat that you can the highest way,” said Lovett during a duction by , with a scorching see the curvature of the earth.” 1998 interview with Jody Denburg of the title track that later became part of a col - Clark said that both of his parents Austin Chronicle . “It’s hard to think of laborative recording project for Eric “were fairly well-read. We were always Townes Van Zandt and not mention Guy Clapton and B.B. King. encouraged in any sort of artistic endeav - Clark as well. Guy and Townes were long - After the disappointing Warming Up to or. I grew up in kind of a pre-TV era. We time friends and, I think, influences on the Ice Age (1985), Hiatt astonished the didn’t have a television set until my sen - one another. So I always think of Guy industry and the general public with Bring ior year in high school. After dinner, we and Townes together, really. But as you the Family (1987), his first album for A&M would sit around and read aloud poetry know, we lost Townes [in 1997]. And Records and one of the great American and books. We’d sometimes played games gosh, the first album of Townes I ever albums of the ’80s. Assisted by Lowe, ses - like Scrabble. Any sort of intellectual bought was The Late Great Townes Van sion guitarist Ry Cooder, and drummer endeavor was encouraged.” Zandt . I heard Don Sanders in Houston Jim Keltner, Hiatt organized the sessions After spending the late ’60s in play “.” That was the in a manner similar to Frank Sinatra’s California, pitching songs and perform - first I ever heard of Townes. He intro - recording philosophy: record “live” in the ing, Clark and his wife, Susanna (a fine duced the song and said who had written studio and knock the album out in a cou - songwriter as well, whose composition “A it, and I went out and found The Late ple of days. Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town” was Great Townes Van Zandt . It was one of The third phase of Hiatt’s recording recorded by ) moved in those albums I tried to learn every song career — roots Americana — began with 1971 to a Nashville that was undergoing on.” . “Memphis in the a musical renaissance. While Clark felt at If the relationship between Clark and Meantime,” “Have a Little Faith in Me,”

4 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle n o s d r a h c i R

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Recordially, : o t o h Lou Curtiss P

A YEAR OF ANNIVERSARIES Storyville. For people into old time , it’s Country Music Records: A Discography, his year I’ll be celebrating two very spe - 1921-1942 by Tony Russell, available from Lou Curtiss cial anniversaries. Number one, which Oxford University Press. is coming up in May, will be the 40th Other discographies are more specialized, T one is expensive but it’s a must have if these anniversary of the first San Diego Folk Festival at but the ones I use a lot are Country Music San Diego State University, which became the Sources: A Biblio-Discography of Commercially kinds of music are your thing. Adams Avenue Roots Festival in the early 1990s Recorded Traditional Music by Guthrie Meade and As far as the price guides go, I use them as and continues today as the Adams Avenue Roots Dick Spottswood from the University of North guides only, not Bibles. For the 78 era I refer to and Folk Festival. This year’s festival will take Carolina; the Southern Folklife Collection’s L.R. Dock’s American Premium Record Guide, pub - place on Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22. The Virginia Blues Country and Gospel Records, 1902- lished by Books Americana, to give me an idea of second anniversary is that of Folk Arts Rare 1943 by Kip Lornell, University of Kentucky a 78’s worth. I use most of the other guides Records, which opened its doors for the first Press; Discography of Western Swing and Hot issued by a variety of publishers as a listing of time on July 31, 1967. When we opened, there String Bands, 1928-1942 by Cary Ginell and what’s what, not what’s worth what. Record val - were no CDs, no DVDs, not even videotape. We Kevin Coffey; and the Decca Hillbilly ues are constantly changing and what a record carried new and used LPs and have always relied Discography, 1927-1945, also by Cary Ginell. Joel might be worth to someone today may not be the on our musical knowledge to keep up with the Whitburn has compiled a number of books pub - same next week. Like all hobbies or pastimes, big boys. Putting people together with their roots lished by Record Research Press, most of which record collecting is a whole lot more pleasurable and getting people interested in other peoples’ are taken from Billboard magazine polls of top- with the right tools. People who put together roots (both live and recorded) have always been selling records. I use his Pop Memories , which discographies and price guides are the unsung what I care about. I wouldn’t trade those 40 years includes best-selling songs from 1890-1954 and heroes of record collectors everywhere. doing what I’ve done with anyone. I guess we’ll the artists who recorded them. For those who A lot of discographical information is avail - figure out a way to celebrate. Watch here for how like blues should consult the most recent edition able on line and that includes recorded samples. and when. of The Blues Discography, 1943-1970 by Les I’ve covered some of that in past columns and will do so again in the future. For you rockabilly COLLECTING VINTAGE RECORDINGS Fancourt and Bob McGrath. The book is pub - lished in Canada by Bob McGrath and is a much and country boogie-woogie fans, check out rock - For many years I’ve been involved in con - updated and revised version of the long out-of- incountrystyle.com and, of course, visit folkart - tributing to and finding additions to most of the print Neil Slaven-Mike Leadbitter volume. srarerecords.com where you’ll find links to all major discographies. If you are a collector of any For the person who collects ethnic music kinds of cool stuff. kind of vintage records, discographies and, to a from other countries issued in the U.S., there’s lesser extent, price guides are valuable tools. For Recordially, Dick Spottswood’s Ethnic Music on Records (nine a collector of 78s, they are both necessities. One Lou Curtiss volumes) from University of Illinois Press. This of the most important ones is Brian Rust’s Jazz Records, 1897-1942 . You can get the most updat - ed version from Storyville Press. Rust also put together The American Dance Band Discography (which is out of print but you might find a copy from Arlington House in New Rochelle, New York) and The Complete Entertainment Discography, 1897-1942 , available from Da Capo Press, which lists all the great vaudeville, movie, and show people who made records. Rust also did a Victor Master Book , which contains a com - plete Victor label listing in chronological order. For those of you into blues and gospel, it’s Blues and Gospel Records, 1902-1943 by R.M.W. Dixon and J. Godrich, also available from

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch Yale Strom: A Passion for Old Musical Traditions t

how much things haven’t changed. The San Diego t who graduates with the lowest grades from med - o b

Union featured a full spread on the “debate” over b ical school and still gets to be called doctor, A

z

evolution and creationism, while another head - i Strom was in. Playing in the band with school - L

line read “Democrats Ponder How to Revitalize : mates and having fun with his peers renewed his o t o

Party.” h interest in music. As his playing improved, he Strom had recently finished his undergradu - P wound up as fourth chair after graduating to the ate work at San Diego State, earning degrees in more senior youth orchestra. For Strom, music American studies and furniture design, but it remained a fun part of his life, but it wasn’t his looked like his future would be in law. He had passion. He never considered it as a possible just completed the LSAT. That night, however, major study when he went to college. Strom went with a friend to Sushi Gallery to hear Another tuning point in Strom’s life, almost the Big Jewish Band play a night of klezmer as important as that night at the Sushi Gallery, music. happened during his junior year when a friend Strom enjoyed the band and, being a pretty suggested that they study in Sweden. Strom filled good fiddler, approached them and asked if he out the paperwork and became one of 42 students could join. They gave him the brush-off, the old from the United States to be chosen for an “don’t call us we’ll call you.” By the end of the exchange program that took him to Uppsala night Strom determined that if he was unable to University. He says, “Here is where I was exposed join the band, he’d start his own. “You know the to other music — Swedish music. Europeans take old saying. If you can’t join ’em, beat ’em,” he jazz very seriously and it was the first time that I says. “I thought San Diego is big enough for two started really listening to jazz. When I went to the klezmer bands. I thought also that I would try to Soviet Union, it had a much more intellectual play the tunes and songs that nobody else was thing going on that I was used to in the States. I Yale Strom doing, the klezmer compositions that were possi - thought this is what I want to hang with.” bly about to be forgotten.” Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a professor of by Paul Hormick So he decided to embark on a search for Strom tells stories and plays his fiddle at a performance studies at NYU, helped Strom chan - North Park reception last month to celebrate these soon-to-be-forgotten songs. Leaving the nel his desire for intellectual stimulation. She the release of his new book. ale Strom is a rare mix. He is both a tal - a beautiful voice that’s at once full and zesty, then LSAT and the possibility of law school behind, convinced him to pursue a master’s degree at ented performer who leads his band, Hot light and lilting. If she sang the national anthem Strom bought a one-way ticket that June to piece of music and they looked at me. ‘There is NYU. To support himself while he immersed him - Y Pstromi, and an academic, who has before the ballgame, you’d feel great even if your Vienna, gateway to the then Soviet block coun - no Xerox machine here,’ they told me. The closest self in Yiddish studies, Strom did what all honor - taught at New York University. He is a world- team lost. Jeff Pekarec, whom Strom befriended tries. With about $500 in hand, a bit of knowl - one was miles away. They wouldn’t let me take able musicians have done to earn a buck, he renowned ethnographer, chronicling and captur - when both were teenagers, is the backbone of the edge of Yiddish, a camera, and some recording photographs. Remember, this is the Soviet Union. busked in the subway. “This was back when it ing the lives of Eastern European Jews, and he band, serving as the bassist and arranger. Pekarec equipment, Strom set out to find and transcribe So I went back over the next several days and was still illegal,” he recalls. “A cop gave me a has even written a symphony. All of this is bound has also worked with Strom on several other or record the songs and melodies of Eastern copied the music by hand.” ticket. And when I went to court, the judge asked up, tied together, inspired, and enlightened by musical projects. Names of other well-known San European Jews first-hand. Ever since this trip Strom has been enthralled where I had been busking. I told him and he Strom’s passion for klezmer. Diego musicians — Fred Benedetti, Mark Dresser, Strom quickly learned the ins and outs of with klezmer and all that surrounds it: Jewish his - looks at me and says, ‘I’ve given you money!’” He has recently returned to San Diego to take and Tripp Sprague among others — get men - working the streets and about the bureaucratic tory, culture, and heritage. The music has gone The ticket, of course, was dropped. the position of artist in residence at his alma tioned when Strom talks about Hot Pstromi and shenanigans of Stalinist government officials, beyond the traditional klezmer ensemble reper - After finishing his master’s degree Strom mater, San Diego State University. As an artist in his other musical work. where a bribe of a few Marlboro cigarettes could toire. He has written several string quartets returned to Eastern Europe, this time to chronicle residence he pretty much creates, as most artists Many things have led to the role Strom has get him across a border. He ended up spending a inspired by klezmer. Strom was also commis - more than just the music of the Jews living there. do, but he also teaches at least one class each assumed as grand marshal of all things Jewish, year behind what was referred to at the time as sioned by the Center for Jewish Culture and semester. Last semester he taught a history of but one day stands out among the others: March the Iron Curtain, digging where he could to find Creativity to write a symphony, which was pre - Continued on next page. ³ klezmer music, and this semester he is teaching a 1, 1981. klezmer nuggets, recording when he could, and miered by the Saint Louis Symphony. class called “Was Columbus a Jew? Sephardic On that day the headlines were practically copying when he had to. In one case, being with - Strom began playing the violin at the age of History from Seville to San Diego.” screaming about the threat that the Salvadoran out a recorder, he asked a klezmer musician to eight. He recalls, “It was Mrs. Baker who came Hot Pstromi performs just about anywhere Marxist posed to our way of life. And there was play a tune over and over so he could play along into the school and tested our musical ability. She you can find a yarmulke and features Strom’s an anti-nuclear rally in what was then known as and learn the tune to transcribe later. “In would play bits of music. ‘Can you hear that? Can wife, Elizabeth Schwartz on vocals. Schwartz has West Germany. Other headlines may point up Bucharest I was at a library and asked to Xerox a you sing that?’ she would ask us.” It turned out that Strom had some ability and for $20 a month for the rental of an instrument, Mrs. Baker taught Strom the violin. By the time Strom moved to San Diego with his parents when he was 13, he had lost interest in the violin and wasn’t practicing. His parents told him that he should keep the instrument if his interest was renewed, but they wouldn’t pay for lessons if he wasn’t going to practice. It was Charles McCloud, director of the Civic Youth Orchestra at the time, who convinced the young Strom that he should try out for the organization because he had a good chance of getting in. Strom’s latest book, an amazing collection “There were 32 violins. I was the thirty-sec - of songs, with an extensive history of ond violinist,” he recalls. Just like the student klezmer music

