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

February 2006 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 5, No. 5

what’s inside Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Statement Contributors E St. Cafe Full Circle.. …………4 Lily May Ledford Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 Guitar Teachers Doug Pettibone Paige Aufhammer Parlor Showcase …8 The Grams Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Highway’s Song. …12 Dougie MacLean Of Note. ……………13 The Grams The Wild Truth Sligo Rags The Wigbillies Gully ‘Round About ...... …14 February Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

Where to Go to Hear Acoustic Music in San Diego

RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news The E Street Café A Cozy Place to Hang Out in Coastal North County MISSION CONTRIBUTORS To promote, encourage, and provide an alternative voice for the great local FOUNDERS by Dwight Worden music that is generally overlooked by Ellen and Lyle Duplessie Liz Abbott the mass media; namely the genres of ocated at 130 West E Street about a Kent Johnson alternative country, Americana, roots, block from the Coast Highway in folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass. PUBLISHERS downtown old Encinitas, the E Street To entertain, educate, and bring togeth - Liz Abbott L Café is a great little place to hang out, er players, writers, and lovers of these Kent Johnson forms; to explore their foundations; and drink coffee, eat yummy snacks, chat to expand the audience for these types EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS with friends, go on line at computer work of music. Liz Abbott stations, or, in the evenings, enjoy listen - Chuck Schiele ing to live music. The Café bills itself as a SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local ADVERTISING “full service cyber café,” featuring Dell source for alternative country, Liz Abbott work stations connected to the Internet Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, Joanna Schiele via high speed fiber optics. If you prefer, jazz, and bluegrass music news, is pub - you can bring your own wireless comput - lished monthly and is free of charge. DISTRIBUTION er and connect to the Internet that way, Lois Bach Letters to the editor must be signed and free with a purchase. The Café offers a Peter Bolland may be edited for content. It is not, wide selection of beverages, featuring however, guaranteed that they will Greg Gohde organic fair trade coffees and a broad appear. Kevin Irvin Mark Jackson selection of loose leaf teas. Both vegan All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Jenna Duplessie Pabalate alternatives and the standard café fare are E Street Cafe interior TROUBADOUR, unless otherwise stat - Bill Richardson here to tempt you. The Café is open from ed, are solely the opinion of the writer Dave Sawyer 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through City which, once obtained, and do not represent the opinions of the Chuck Schiele Wednesday and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. will allow them to install a staff or management. All rights Indian Joe Stewart reserved. Thursday through Saturday. permanent sound system and PHOTOGRAPHY The Café has a nice, clean and bright to otherwise notch up the atmosphere, with an interesting “parlor” program. At the moment ADVERTISING INFORMATION Steve Covault For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488 Lois Bach in the corner, decorated in turn of the temporary sound is set up by FACTS AND FIGURES or e-mail [email protected]. Tim Woods century style. Local owners Bob Naninga musicians on an “as needed” and Keith Shillington first opened the E basis. SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for WEB MASTER Street Café in September of 2004 with an WHERE : 130 E Street in old downtown Performing musicians who $30/yr. Send check payable to San Will Edwards Encinitas, one block west of N. Coast Diego Troubadour to: arts theme as a place for locals to hang want to play at the Café need WRITERS and enjoy music, poetry, and art. Highway 101 to send an email to: San Diego Troubadour Jeremy Browne Attractive paintings by local artists adorn HOURS : Sunday through Wednesday, 7 a.m.- [email protected]. They P.O. Box 164 Lou Curtiss La Jolla, CA 92038 the walls and are for sale. The art is rotat - 10 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, will contact you about an Will Edwards 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Music most evenings. E-mail: [email protected]. Simeon Flick ed about every four months. audition, which is usually an Music has been part of the Cafe’s Check their on line calendar for unamplified appearance dur - WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy Kate Kowsh details: www.estreetcafe.com of the San Diego Troubadour? Go to Jim McInnes agenda since its founding. There is an ing the week at a Tuesday www.sandiegotroubadour.com and Tom Paine attractive, if small, stage in the corner MUSIC : All types of acoustic music; some open mic to be “checked slick on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete Raul Sandelin with good access to the room. On this electric; jazz, blues, pop, folk, out.” Musicians can also send bluegrass, Celtic, poetry, and other. list of locations we deliver to. Sven-Erik Seaholm stage the Café presents music, poetry, in a demo CD or other No rock or heavy metal. Open Mic José Sinatra and other live events. Their calendar of recording they can provide. ©2006 San Diego Troubadour. Nights on Tuesdays. Bluegrass Tina Stone events can be accessed on their website: The owners promise that they D. Dwight Worden Evening Socials beginning Sunday, http://www.estreetcafe.com/. By way of respond to every inquiry. The San Diego Troubadour is John Philip Wyllie February 5. example, January’s calendar included Those accepted are then dedicated to the memory of Ellen and LEVEL : Varies — mostly mid-level local Anna Troy, Michael Tiernan and friends, given weekend slots to per - Lyle Duplessie , whose vision inspired musicians; occasional touring the creation of this newspaper. Melissa Page, and others, along with an musicians form with amplification if Open Mic Night on Tuesdays and a soon needed. Although the E Street PRICE : Admission is free; tips for to come Bluegrass Social on Sunday Café doesn’t pay its musi - musicians evenings, starting this month. Most live cians, tips are collected in a performances begin at 7 p.m., but some INFO : www.estreetcafe.com. 760 230 2038 large, conspicuously labeled take place during the day, running RATING : Great place to hang, good listening, tip jar for that purpose. This through the noon hour, so make sure and fun to play. Not the “big time” for may change once the Café check the calendar. music, but overall a great little place. obtains its entertainment The food and beverages are delicious permit. and affordable. The menu includes all The Café hosts an open since it serves a variety of users — not kinds of coffees and teas (eat your heart mic on Tuesday nights from 7-9:30 p.m. everyone is there for the music, with out, Starbucks!), muffins, scones, pastries, or so. Solos, duets, and ensembles are attendant background noise a factor, but panini sandwiches, salads, and a broad welcome as are all kinds of music with not a large one. Admission is free, range of desserts, all nicely prepared. the exception of hard rock, heavy metal, although tips for musicians are encour - For the listener, this is a friendly and and other music that is heavy on the aged. The Café is in the process of seek - intimate place to hear music, although — electrics. Open mic musicians are typical - ing an entertainment permit from the ly allowed 15 minutes to perform two or three songs. Parking is available on the street and it is usually not hard to find a spot with - in a block or so in the evening. Overall, this a great little place that offers ambiance, computer access, good chow and drinks, and a nice variety of music for listeners. North County has needed a great place to hang out and build com - munity through art, music, and poetry. This may just be the spot. Next time you are in Encinitas, stop by the E Street Café. You won’t regret it.

E Street Cafe owners and management: (l. to r.) Bob, Nancy, Keith, Barbara www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle

Lily May Ledford: The Banjo Pickin’ Girl

in a mountain cabin. She talked about men wanted to sign her on as a water boy Girls were formed. Comprised of Lily swapping for that fiddle, remembering but digging ditches paid more. It’s a May, her sister Rosie, Evelyn “Daisy” that it looked like some “live thing” to shame she didn’t have the same kind of Lange, and