6 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch Klezmer: The Music of Laughter and Tears by Paul Hormick they were also influenced by the music and the instruments of their new t has been said that the music of homes. Most notably, they picked up Mozart has the wonderful ability to various forms of dance and folk music, Isound both happy and sad in the playing waltzes, mazurkas, and polkas. same moment. Klezmer music has that In certain Eastern European countries same distinction, mixing both joy and like Romania, klezmer rhythm struc - sorrow, but musicians of the klezmer tures might contain (to our ears) such can also simultaneously produce wist - unusual time signatures as 5/8 or 11/8. fulness, defiance, anger, bliss, listless - Possibly one of the most distinctive ness, obstinacy, remorse, and bemuse - Group of Gypsy musicians featured in characteristics of klezmer is its orna - Strom’s film, Carpati ment. And that’s just when they’re mentation, which imitates the human tuning up. play in very open time without a beat, voice. When playing this music, musi - Klezmer is the music of the Eastern which goes back to music of the Middle cians imitate sighing, laughter, and European Jews. It is folk music largely East, where the Diaspora of the Jews other outbursts. If you hear a fiddle or based on the liturgical music of the occurred in the second century. clarinet sound like it’s crying, it’s prob - synagogue and temple, but it devel - When political turmoil developed ably klezmer. oped its own life when it was used for at the beginning of the tenth century During the late 1800s and early dancing. Originally, klezmer (plural in the Eurasian region north of the 1900s waves of Jews emigrated from klezmorim) referred to musical instru - Caspian Sea where many Jews lived, Eastern Europe to Western Europe and ments and was later extended to refer these people migrated to the regions of the Americas. Many of them came to Yale Strom and his klezmer band, Hot Pstromi to musicians themselves. Eastern Europe. They established com - the United States, mostly settling along Many sources trace the beginnings munities in Poland, Hungary, the East Coast, particularly in New songwriters and composers such as Freilachmakers, a northern California of klezmer back to the fifteenth centu - Germany, Romania, and Russia where York City. Jews accounted for over 30 Irving Berlin and George and Ira klezmer string band, juice up their mix ry, but there is much to klezmer that they became known as the Ashkenazi . percent of the city’s population 75 Gershwin. The cross fertilization that with helpings of Appalachian and Irish goes back even further. One often hears When the Jews moved West they years ago. Much of the culture cen - influenced klezmer also worked the music. And some of the most avant- drones and periods when the musicians took Asian modalities with them, but tered around the Jewish theatres along other way, and many of the tunes of garde stuff can be heard from a group Second Avenue, so much so that the Tin Pan Alley and Broadway were influ - called Hasidic New Wave Jews and the street became known as Yiddish enced by Jewish folk music. The great - Abstract Truth. Yale Strom thinks that est marriage of this cross fertilization the sky is the limit. “There is no end to Yale Strom, continued from previous page essays, the book depicts Jewish life during the Broadway. last days of the Soviet regime. Still more musical cross fertiliza - was in Broadway’s biggest hit — Fiddler this,” he says. “We’ve got klezmer join - In 1987 he left with friend and photographer Strom has authored a number of other books, tion occurred with the show tunes that on the Roof — which used klezmer as ing up with Cajun, Latin, everything. Brian Blue to look into the lives of these people. all of them pertaining to Jewish history, society, or were being played on Broadway as well inspiration for its songs. There is no end to where people can Although it would be two more years before the its music of klezmer. Most recently he has pub - as the other musical industry jugger - The 1980s saw a great revival of take this.” Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union would lished The Absolute Complete Klezmer Songbook , naut, the songwriters and publishers of klezmer music, with bands like the become the study of historians, there was a feel - which does for klezmer what the Fiddlers Tin Pan Alley. When most Americans Klezmatics bringing this music to new ing of change in the air, and great change was Fakebook did for Irish music. Just about any tune think of klezmer, they are thinking of audiences. This was a definite depar - about to occur. Strom and Blue felt that they were that your uncle Marvin could hum, this songbook songs like “Bei Mir Bist Du Shoen,” ture from the usual bar mitzvahs and seeing a world that might soon disappear. has. When Strom talks about his books, or his weddings as well as block parties and Inspired by Roman Vishniac’s book The Vanished music and compositions for that matter, he recalls which crossed over into popular song gigs for big corporations that klezmer World — a 1947 publication that portrayed the the satisfaction of recording the lives of Eastern and was performed by the Andrews lives of European Jews before the Holocaust — European Jews. As he puts it, “I’m obviously Sisters. bands were hired to play back then. the pair put together The Last Jews of Eastern doing something right.” The great masters of American song Klezmer continues to adapt, Europe . Through photographs and personal included a great number of Jewish evolve, and transmogrify. The

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

by Bart Mendoza

ast month the jazz heard the album After Hours by Avery the thing she remembers most about world suffered a Parrish.” Jeannie fell in love with jazz that experience. The couple continued tremendous loss with as a teenager and it wasn’t long to perform and record with many big the passing of bass before word of her keyboard prowess names, including trombonist Jimmy reached the world of touring musi - and Count Basie. Jimmy even had a Cheatham on January cians. She toured with Cab Calloway short stint with the Duke Ellington 12. Speaking with his and by the end of the 1950s had Orchestra in 1972. Throughout the wife and musical accompanied everyone from T-Bone 1970s he taught at Bennington pLartner, Jeannie Cheatham, at her La Walker, Dinah Washington, and College in , then at the Jolla home just prior to Jimmy’s pass - Dakota Staton to Jimmy Witherspoon, University of in Madison. ing, one is struck by her graciousness Bo Diddley, and Johnny Ray. Teaching was also a big part of what as well as an infectious laugh and a he did in San Diego. wealth of knowledge that she’s more The Cheathams relocated to San than happy to share. San Diego is very Diego in 1978 and settled in La Jolla, fortunate that the Cheathams chose to where Jimmy taught in the jazz studies call San Diego their home, as they had program at UCSD. The couple dove a huge influence on generations of into the local music community right artists and cast a very large shadow away and quickly became a crucial over the local jazz community. element of the local jazz set. From Jeannie and her husband arrived in 1978 through 1984, they ran weekly San Diego in 1977 already in the jam sessions at both the Sheraton and midst of an incredible music career. Bahia hotels, stopping only when a Although they had recorded numerous resurgence of interest in the couple’s tracks with other artists, it wasn’t until Jimmy Cheatham in the 1980s music began to gain international their arrival here that their music made recognition. “Everywhere we ever it to major label status, which in the In 1956, when Jeannie was in lived we had jam sessions,” Jeannie process gave San Diego’s jazz scene a Buffalo, New York, for a jam session pointed out. “We finally had to stop major shot in the arm. A master of and Jimmy had come to town to visit when we started to go on the road. Kansas City-styled jazz blues, Jimmy his mother, the two musicians met. But you know what was the most was born June 18, 1924, and studied Romance quickly ensued, and the pair unusual about those jam sessions?” at the New York Conservatory of married in 1959. They eventually set - she asked. “Airline pilots would help Modern Music. Jeannie, on the other tled in the New York area where out. It was pilots that brought us a lot hand, was born on August 14, 1927, Jimmy was employed during the of our audience. They would hang out in Akron, Ohio. By the age of five she 1960s as music director for Chico at the Sheraton where we had the ses - was already immersed in music, Hamilton’s group. In 1964 Jeannie sions. They had such a good time that thanks to her family, taking piano les - recorded her first album, Academy they’d later announce that there was sons and eventually accompanying her Awards in Jazz , with fellow pianist something going on just before the mother in the choir. “I loved classical Roberta Como. “We did ‘Over the planes landed. That was a big part of music,” she remembered. “But then Rainbow’ in three keys,” she laughed, our regular crowd,” Jeannie recalled. my mother let me go to a party and I joking that trying to stay in tune was In 1983 Jeannie was featured in a documentary called Three Generations of Blues alongside legendary blues singers Sippie Wallace and Big Mama Thornton. A Touching Note from a Former Student

I just learned today that my mentor Jimmy Cheatham died on Friday (a day before ). Jimmy was the single most important per - son in my musical career. When I first met him in fall of 1978, I was a freshman biology student at UCSD, with a minor in music. The moment I met Jimmy I knew he was going to be an influential force in my life. Of course, I never realized then that I would change my plans for a career in medicine for one in music, but after five years of studying with Jimmy, taking every class he taught and playing at the jam sessions he and his wife Jeannie held Sunday nights, I was ready to launch out on this turned up in interesting places, includ - group called Last Gin of the Day. I strange and rewarding journey that I’m still engaged in. During my ing novels ( Cooler by the Lake by don’t know how they heard it, but it’s years at UCSD I saw Jimmy six days a week, more than my own family. Larry Heineman, 1992), television just wonderful.” His effect on my life was profound in so many ways. Not only did I learn about how to play jazz, but I also learned so much about life and how to be (performed by a cast member on the Just for fun, the pair always includ - Jimmy Cheatham, directing his jazz band at a responsible citizen of the world and to honor those who’d come before me UCSD TV sitcom Martin ), and a live perform - ed a signature sign off on each of their while helping to keep the legacy of jazz, our country’s unique cultural ance by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band in discs, ending in a group sing along contribution, alive. Jimmy never spoke of his educational activities as It was one of Jimmy’s students at the two decades since its release. The with the “choir” or with anyone they teaching; he would refer to his interactions with students as “trading expe - song is well on its way to becoming a could cajole in front of a microphone riences.” Well, I got the better deal, because the experiences he traded for UCSD that tipped off Concord Records blues standard with covers that now for the purpose. The duo toured exten - mine were a repository of great knowledge about music, life, and love. I’ve about the duo. “He brought the presi - carried his concept of “trading experiences” into my own teaching over the dent of the label to a jam session, and include versions by Chuck Carbo sively with their band the Sweet Baby years, and now I’m glad to be sharing many of my experiences with my it all grew from that,” Jeannie remem - (Rounder, 1993), Luther “Guitar Jr.” Blues Band, earning the prestigious own students, particularly in the jazz history class I’m teaching now at bered. The pair signed with Concord Johnson, and the Magic Rockers Grand Prix du Disque de Jazz award in Grossmont College. The foundation that Jimmy helped me build has served Records in 1984, releasing Sweet Baby (Telarc, 1998). “It was great when 1985 for their debut album. The me well in my career as a jazz musician and educator, and I’m proud to be Martin Lawrence sang it on his show. Cheathams never seemed to slow able to carry on just a small part of his legacy. Blues that same year and eventually He sang just a bit of it during a come - down. In between their album releas - Rest in peace, Jimmy, and keep swingin’. issuing nine albums. That first disc yielded a verified dance floor favorite, dy routine, but I still get royalties from es, the band performed on NBC-TV’s Love, it,” Jeannie commented. “Linda The Tonight Show in 1988. Their fifth Chris [Klich] “Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On.” The tune, which has become the Hopkins just recorded it as well, but album, Luv in the Afternoon , was also Cheathams’ signature song, has my favorite version is by a Japanese an award winner, netting the Blues 8 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

don’t even know where we fit. There is no incentive for labels to release q r new music, since now it’s just people Jimmy & Jeannie Cheatham downloading all day long. Audiences diSCogrAphy don’t know what to listen for any - AlbumS more; they don’t know how to react 1964 Academy Awards in Jazz. Grenedier. to subtlety. They’re used to loud vol - (Jeannie Cheatham only) ume and such. You just get hit over 1984 Sweet Baby Blues . Concord Jazz 4258 the head with a plank,” she quipped. LP/CD/CA. Road work has lost a lot of its 1985 Midnight Mama . Concord Jazz LP/CD/CA. charm as well. “I still enjoy performing 1987 Homeward Bound . Concord Jazz LP/CD/CA. live, but it’s not fun anymore,” she 1988 Back to the Neighborhood . Concord Jazz. Jeannie Cheatham remarked. It may come as a surprise 1990 Luv in the Afternoon . Concord Jazz. 1991 Basket Full of Blues . Concord Jazz. to modern day musicians, but despite that needed to be told. And that’s 1993 Blues and the Boogie Masters . Concord Jazz. technological advances, many older when someone told me I should get 1995 Gud Nuz Bluz . Concord Jazz CD. musicians don’t see today’s music my own story down. It took a while to business as better. “Today, everything 1998 Concord Jazz Heritage Series: Jeannie and do it because I wrote it while on the Doc Cheatham . Concord Jazz CD. is so strict. You can’t take your horn road.” While she’s enjoyed the experi - on the plane with you, or you have to ence of being an author, she’s found it bookS/miSCellANeouS buy an extra ticket for it. You used to quite different from the music world. Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On: My Life in be able to put your valuable instru - “I never knew you had to publish Music . University of Texas Press (includes six-song CD EP 2006) ment in the closet behind the pilot’s yourself,” she laughed. “With records, cockpit, but that’s not possible any - Karaoke Spotlight Series. Legends of the Blues Vol. 2 . you hand them to a disc jockey and it CDG more, so travel is a much more diffi - either takes off, or doesn’t, from there. cult thing to do than in the past.” With this book, it’s taken a lot of work CompilATioNS Venues are also a problem. “The to get noticed, but I’ve been able to 1994 A Concord Jazz Christmas . Concord Jazz younger sound people are used to do a few TV and radio shows here and 4613. (Jeannie Cheatham contributes “An rock ‘n’ roll now,” she said. “It makes there to help promote it. I’d love to Apple, an Orange and a Little Stick Doll”) th a difference. Generally they don’t get on Oprah to discuss it. That would 1994 Fujitsu-Concord 26 Jazz Festival . Concord know how to work with quieter Jazz 7003. (live album features Jeannie be perfect,” she joked. After decades Cheatham on vocals on two songs) music.” in music, what is she proudest of? 1996 Jazz Celebration: Tribute to Carl Jefferson .

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how to start a jam session.” n a S At press time Jeannie was plan - SeSSioNS ning to go ahead with performances 1967 . The Jazz Artistry of Bill Dixon . Jeannie Cheatham on February 25 as an honoree at the RCA SP3844. (vinyl album) San Diego Jazz Party and on May 11 1978 . Meet Grover Mitchell . Jazz In 2006 Jeannie’s autobiography, at the Kennedy Center for the Chronicles 104. (vinyl album featuring the Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On: Performing Arts. Cheathams) My Life in Music, was published by 1980 Grover Mitchell. Devil’s Waltz . Jazz the University of Texas Press and Chronicles. (vinyl album featuring the Cheathams) includes a six-song EP. Painting a vivid 1994 George Lewis. Changing With the Times . picture of a long and storied career in New World 80434. (features the Cheathams music, the book is essential reading. “I as well as a song co-write credit for Jeannie Cheatham on the title track) didn’t sit down to write an autobiogra - phy,” she said. “Originally, I started to CoverS (eACh FeATureS “meeT me WiTh write an article on Big Mama your blACk drAWerS oN” ) Album of the Year award in Down Thornton. Hers was such a lovely story Beat magazine’s 1991 critics’ poll. That Chuck Carbo, Drawers Trouble . Rounder, 1993. T Big Al Carson, Take Your Drunken Ass Home . Mardi same year the group performed on the Gras Records, 2002. PBS-TV concert series Club Date . Sydney Ellis, Tug River . Black Wallet Records, 2003 In 1993 Jimmy became Professor Noel Friedline, One for Maxcene . Free Lion Records, Emeritus at UCSD upon his retirement, 1994. although he was quickly back at the Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson and the Magic Rockers, campus, this time as director of the Slammin’ on the West . Telarc, 1998. jazz ensemble. He finally retired in Floyd McDaniel Trio, Live . David Drazin, 2002. 2005 at the age of 81, having men - Nap “Don’t Forget the Blues” Turner, Live at Cada tored and taught generations of aspir - Vez . Right on Rhythm, 2002. ing musicians. The band still plays Matthew Robinson, Matthew Robinson and the Texas Blues Band . Dialtone Records, 2003. occasionally, but it’s been some time Sheena, Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On . 1999 since new music was released by the Sweet Baby Jai, Evolution . Sunset (Burnside), 2005. Cheathams. “We’ve always had lots of Steve Thorpe, Trouble . Lost Gold Records, 2004. music that hadn’t been recorded,” she Thunder Blues Band, Before and After Katrina . noted. “We tried to stay at least an Louisiana Music Factory, 2006. album ahead in terms of new material.

But to be honest, in today’s world, we Jimmy, playing his trombone www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER by Dwight Worden by Sven-Erik Seaholm from Big Fish audio and allows users to THE DOBRO: NEWEST OF THE who brought the instrument in to early blue - upload and download presets from other BLUEGRASS INSTRUMENTS grass. But it was Josh Graves of Flatt and users via an ingenious online browser. THE NAMM SHOW Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys Look for more on this soon. Let’s take a look at the dobro, one of the Sven-Erik Seaholm who really put the dobro on the bluegrass DR Handmade Strings turned me newest instruments to be used in bluegrass he 2007 NAMM show at the map. Essentially every modern dobro player onto a cool product called Extra String music, and see what it is all about. The Anaheim Convention Center credits Josh “Buck” Graves as a major influ - Life , a liquid polymer coating that mole - cable from zzyzx . This product utilizes a dobro is a guitar that is played horizontally in seemed like the “x-treme” version, the lap, has strings that are raised above the ence. Mike Auldridge of the Seldom Scene T cularly bonds with your strings, which in two-part jack design. The jack is separate with brighter lights, wilder sounds, scads fretboard, and is played with finger picks and was the next significant innovator on the turn extends their life and reduces corro - and plugs into your guitar or bass. The instrument, with a trademark tone that of intriguing products, and surprisingly a thumb pick on one hand and a steel slide sion and breakage. other half is attached to the cord. Each remains the standard other players seek to more people than ever — and that was bar in the other. It can produce sustained, I stopped by the travelwellness, inc. half has a magnet that corresponds to the achieve. Contemporary standouts on the just the lobby! sliding notes that make it, along with the fid - other piece. So, when you go to plug instrument include Jerry Douglas from Getting there was really the dle, one of only two bluegrass instruments in to your amp or PA, the magnets just Alison Krauss and Union Station , Rob hard part. Actually no, I take that that produce these kinds of sustained sliding snap together with no audible (and sounds. Ickes of Blue Highway and Three Ring back. We arrived in “the O.C.” annoying) clicks or pops. Its quick- The dobro was invented Circle , and great up-and-comers like Andy (gawd, how I absolutely hate that change ability makes it great for those in the late 1920s by the Hall of the Infamous Stringdusters and term) in pretty good time, but Michael Witcher of Missy Raines and the with multiple instruments too! Dopyera brothers, John then were turned away from New Hip . Speaking of sticking things in your and Rudy. Working with every parking lot entrance While not a “required” bluegrass instru - jacks, it doesn’t get any easier than George Beauchamp, the because my badge was “the ment, the dobro is now a staple of many Amp-U-Plug-N-Play , a tiny battery- Dopyera brothers formed wrong color.” Explaining to each the National Stringed great bands. Ironically, the prevalence of the powered amp with a built-in jack so of the “please move along, sir” Instrument Company, dobro in modern bluegrass comes in spite of you can just shove it into your guitar attendants that my badge was which began making the the fact that Bill Monroe, the father of blue - and rock out. grass music, is reported not to have liked the inside, while showing them my famous National steel Rock Jimmies snap onto the end of John Dopyera dobro (“That ain’t no part of nothing” is per - printed out email confirmation, guitar. However, the your cable to spruce up the boring partnership with Beauchamp was con - haps his apocryphal comment on the instru - was an exercise in futility. booth to let them know that I had really looking jack with guitar “bling” like iron tentious, and soon the Dopyera brothers left ment), and never used it in his music. Parking was eventually obtained about a enjoyed using the Palm Dry to “de-clam - crosses or devil heads. I got a glow-in-the- and formed their own company – the Dobro If you want to hear great dobro music, quarter of a mile away, which gave my ify” my hands at gigs. They gave me a dark skull model — sweet. Company, as in DOpyera BROthers, in 1928. pick up any of the Alison Krauss and wife and me enough time to grumble out Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas bottle of Vocal-eze throat spray, saying I was standing around looking for my Their new dobros used wooden bodies rather our pre-show angst by the time we made albums or any Blue Highway album and “You’re going to need this with all the NAMM directory when I saw this guy than the steel ones favored by the National it to the lobby. Once inside, things went marvel at how much the modern resonator- talking you’ll be doing.” They were right, walk past me in a marching band uni - guitars. much more smoothly and almost instant - dobro contributes to the bluegrass music we and the stuff works like magic. Joss Stone form carrying the coolest thing: a Beatles At the time the Dobro ly I was immersed nose-deep in gizmos, Company and National all love. Better yet, visit your favorite music and Rob Thomas swear by the stuff, and Yellow Submarine lunch box that he had brochures, and dialogues. Stringed Instrument store, pick one up, and give it try! now so do I. They also had a cool thing turned into an electric ukulele! I literally “Like what?” you may be asking your - Company were formed, called Vira-Eze Mic Wipes , which can be ran after him (he was moving very fast) SCIENTIFIC GOSPEL COMES TO TOWN self. there was limited, if any, used to detoxify filthy microphones, and asked him all about it. His name was In the mood for something different while The first booth we stopped at this year amplification available, so horn mouthpieces, harmonicas, hands Ukulele Ray and said he didn’t have a the Dopyera brothers were was Roger Nichols Digital , which had its etc., and it’s made from mushrooms! booth this year but wanted to show these looking for a way to make a long awaited line of digital plug-ins on EastWest Sounds had some really cool around. Go to boxaleleco.com and look guitar produce more sound. display. Mr. Nichols was the recording stuff on display that wasn’t even out yet. for his YouTube video where he plays the John Dopyera developed a engineer for Steely Dan among others, so Most notable was Fab Four , a virtual model I mentioned. Fabulous. system of inserting three it’s a foregone conclusion that his prod - Gibson dobro instrument that featured the sounds of Duck’s Deluxe guitar strings and small cones into the guitar Opossums of Truth ucts will bear an unmistakably hi-fi char - to make the tri-cone guitar. He then devel - virtually all the instruments the Beatles accessories has a cool little piece that fits learning a little science presented by clever acter. What makes these tools unique is oped a guitar with a larger single cone used throughout their recording career, onto the end of a drill or power screw - music that’s guaranteed to make you laugh? their new twist on familiar designs. The inside, anchored by what is called a “spider,” recorded through the same kinds of driver, allowing for lightning quick string You might want to check out Dr. Stephen Dynamizer is a multiband compressor so that the cone or “resonator” would act as equipment by Ken Scott , the engineer on winding. I’ve been using one for a couple Baird and his Opossums of Truth in one of with the ability to use different attack a speaker to project sound out the front of their upcoming concerts. This unique band many of their records. The sounds and of years and love it. the instrument. These inner workings were and release settings for each of its four will be presenting a series of three concerts. selection were amazing, including every - Inventor Charlie McMahon and I had capped by a “faceplate” on top of the guitar, bands. The Detailer is a mastering plug- The first is on Saturday, February 3, 7:30 thing from basses, guitars, and drums a great time playing his Didjeribone, a which makes the dobro look a little like a in with dynamic widening, intelligent p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist recorded through vintage mics and pre - 10-tone cross between a trombone and guitar with a hub cap on top. Since the sin - parameter adjustment that utilizes fuzzy Church of San Diego, 4190 Front Street in amps, as well as more esoteric Indian and didgeridoo made from simple plastic gle-cone guitar was louder than the tri-cone, logic to ensure the settings best fit your the Hillcrest area. The second concert is on Middle Eastern instruments. Can’t wait! tubes. Love his imagination. it became the dobro standard. While John style of music. There is so much more, Tuesday, February 6, 7:30 p.m., at the North Dopyera’s early design is still the basic FOOTIME had some interesting foot Finally, the star of the show as far as Coast Repertory Theater in Solana Beach, and we hope to cover the entire line in design of some dobro and resonator guitars, controllers designed to reduce hand stress new products are concerned would have with the final concert on Saturday, February upcoming issues. contemporary luthiers such as Tim disorders. One actually took over simple to go to upstart company Tronical . Their 10, 7:30 p.m., in the Liebow Auditorium, NEXSYN from upstart company KEY - Scheerhorn and Paul Beard have introduced computer keyboard and mouse tasks, Powertune System is a retrofit that School of Medicine on the UCSD campus in TOSOUND is a software-based hybrid significant changes, such as using sound while another was an electronic music replaces your tuning pegs, bridge, vol - La Jolla. Doc Baird and his Possums promise synthesizer that not only provides full posts instead of a soundwell, thus bringing page turner for those so inclined. ume, and tone knobs with theirs and a different show at each location, and you editing and sound design capabilities, but noteworthy changes to the sound of the can count on songs about everything from One cool new thought outside the allows for the simplest, most efficient instrument. also includes a four-gig sample library the big bang theory and life on Mars to proverbial box was the Snap Jack guitar tuning system I have ever seen. Simply In line with what goes around comes romance and everything in between. For pull the knob to activate it, select the around, the success of the Dobro Company more info, go to: www.scientificgospel.com. tuning you prefer (standard or presets allowed the Dopyera brothers to acquire the like DADGAD), strum an open chord and National Stringed Instrument Company in RALPH STANLEY IS COMING TO TOWN within seconds, your guitar is at the 1934 and merge it with their company to Living legend Ralph Stanley and his Clinch desired tuning and perfectly in tune! I form the National Dobro Company. After Mountain Boys will watched the demonstration twice and it many tosses and turns, the Gibson Company play a concert at the was like a freakin’ magic trick! There’s acquired the rights to the dobro trademark in Belly Up Tavern in even a little light that goes on at the back 1993 and has produced resonator-guitars Solana Beach on under the dobro name ever since. Other man - Tuesday, February 20. of your headstock when you’re tuning to ufacturers of dobro-style guitars who do not The show starts at 8 let the drummer know not to start the have the naming rights held by Gibson call p.m. with an opening song yet! Oh, sweet little details — how I their instruments resonator-guitars. local band. For informa - love thee so. Interestingly, John Dopyera, the dobro’s origi - tion and tickets, go to The parking situation was greatly nal designer, had a shop in Escondido for a Ralph Stanley www.bellyup.com. improved on the second day, but I think while in the 1960s. There’s lots going on, so I hope to see you we would’ve been more than happy to The earliest dobro music was Hawaiian in all out there enjoying bluegrass music in make the walk, considering all the great style, but it was soon picked up for playing San Diego. stuff on display. I can’t wait to dig deeper other styles including blues and bluegrass. Brother Oswald was an early dobro player throughout the year. See ya then.

10 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’ y a d a r a F

n o l

Hosing Down l Radio a F

: o by José Sinatra t o h P Daze OKEY-DOKEY plucked from the greedy womb of reason, thanks to his seasoned midwifery. “Well, it’ll be like an open mic night,” he The key factor was fairness, actually. One said. “Without any real instruments. The music’s submission at a time. Another accepted when by Jim McInnes already three. All you’ll have to do is sign up the you hit the stage. You go up in the order you’ve performers and introduce them before they go logged in. These and several similarly decent Jimmy Cheatham on. It’ll be fun.” Edwin Decker made it sound like tenants travelled with me when I was, after sev - fun all right, and he’d be there as well, which eral months, transferred to the sister club in Joins the Eternal Jim McInnes made it fun already. And I hadn’t been to that Ocean Beach, where to this day my hosting The gently twisted Mr. Sinatra particular Pacific Beach club in ages — it had an Jam Session duties have thrilled countless millions across the B.E.T. JAZZ? entirely different name back then when Troy globe on Sunday nights. I think it’s been a bit we should have foreseen, and which will soon t’s January 12. I just heard that trombon - I was watching the BET Jazz channel (Cox Danté and I had played a memorable seminar of over three years now, and I haven’t missed a be officially inscribed. ist/educator Jimmy Cheatham has 340) a few nights ago to see if they actually love on its stage — but I recalled enjoying the night. Certainly late sometimes, but consistently The exact wording might be troublesome. I entered the next dimension . . . some - played any jazz. Their usual fare is stuff like environment. Now, how would I feel about host - devoted to promoting every level of performer or How about “personal pulchritude?” “Awareness thing that makes jazz fans everywhere sad. Slow Jams Videos and celebrity interviews. ing their experiment in karaoke each week on a pervert willing to let loose on a superior sound of Heat?” It usually occurs somewhat late in the Last June, on my first day at KSDS Jazz When I switched over to the channel on this single, non-weekend night? system in a superior place. evening when a (oh, how do I put this and avoid 88.3, I almost knocked over two people on my particular late night, it was in the middle of a My thoughts slid back down the moist slide I’ve come to learn that there is a huge mass sounding like the sexist pig I am?) jaw-droppingly way into the record library. Jazz 88.3 program show called Jazz and Blues . Cool. Then I saw of memory . . . decades before when men were of people who take karaoke very seriously succulent slice of womanbeast, an undiscovered director Claudia Russell was there with them, that jazz legend Pharoah Sanders was on men and women were chicks and I was a suc - indeed. Somewhere there are actually citywide, world-class beauty who should be modeling in so she introduced me as “San Diego radio leg - screen and I thought, “All right! Authentic jazz cessful spieler at a private club in Monte Carlo. regional, even national competitions with serious Paris, a natural wonder whose mother’s loins are end Jim McInnes” (although I prefer “the man on TV!” I watched in wonder as Sanders wove Cafe des Cootches was the name of the bar, and prizes for those delusional enough to see a shiny surely blessed for giving her birth, comes up to who invented broadcasting”). To my delight, his saxophone magic — for a minute and 25 I was known by tout le monde as Monsieur Le star and reach for its promising glow. me, her eyes shouting a thousand promises, her both told me that they remembered me as seconds — until the commercial break! Weak. Hose. It was there that I learned and perfected Hogwash. Not at Winston’s, dearies. Here, voice entreating, soothing, as she nuzzles oh-so- host of the San Diego Music Awards (1996- Shame on you, BET Jazz! vocal enunciation, microphone technique, and more than one determined student of the art has close and whispers, “Hose . . . you can bump me 2002, in case you’ve forgotten). JIM’S NEW GIG delayed gratification. The thrill of the spotlight, stumbled in and decried the goings-on as blas - up, can’t you? You’ll do it for me , won’t you?” My I was immediately impressed by their vibe. the ways of love. The power of paternity suits, phemous, and I, myself, as the Anti-Oke. eyes gorge on her perfect lips, cheeks, nasal cav - They were Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham, lead - In last month’s column I mentioned that I the surest plan to slip away to America without At O.B.-Okee (I still can’t spell Jesse Egan’s ities. . . . ers of the Sweet Baby Blues Band, legends in had finally gotten a full-time job offer from a detection. Even now I occasionally catch myself baby, but that’s how it’s pronounced) the only I respond, “I’m sorry, you intoxicating target their own right as well as a couple of the local radio station. Last year, after 35 years as a wondering about the fate of Danielle, Delphine . prize is the fun to be had on stage, or drinking in of my seed, but that wouldn’t be fair.” nicest people you could ever hope to meet. I rock jock, I began my “re-invention” process. I . . and Columbine, the frisky goat we shared in the audience, as well as the transcendent splen - And she’ll leave confused or shocked or became an instant fan even though I hadn’t became a jazz deejay, however infrequently, those fragrant years. dor of being in my presence. escorted out in a screaming rage upon the real - heard their records before. So many times on KSDS Jazz 88.3. I’m still on call but now, But none of that mattered now. No, now it The rules that Edwin Decker and I forged so ization that for perhaps the first time in her gild - after that meeting, when I wanted to play a when I do a show there, it has to fit my new was time for a decision to be made: do I commit long ago remain in place and are displayed for ed life, her personal charm and feminine potency vocalist on my occasional show, I’d grab one schedule because I am now doing the news ! one night per week of my life to helping people all performers to read, to follow, to use to enrich has been rebuked by a heterosexual male who of their recordings. Jeannie is a soulful singer Whodathunkit? Yes, I am Mr. Evening News on to have fun, finding and exercising their inner their lives. Among them, the most contentious just happens to hold principle over prurience, with a great sense of humor. I liked to play Talk Radio 760 KFMB! That’s me reading the performer, holding the mic myself to read off the has been number three: No one will be “bumped fairness over frivolity, honor over on-her, in this “Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On” and news you need, Monday through Friday curious names and some of the most pedestrian, up” [in order] for any reason, including birthdays, great young country that some of us still call “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do.” Jimmy between 5 pm and midnight, on the hour and idiotic song titles a composer had actually con - anniversaries, financial inducement, impending America. played bass trombone and led the band. He the half-hour, when Michael Savage, et al, ceived? “Baby Got Back”? “She Hate Me”? (once childbirth, visiting relatives, military duties, or A little grope might have helped. . . . smiled alot. That’s how I’ll remember Jimmy pause for air! the monster’s spoken line in Bride of “awesome” talent. Cheatham. Ironically, their last gig took place That cliche is true, as someone told me Frankenstein , nearly 70 years later the illiterate It’s right there in black and white, but not a this past September at the KSDS/O.B. Jazz when I lost my last full-time gig, that when name of a song! What’s next — “Fire Bad”? week has gone by without a few seemingly Festival, which I could not attend, although I one door closes, another one opens...that life Aaaarrrgggghhh.) sophisticated participants betraying their surpris - listened to the streaming audio of the show brings you unexpected surprises. I had never Soon enough we started the singing thing at ing inability to read. That I have been trauma - via the WNOE, New Orleans, website. So I even considered becoming a radio newsman. the P.B. club. I was glad to have Ed Decker with tized by this vicious asault on my faith in the never got the opportunity to see the Thanks to Gina Corrall at Metro Networks and me. Although he was behind the bar, he would American educational system is a matter now in Cheathams in person. My condolences to to Dave Sniff at KFMB for believing in me. always deliberate with me when some unexpect - the hands of my attorneys and requires no fur - Jeannie. I hope you’ll carry on for Jimmy. I gotta go. Got a newscast coming up in 15 ed problem arose; many wise solutions were ther comment, but there is one more excuse that minutes!

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

Diana Jones’ Direct Approach John Jorgenson: Master of Goes Straight to the Heart Gypsy-Jazz Guitar by Mike Alvarez n’t stray far from its roots. One can imagine it being played by a truly unplugged ensemble by Craig Yerkes without losing any of its power. lthough brought up in New York by As one delves deeper into the songs, their adoptive parents, singer/songwriter true sophistication is revealed, relating stories he musical resume of jazz guitar virtu - Diana Jones found herself drawn to the A that are as universal as they are profound. oso John Jorgenson teeters somewhere music of artists like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Sung in plain language, her songs of love, loss, and Emmylou Harris. Finding her birth family T between astonishing and downright redemption, and acceptance contain themes in the hills of Eastern Tennessee, she discov - unbelievable. Guitar publications have that would resonate with any listener. “Pretty Diana Jones ered a deep connection not only to her rela - hailed Jorgenson as the foremost champion Girl” is a young woman’s lament about the tives, but to her cultural roots as well. One of of the Django Reinhardt style of gypsy jazz emptiness of the attention she attracts. In but this one seems earmarked to be her break - her grandfathers was Robert Lee Maranville, a guitar. His mastery of Reinhardt’s style is so addition to singing it, Jones plays many of the through. Some have already spoken of Diana musician who had played with Chet Atkins, complete that our subject was chosen to instruments on this track. “Pony” is a song Jones in the same breath as such luminaries as and it is he to whom her new album is dedi - play Django himself in a major Hollywood that has garnered a good deal of attention and the Carter family and Merle Haggard. Her sto - cated. Given all of this, it’s not hard to con - release, starring Charlize Theron, called critical acclaim. In it, she sings the melancholy rytelling prowess has been compared to that of clude that she was predestined to give voice to Head in the Clouds . Not only has Jorgenson’s tale of a Native American girl who finds her - Emily Dickinson. the experiences and emotions of her brilliance been recognized here in the U.S., self in a world that is far removed from that of It hasn’t even been a year since My Appalachian heritage with as much truth and but European masters of gypsy jazz have John Jorgenson her idyllic childhood memories. “Fever Moon” Remembrance of You was released, yet she has authenticity as she could muster. She has cre - also acknowledged his gifts and sought to paints a rustic picture of courtship and love already gotten rave reviews, been nominated man to help them make their recordings ated a sound that contains elements of coun - collaborate with him. Jorgenson has also that is set to a festive arrangement. It would be for two Folk Alliance awards, and toured all (some of them Grammy winners). In 2004, try, folk, and mountain music. achieved enormous success outside of his a perfect number for a traditional dance. over the country appearing at folk festivals, Jorgenson recorded the critically acclaimed At first listen, her third album, My primary genre of gypsy jazz as a founding Samples of these and other songs are available club dates, coffeehouses, and house concerts. Franco-American Swing , a groundbreaking CD Remembrance of You , sounds like a simple and member of two wildly popular bands, the at her website www.dianajonesmusic.com. She took top honors at the 2006 Kerrville New that features the Nashville Chamber unvarnished country/folk/bluegrass effort. (five number one singles), It is precisely this kind of artistic openness Folk Contest. In addition, her album has gar - Orchestra and showcases the writing skills mostly acoustic instrumentation serves to rein - nered a respectable amount of radio exposure cofounded with Chris Hillman, and the that has garnered Jones the accolades and and instrumental virtuosity (on clarinet and force this impression. Guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and has charted well, showing that there is Hellecasters (cult favorite among guitarists). attention from a roots and Americana audience guitar) of our subject. bass, and drums create the backdrop for the still a good number of listeners who will For those projects, Jorgenson could be that is international in scope. She had already These days, Jorgenson spends most of honest tales she sings with a clear, mellifluous respond to music that is authentic and sub - found slingin’ his Telecaster and pumpin’ attracted a following with her first two releas - his musical energy playing gypsy jazz as the voice. Unlike the heavily produced pop that stantial. The connection that her music forges out mean country-rock licks that would es, Imagine Me and The One That Got Away , leader of the John Jorgenson Quintet, tour - passes for country these days, her music does - with her audience is a deep and strong one. have you wondering if this is the same guy ing the world and making records. This Diana Jones is currently on tour, taking her who makes the Django stuff look so easy. As exciting band will be coming to San Diego’s music across the country. In the past she has if all of that wasn’t enough, Jorgenson has own Dizzy’s on March 1. According to been on the same bill as Martina McBride, the collaborated as a multi-instrumentalist (clar - Chuck Perrin, owner of Dizzy’s, “John is the Del McCoury Band, and Guy Clark. She will inet, pedal steel, mandolin, and saxophone!) consummate guitarist, with astonishing be making an appearance at a Canyonfolk as well as a vocalist with such superstars as skills and mastery over his instrument. I’m a House Concert in El Cajon on February 10. Elton John, , and Sting. Numerous guitarist too, but when I watch him play, all Please see the calendar on page 14 or visit other pop stars have called on Jorgenson’s I can do is shake my head in wonder.” www.canyonfolkhouseconcerts.com for more talents as an ultra versatile musical journey - information. Here is an artist who brings a wealth of diverse musical expertise to every show and reviews of concerts done by this quintet have been nothing short of glowing. If you love great jazz and seeing world-class mas - ters tear up a stage, it doesn’t get any better than John Jorgenson and his band. More information on Jorgenson can be found at www.johnjorgenson.com.

12 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Eben Brooks Podunk Fishtank Earl Thomas Mike McGill Mirrors Nowhere Ensemble Plantation Gospel Keep On by Derek E. Shaw by Chuck Schiele by Chuck Schiele by Derek E. Shaw Super Raoul A self-proclaimed acoustic philoso - I’ve always preferred music that File the new CD from Mike McGill Earthy and organic, cathartic and pher, Eben Brooks’ charm is as much by Derek E. Shaw tries to say something honest and under beach-folk-pop. introspective, pristine and delicate are in his naiveté as in his experience. real over music that tries to be slick Not to name names, but if some - the sounds of husband-and-wife duo Featuring 12 songs representing near - A flamenco frenzy of mad and cool. For those of you familiar one were to ask me the question, Podunk Nowhere. The impassioned ly a decade of material, much of his bohemians and Gypsies! Fishtank with Earl Thomas, you will find him “What does it sounds like as far as statement in their debut CD is both personal life and strife are evident in Ensemble’s debut record is a contem - without the flashy city-slicker suit, to influences go?” I’d say, “Equal parts personal and relatable. his new release, Mirrors , a highly emo - porary blend of up-tempo roots which we’ve been accustomed for Jimmy Buffet, Jack Johnson, and Don Recorded at StudiOB, the duo’s tional, heartfelt record. “For me, music from Romania, Rome, Spain, some time now, on this record. McLean’s ‘Vincent’ mode.” It works heartfelt effort evokes sentimental yet acoustic philosophy is about making and Japan. From the smoky cafes of On Plantation Gospel , you will find in a coffeehouse. It works at a beach painful memories. Birth and death, good music and doing good things, Bucharest to dusty Middle Eastern a more inspired, honest, and impor - bonfire. surfside romances and barren land - thereby becoming better human caravans, this thunderous album tant singer in Earl Thomas on this This 14-track collection of music scapes, obsession and release — this beings,” Brooks said. evokes the spirit of the past, offering outing, upping things a passionate was primarily written on acoustic gui - album feels like the diary of a way - A worldly yet very introspective a savory taste of what traditional notch or two. In fact, if I had to take tar and then built into the mix with ward folk artist coming home. record, Mirrors is sentimental, nostal - music can sound like when it’s played a wild guess, the passion of this work supportive arrangements contributed Like a road trip at dusk, Podunk gic, and philosophical. Brooks comes loud and fast by some of the most might indicate something deep and by producer, multi-instrumentalist, Nowhere captures that solitary across like a former brazen hippie who gifted young musicians in the world. personal shifting deep within the and accompanist Lee Coulter, along moment when the stereo and setting has found a more secure and spiritual A seven-piece orchestra is led by soul of this artist. Artists go through with Jared Gianquito and Jim sun meld as nostalgia flutters about. place. The music isn’t incredibly origi - the soaring vocals of Ursula Knudsen changes, and when they do, there is Woodruff. Reflective and hopeful, regretful and nal, but it’s very well arranged and who sings in multiple dialects and a rebirth in their art that is parallel to This is a friendly, breezy-sounding resilient, its sense of longing captures accompanied. multi-tasks on saw and violin. their shift. This strikes me as just work. The songs are good, well-writ - the day and milks our fleeting lives. Producer Steve Langdon does a fine Fishtank offers a truly unique and that. Like a refined elegant howl, the ten songs, which possess a charming Heather Janiga and guitar wielding job of complementing the quirky, worldly experience, and their shows vocal artistry is urgent, animal, quality to them by way of their gen - hubby Johnny J. are a formidable sometimes spastic songwriting. The are one hell of a time! bluesy, yet razor-sharp, deliberate, tleness and simplicity. The melodies songwriting duo. Her airy voice has an orchestration serves to color an ambi - The group’s talented members and beautiful. Here is a singer deeply are simple and right where they need indie vibe, at times hinting at a folky tious album that required added tex - include two former vagabonds who and emotionally involved with some - to be, managing to maintain a sing- Portishead or P.J. Harvey. Their country ture. Mandolin, stand-up bass, violin, toured Europe via mule-drawn con - thing he really needs to sing about. along quality. What’s most interest - songs’ sweet vocal arrangements are and even an alto recorder contribute voy, a French fiddler prodigy, a punk For the most part, this is 17 tracks ing here is the relationship between akin to Lucinda Williams and Wilco. subtle touches that make a huge dif - accordionist, the master of twenty- of public domain gospel coming the writer and the producer in that Their tunes are catchy and playful ference. This collection of acoustic first century modern flamenco guitar, from its place of origin and ancestry. the writing weaves between the with forthright lyrics and production. anthems are utterly playful and catchy. and one of the best Japanese It comes from West Africa, the cot - moves of, say, the ’70s pop-folk The tasteful and infectious melodies The socio-political jabs are balanced shamisen players in the world. ton fields, the Southern Baptist choir, thing and more current trends that are interwoven with acoustic guitar by a self-deprecating awareness that Fishtank Ensemble presents a suffrage of an entire people, and in are still being defined. The produc - riffs, sultry bass lines, ambient noise, makes the listener comfortable laugh - unique amalgamation of Gypsy, this case Earl’s personal lineage to it. tions are really cool, sometimes lean - and creepy whispers. The subtle ing and singing along. Balkan, flamenco, klezmer, and stag - The whole thing sounds like it ing toward retro — sometimes lean - experimentation sprinkled throughout Brooks’ lyrics contain the spirit of gering original compositions. The was recorded at a church in the ing forward — sometimes combining brings the album to life. Minimal yet growth and realization, not so much arrangements are constantly shifting deep South. The instrumentation both and always finding the perfect textured, utterly rich and beautiful, about changing America or achieving and slashing, darting and dashing, successfully strives to be traditional middle. the content is well developed for a world peace but rather about chang - interweaving between quick riffs, and I find it contributing to the Lyrically speaking, you’ll find debut release, with lyrics that hold up ing oneself, being loving and tolerant, wild scales, time signature changes, believability of the work. The nuggets of light irony and humor, against the wishy-washiness of many and the journey from delusion to ful - and complex rhythms. arrangements sound appropriately of personal insights and experiences, singer-songwriters today. fillment. Fishtank Ensemble formed in another era — no electric instru - doses of spirituality, a few good A contemporary sound with tradi - “Lightbringer’s Fall” deals with the Oakland following the immigration ments (just vocals piano, mandolins, questions, and tender relationships. tional elements, this album is fiercely frustration of having lofty dreams but of fiddle phenom Fabrice Martinez, fiddles, guitar, and percussion), Thematically speaking, McGill sings independent and unapologetic. ending up working at a dead-end job. who spent seven years with Knudsen which I not only found interesting, I along the lines of hope — sort of an Podunk Nowhere will strike a chord in Ultimately empowering and existen - traveling around Europe in a Gypsy also found it mood-altering. You inspired “chin-up” attitude, with a all listeners because it’s about accept - tialist, its message deals with demons caravan learning folk music. can’t listen to this without thinking soundtrack evoking seagulls, salt air, ing the past and embracing the pres - in a harsh but brave manner in taking After three short weeks together, about what it really means. And why. five-knot southwesterly on-shore ent without worrying too much about control of our lives, relationships, and Fishtank recorded their debut album You’ll hear a few renditions of breezes, and the hush of soft surf at the future. destinies. “Too often,” Brooks says, Super Raoul , which means “way popular favorites such as “Swing the green-flash moment of twilight. The brutally honest “Junkee Love” “People blame their problems on any - cool” in Gypsy slang. The album was Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Will the It is the CD’s common denominator, chronicles the battle of addiction and thing but themselves. It’s their bosses’ recorded live, showcasing the band’s Circle Be Unbroken,” along with a the thing that threads it together. its ugly cycle. Heather admits, “I’m fault, or their spouses’ fault, or the unmatched chops and breadth of few lesser-known gems, each capa - And even though there are 14 not a stupid girl, but I’ve made stupid government’s or the media’s. They styles and influences. ble of locating and unlocking a dif - cuts on here, the running time of girl mistakes,” later declaring, “I’ll try never take time to figure out how they The opening track, “Bordeas,” ferent aching joy in your compas - each is inside two or three minutes, forever.... I go down on my face and are responsible for their situations.” charges out of the gate like a fuming sionate heart. which is amazing, because I usually get back up for more.” A few tunes demonstrate Brooks’ bull. With intricate flamenco picking, On each track I am reminded of think records have one or two too The bittersweet anthem “Easy Does first stabs at alt country. The result is flaring fiddle, wailing Spanish vocals, the irony about how unthinkable many songs on them, diminishing a It” deals with self-doubt. The chorus is poppy and refined, delivering raw and castanets, the album immediate - things can lead to such a joyful certain “wow-ness” for the overall lis - an explosion of acceptance and Americana in a satirical, almost cheesy ly feels like a bustling procession noise — how love, faith, and ten. I kinda get the same feeling resolve with catchy soaring vocals that fashion. But his nasal, borderline atop a cobblestone courtyard. courage lead to character. How three when I overeat. I was ready to say feel sincere. Heather’s earnest lyrics whiny voice is endearing in its unadul - Other instrumentals like “Itty chords changed a people — all peo - that here, but I retract the thought. and emotional delivery complement terated authenticity. Bitty Snitty Little Frenchman” and ple — and their world. How many He gets into the song, does his busi - her husband’s aggressive strumming, Some songs are silly and lightheart - “Troll Wedding” feel much like the records do that these days? ness, and he’s back out. Finding which spontaneously floats into disso - ed, but most are emotional and rever - suggestive titles, playful soundtracks It makes me think about how we another spot on the beach and nant slides and intricate picking. ent. “Black Train” is dedicated to his to European follies. They are rich, don’t need another over-produced another song to sing. Hitting the album’s stride halfway mother who died of breast cancer — a innovative pieces that make the lis - formula “babe of the year” record, Nobody does that anymore. Cool. through is “Embroidery Queen,” a symphonic, harmony-packed requiem tener feel more cultured for having when there are records like this. Make yourself a tropical bevy with bold waltz that piles crunchy guitar of epic proportions. The title track experienced them. This is an important CD. those little paper umbrellas, sliced leads atop a cabaret with weird chord plays off a Stephen Donaldson novel, In late 2005, the Fishtank www.earlthomasmusic.com pineapple, a curly straw, and ice changes, heady bass riffs, and wicked a beautifully melancholy song about Ensemble left West Coast audiences cubes. Then cheer up, have a nice acoustic rhythms. coping with loss and depression. You insatiably delighted and enthralled, day, and pop in this Mike McGill CD. The country tune and final track can feel the loneliness in the orchestral prompting the European members “And, Yes” features rich harmonies, arrangements and dreamy ambiance. to settle down in America. A forth - blues harmonica, and head-bobbing Another song inspired by a book is coming DVD will showcase the acoustic jams. A soulful sing-a-long based on Roger Zelazny’s The Courts of bands exceptional live energy and, with touching lyrics both genuine and Phil Harmonic Sez: Chaos . It contains striking imagery, considering their uncanny ability to charming, it’s a perfect ending for this inducing visions of city lights, leafless jam and churn out new music, a fol - “Love doesn’t make the world CD. The bar stool is waiting , so turn trees, and lovers on a Parisian side - low-up album is looming. go ’round. Love is what makes up the juke box and put your feet up. walk. It was cowritten by Allison They will be performing at Claire de the ride worthwhile.” A CD release will be held at Lonsdale, a local singer-songwriter Lune on Saturday, March 3. Winston’s on February 14. — Franklin P. Jones and Brooks’ frequent collaborator. www.fishtankensemble.com. www.myspace.com/podunknowhere. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 FEBRUARY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

WEEKLY

FEBRUARY CALENDAR Tracy Johnson , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., every sunday 8pm. Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, Open Mic Night , Twiggs, 8:30pm. thursday • 1 wednesday • 7 The Roots , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 7pm. DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Open Mic Night , Dublin Square, 544 4th Ave., Astra Kelly/Billy Candler/Mike McGill , Dublin Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg 9pm. Anna Troy , Terra Restaurant, 3900 block of Hard to Travel Bluegrass Jam , Old Time Music Square, 554 4th Ave., 8pm. Vermont St., Uptown District, 6pm. Store, 2852 University Ave., 7pm. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. Friends of Old Time Music Meeting , Old Time Todd Pyke , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., Encinitas, Sunday Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. every thursday wednesday • 14 Main, El Cajon, 3pm. Music Store, 2852 University Ave., 7pm. 7:30pm. Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Joe Rathburn/Shawn Rohlf , Milano Coffee Co., Citizen Band/Psychoactive/American Hitmen , Ugandan Orphans Choir , WorldBeat Cultural Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4pm. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., Ste. B, 7pm. 710 Club, 710 Garnet, 9pm. Center, 2100 Park Blvd., 7:30pm. Open Mic Night , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Bluegrass Music for Fun , Today’s Pizza, 481 Teeny Tiny Pit Orchestra for Silent Films , Kite Flying Society , House of Blues, 1055 5th Robin Henkel Band , Tio Leo’s North, 10787 Mtn. Rd., 7:30pm. Santa Fe Dr., Encinitas, 6:30pm. Museum of Contemporary Art, 1001 Kettner Ave., 9:30pm. Camino Ruiz, Mira Mesa, 8pm. Salsa Night , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875b El Zydeco Night , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 7pm. Blvd., 7pm. Podunk Nowhere CD Release w/ the Cajon Blvd., 7:30pm. Holly Hoffmann & Mike Wofford , Athenaeum, Grams/Chad Farran/Tim Walikis , Winston’s, Joe Rathburn , Folkey Monkey Thursdays, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. thursday • 8 Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 1921 Bacon St., 8:30pm. (88.3 FM). Bruce Hornsby , Harrah’s Rincon, Valley Center, Anna Troy , Terra Restaurant, 3900 block of Guggenheim Grotto/Zosia , Lestat’s, 3343 Ste. B, 7pm. 8pm. Vermont St., Uptown District, 6pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star Bacon St., 9:30pm. Tiffany , Twiggs , 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Joe Rathburn/Nathan Welden , Milano Coffee Kite Flying Society , House of Blues, 1055 5th Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , 10- Aaron Bowen/Derek Evans/Willie Ames , Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., Ste. B, 7pm. Ave., 9:30pm. Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Borders Books & Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Eric Person & Meta-Four , Athenaeum, 1008 midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Music, 159 Fletcher Pkwy, El Cajon, 7pm. Sirens Lure/Ian Allen/Greybeards/Grass Wall St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. thursday • 15 Night of the Cookers (deejay-played jazz Open Mic Night , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Gypsys , Tiki Bar, 1152 Garnet Ave., 9:30pm. Livingston Taylor , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 records from ‘30s-’70s) , Whistlestop, 2236 Mtn. Rd., 7:30pm. Fern St., 10pm. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Robin Henkel , Terra Restaurant, 3900 block of Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s friday • 2 Poncho Sanchez/Steph Johnson Band , Belly Vermont St., Uptown District, 6pm. Coffeehouse, 3015 Juniper St., 8pm. Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Joseph Angelastro , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., every monday Encinitas, 7:30pm. Jazz Jam , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875B El Jim Earp/Tom Boyer/Bobo Czarnowski , Hot Kodo , California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Cajon Blvd., 9:30pm. Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Escondido Blvd., 8pm. Crash Carter , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Coast Hwy. Acoustic Guitar Ensemble (players wel - 101, Encinitas, 7:45pm. come) , Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church, Swing Thursdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Lindsey Yung , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., Los Lobos , Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD 6551 Soledad Mtn. Rd., La Jolla, 7pm. 9pm. Encinitas, 7pm. Campus, La Jolla, 8pm. Todd Snider w/ Sara Petite & Chris Clarke , Steven Ybarra , Borders, 159 Fletcher Pkwy., El Coco Montoya , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Open Mic Night , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., Cajon, 7pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Brenda Panneton , Borders, 1072 Camino del 7:30pm. every friday Rio N., 8pm. Tango Dancing , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 8pm. Railheads , Del Dios Country Store, 20154 Lake Tenacious Dave , Twiggs , 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Staring at the Sun CD Release w/ Podunk Champion Vinyl/Dawn Mitschele , Twiggs , 4590 4:30-9pm. Jim Malcolm , Holy Trinity Church, 2083 Sunset Nowhere/The Grams/Mark DeCerbo & Four Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Cliffs Blvd., 8pm. Eyes/Marie Haddad , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., every tuesday Franco Z & Friends , Tommy’s Italian Chris McCarthy/Whitton , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Restaurant, 1190 N. 2nd., El Cajon, 6pm. Peter Sprague/Gunnar Biggs/Duncan 9pm. Ave., 9pm. Open Mic Night , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 Moore/Tripp Sprague/Leonard Patton/ Coral Silvia Brothers/Citizen Band/Ken Rahn , Tiki Tim Malley/Wendy Bailey/Static for Zen , Tiki La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. Jaime Valle-Bob Magnusson Jazz Duo , MacFarland Thuet , Dizzy’s , 344 7th Ave., 8pm. Bar, 1152 Garnet Ave., 9:30pm. Bar, 1152 Garnet Ave., 9:30pm. Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. Harry’s Bar & American Grill, 4370 La Jolla Village Dr., 6:30pm. Primasi , Bookworks, Flower Hill Mall, Del Mar, Jack Tempchin & Friends , Cafe Calypso, 576 8pm. N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Amelia Browning , South Park Bar & Grill, friday • 9 friday • 16 1946 Fern St., 7pm. Josh Damigo , Borders, 668 6th Ave., 8pm. Hot Club of San Diego , Prado Restaurant, Mike McGill , Borders, 1072 Camino del Rio N., Jordan Reimer/Steven Ybarra/Austin Melissa Vaughan/Diane Waters/Sage Keefer , Balboa Park, 8pm. Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. 8pm. Jennings/A.J. Peacox , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Basin Street Band , Lucky Star Restaurant, Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Open Mic Night , Portugalia, 4839 Newport B’Dale , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Dr., B’Dale , Borders, 159 Fletcher Pkwy., El Cajon, Ave., 8pm. 3893 54th St., 7pm. 8pm. Juan Peso & Friends 101 Artists Colony, 90 N. 7pm. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7pm. Open Mic Night , Egyptian Tea Room & Patty Hall , Borders, 1905 Calle Barcelona, Dave Alvin , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Smoking Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Carlsbad, 8pm. Venice , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield Mansfield St., 7:30pm. every wednesday St., 7:30pm. Speak Easy Quartet , Claire de Lune, 2906 Big Rig Deluxe , Del Dios Country Store, 20154 Music at Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , University Ave., 8:30pm. Randy Phillips & Friends , Rebecca’s Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Newport Ave., 4-7pm. every saturday Coffeehouse, 3015 Juniper St., 7:30pm. Dino/Leviticus/Billy Candler/Alpine Daze & Rusty Jones , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., Encinitas, Jaime Valle Quartet w/ Bob Magnusson , Tuto Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg Boogie Nights , Twiggs , 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Tom Brousseau CD Release , North Park 8pm. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. Vaudeville Theatre & Candy Shoppe, 2031 El Mare, 4365 Executive Dr., La Jolla, 6pm. Blackout Party/Lindsey Cook/Molly Jenson , North County Cowboys , Cask & Cleaver, 3757 S. Vintage Vegas w/ Laura Jane & Franco Z , Cajon Blvd., 8pm. Mission Rd., Fallbrook, 8pm. Old Timey Night , Folk Arts Rare Records, Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 2881 Adams Ave., 7pm. Martini’s Above Fourth, 3940 4th Ave., 6pm. English Beat , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Clachan Boys , Del Dios Country Store, 20154 Lee Tyler Post , Borders, 668 6th Ave., 8pm. Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. High Society Jazz Band , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa Christian/Gospel Open Mic , El Cajon. Info: Beach, 9pm. Josh Damigo , Borders, 1905 Calle Barcelona, J.D., 619/246-7060. Black Valentine’s Day w/ Eleonor England/ Carlsbad, 8pm. St., 7pm. Shep Meyers/Tripp Sprague/Bryan McConnell/ saturday • 3 Steve Bulger , Dizzy’s , 344 7th Ave., 8pm. Johnson/Bosley/Morin , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Dr., 8pm. Bob Weir , House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., 8pm. Blues & Brews Party , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Orquesta Binacional de Mambo , Dizzy’s , 344 Main St., El Cajon, 6:30pm. Nate Donnis Trio , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., 7th Ave., 8:30pm. Bob Marley Roots Rock Reggae Festival , saturday • 24 Encinitas, 8pm. ipayOne Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., 1pm. Suzanne Shea/Hot Rod Harris , Hot Java Cafe, Aston Peague/Jonathan Clay/Kelly Kellam/The 11738 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Frances Charlotte , Borders, 1072 Camino del Retrofits , Twiggs , 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Free Trombone Clinic/Master Class w/ Bill Rio N., 8pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Tole , Oak Crest Middle School, 675 Balour Dr., Ben Crane , Templar’s Hall, Old Poway Park, Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Encinitas, 1pm. 760/489-2383. Mike McGill , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Pete Yorn , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 7pm. 12434 Midland Rd., 7pm. Bob Schneider/Eliot Morris , Belly Up, 143 S. Dr., 8pm. Gary LeFebvre All Star Big Band , Dizzy’s , 344 Jim Earp/Nathan Welden/Michelle Lewis , Jim Earp , Cafe Italia, 1704 India St., 7pm. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Marie Haddad , Borders, 1905 Calle Barcelona, 7th Ave., 8pm. Patty Hall , Borders, 159 Fletcher Pkwy., El Chris Clarke , Taylor’s Restaurant, 721 Grand Carlsbad, 8pm. Astra Kelly/Steve Carson/Sara Petite/Ken Sue Palmer Trio , L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Del Cajon, 7pm. Ave., 9:30pm. Mar, 7pm. Laura Jane/Sue Palmer , Rubber Rose, 3812 Ray Rahn , Dublin Square, 554 4th Ave., 8pm. Sue Palmer Trio , L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Del St., 8pm. John McEuen , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mar, 7pm. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Taran Gray/James Drive , Twiggs , 4590 Park saturday • 17 tuesday • 20 Novamenco , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Blvd., 8:30pm. Peggy Watson & David Beldock , House 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Guitar Workshop w/ Celino Romero , Mt. Concert, College Area, 7:30pm. Reservations: 4 Way Free/Billy Shaddox , Lestat’s, 3343 Soledad Presbyterian Church, 6551 Soledad Party Gras , Coo Coo Club, 8203 Winter Darwin’s B-Day Celebration w/ Opossums of Gardens, Lakeside, 6pm. [email protected] Truth , Unitarian Church, 4190 Front St., 7:30pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Mtn. Rd., La Jolla, 10:30am-5:30pm. Info: Joseph Angelastro , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., John Stewart , San Dieguito United Methodist SuperUnloader , O’Connell’s Pub, 1310 Morena 858/405-2691 or www.villamusica.org Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Dan Levenson , Clarke House Concert, Blvd., 9pm. Encinitas, 7:30pm. Kensington, 7:30pm. Reservations: www.clarke - Steven Espaniola , Borders, 11160 Rancho Lisa Sanders/Chris Trapper , House Concert, houseconcerts.com Carmel Dr., 3pm. Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Pacific Beach, 8pm. Reservations: www.rando - Sons of Bordertown , Del Dios Country Store, saturday • 10 Baja Blues Boys , Le Papagayo, 1002 N. Coast mactsofmusic.org 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Hwy. 101, Leucadia, 6:30pm. Peter Sprague w/ Lisa Hightower/Leonard Willie Jones III Quartet CD Release , Dizzy’s Molly Jenson/Ryan Baxley , Hot Java Cafe, Chris McCarthy/Ethni Jamin’ , Hot Java Cafe, wednesday • 21 Patton , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., 8pm. , 11738 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. 344 7th Ave., 8pm. 11738 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Joe Rathburn’s Island , Del Dios Country Store, Josh Damigo , Borders, 159 Fletcher Pkwy., El Greg Campbell/Jim Earp , Borders, 159 Fletcher Todd Pyke , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., Encinitas, Universe of Dreams , California Center for the 7:30pm. 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 8pm. Cajon, 7pm. Pkwy., El Cajon, 7pm. Joe Walsh/Jack Tempchin , Belly Up, 143 S. Coyote Problem , Hooley’s Pub, 2955 Jamacha Andy Friedman/Cindy Lee Berryhill/Matt Darwin B-Day Concert w/ Opossums of Truth , Lorin Sklamberg (of the Klezmatics), Acoustic Rd., Ste. 21, Rancho San Diego, 8pm. Liebow Auditorium, UCSD School of Medicine, Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Curreri & the Exfriends , 101 Artists Colony, 90 Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Chris Torres , Twiggs , 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 8pm. UCSD Campus, La Jolla, 7:30pm. Robin Henkel/ Nathan James/Ben Hernandez/ Kenny Edwards , Heritage East House Concert, Big Rig Deluxe/Dukes of Haggard , Lestat’s, Robin Adler , San Dieguito United Methodist El Cajon, 8pm. Reservations: suzanner@sbc - Billy Watson/Anna Troy/Byron Hudson , Roby Lakatos Ensemble , North Park Theatre, Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 2891 University Ave., 8pm. Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. global.net Barbara Nesbitt/Not Your Mom/Stereo Suite , Best of Listen Local w/ Terra Nova/Scott Veronica May , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., Tim Flannery CD Release , La Paloma Theatre, Bob Malone Band , Dizzy’s , 344 7th Ave., 8pm. 471 S. Coast Hwy., Encinitas, 7:30pm. 710 Club, 710 Garnet, 9pm. Wilson/JAC , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 9pm. Encinitas, 8pm. Paul Williams w/ Diane Schuur , California Center Kite Flying Society , House of Blues, 1055 5th B-Side Players , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Tom Boyer , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Dr., Ugandan Orphans Choir , WorldBeat Cultural for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 8pm. Center, 2100 Park Blvd., 7:30pm. Ave., 9:30pm. Beach, 9pm. 8pm. Podunk Nowhere , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., Mike Aguilar , Borders, 1905 Calle Barcelona, Venice , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield Encinitas, 8pm. St., 7:30pm. Carlsbad, 8pm. Adam Dias , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Dr., thursday • 22 sunday • 25 Blues All Stars w/ Len Rainey/Sue Palmer/ Joel Rafael/Green Water District , Twiggs , 4590 8pm. Coastal Communities Concert Band w/ Bill Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Deejha Marie , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Anna Troy , Terra Restaurant, 3900 block of 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Skibbereen , Borders, 1905 Calle Barcelona, Vermont St., Uptown District, 6pm. Tole , Carlsbad Community Church, 3175 Trevor Davis/Jay Buchanan/Reeve Carney , Carlsbad, 8pm. Harding St., 2:30pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Tom Brousseau CD Release , North Park Howard Alden & Ken Peplowski , Athenaeum, Vaudeville Theatre & Candy Shoppe, 2031 El Molly Jenson , Borders, 668 6th Ave., 8pm. 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. Teeny Tiny Pit Orchestra for Silent Films Michael Tiernan , Aroma Cafe, USD, Alcala Cajon Blvd., 8pm. Doug Culp/Delancey/Tim Mudd , Twiggs , 4590 Celebrates Black History Month , Seuss Rm., Park, 9pm. Dave Mason/John Mayall , Belly Up, 143 S. Geissel Library, UCSD Campus, La Jolla, 4pm. Downbeat Big Band w/ Clare Delto , Dizzy’s , Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Erica Thompson/Derek Evans/Possession/ 344 7th Ave., 8pm. Chad Farran/Greg Friedman/Jane Lui , Lestat’s, Cash Only (Johnny Cash Tribute) w/ Cash’d Earl Brothers , Clarke House Concert, Donnis Trio/Brooklyn , Triple Crown Pub, 3221 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Kensington, 7:30pm. Reservations: www.clarke - Adams Ave., 9pm. JJ Slide & Blues Talkers , Del Dios Country Out/7th Day Buskers/Chuck Schiele/Joey Store, 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Ken Rahn/Inigo/Sharon Hazel/Bigfellas/ Harris/Hideaways//Gregory Page/Cowboy houseconcerts.com Deadline Friday CD Release/Wise Monkey , Cathryn Beeks Ordeal/Drop Joy , Triple Crown Jack/Mark DeCerbo/Peter Bolland/Nisha Bill Frisell & , Athenaeum Studio, Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 9pm. Diana Jones , CanyonFolk House Concert, El Cajon, 8pm. Reservations: [email protected] Pub, 3221 Adams Ave., 9pm. Rose/Phil Harmonic/Palominos/Sara Petite/ 4441 Park Blvd., 8pm. Grand Canyon Sundown , Hennessey’s Tavern, Brazil Carnival , 4th & B, 345 B St., 9pm. Podunk Nowhere/Shoestring Strap/Big Rig J Turtle , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Teflon , Borders, 668 6th Ave., 8pm. Deluxe , Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 8pm. 2777 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad, 9pm. Hacienda Bros./Bartenders Bible , Belly Up, 143 Staring at the Sun CD Release w/ Vinyl Baja Blues Boys , Patrick’s Irish Pub, 13314 Andrea Reschke , Borders, 1905 Calle Cross Border Trio , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., 8pm. Radio/Buzzkill Romantics/The Shambles/ Anna Barcelona, Carlsbad, 8pm. S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Poway Rd., 9pm. Tim Pahlen , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Troy , Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., 9pm. Bringing the West Back/Alyssa Jacey/Drew Gasparini , Twiggs , 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Brett Bixby/Josh Damigo/Kyle Phelan , sunday • 18 Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. sunday • 4 A.J. Croce/Dave Howard , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams monday • 26 Ave., 9pm. Monroe Ave. String Band , Caffe Forte, 3139 Grampa Drew/Erica Thompson/Soul of the S.D. Guitar Society Meeting , Old Time Music University Ave., 10am. River , Tiki Bar, 1152 Garnet Ave., 9:30pm. Dwight Stone & Kalido-Skopio , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Store, 2852 University Ave., 4pm. SweetTooth/Silvia Brothers , O’Connell’s Pub, Ave., 7:30pm. 1310 Morena Blvd., 9pm. Guitar Workshop w/ Celino Romero , Mt. Adrienne Nimms & Spirit Wind , 101 Artists Soledad Presbyterian Church, 6551 Soledad friday • 23 Astra Kelly/Sharon Hazel , Dublin Square, 554 Colony, 90 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 8pm. Elijah Emanuel & the Revelations , Belly Up, Mtn. Rd., La Jolla, 10:30am-5:30pm. Info: 4th Ave., 8pm. 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. 858/405-2691 or www.villamusica.org Kyle Phelan/Nate Welden/Isaac Cheong/Tim monday • 5 High Society Jazz Band , Lafayette Hotel, 2223 Mudd/Astra Kelly/Laura Kuebel , Hot Java tuesday • 27 sunday • 11 El Cajon Blvd., 1pm. Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Gabriel Sundy Quartet , Dizzy’s , 344 7th Ave., 6pm. Kristin Korb Trio , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., 8pm. Ian Tyson , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. S.D. Folk Song Society Meeting , Old Time St., 7:30pm. Music Store, 2852 University Ave., 2pm. Cathie Ryan , California Center for the Arts, 340 Billy Watson/Silver String Submarine Band , Astra Kelly/Inigo/Grampa Drew/Ken Rahn , N. Escondido Blvd., 7pm. Bookworks, Flower Hill Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. Dublin Square, 554 4th Ave., 8pm. Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind , 101 Artists Colony, 90 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 3pm. Greg Campbell , Borders, 159 Fletcher Pkwy., El Grand Canyon Sundown , Del Dios Country wednesday • 28 Cajon, 7pm. Store, 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Jose Sinatra & the Troy Dante Inferno , Hot Matthew Foster , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E St., tuesday • 6 Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 El Cajon Blvd., 4pm. Ruby & the Redhots , Del Dios Country Store, Jim Earp/Greg Campbell , Borders, 11160 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Rancho Carmel Dr., 8pm. Encinitas, 7:30pm. The Gospel According to Darwin w/ Opossums Annie Dru/Derren Raser/Rusty Jones , Lestat’s, Texas Songwriter Showcase w/ Lyle 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Neko Case/Erich Bachmann , Belly Up, 143 S. Stasia Conger/John Estep/Sender , Twiggs , of Truth , North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. 4590 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Lovett/Joe Ely/John Hiatt/Guy Clark , Viejas Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach, 7pm. Casino, 5000 Willows Rd., Alpine, 8pm. Steve Poltz , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. The Lovely Disorder/Tragic Tantrum Cabaret , Sheila Sondergard/Kelley Winston Lee/Jordan monday • 12 Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Citizen Band , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Loder/Chuck Schiele/ Laura Kuebel/Julie Band in Black , Ocean House, 300 Carlsbad Kite Flying Society , House of Blues, 1055 5th James/Barbara Nesbitt/Jefferson Jay/Edub Bert Turetzki & Friends , Athenaeum mini-con - monday • 19 Ave., 9:30pm. Poet/Mike Pinto , Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 9pm. cert, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, noon. Village Dr., 9pm. Rob Thorsen , Athenaeum mini-concert, Lyceum Theatre, Horton Plaza, noon. 14 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour Photo: Lois Bach Photo: Lois Bach Photo: Lois Bach 5

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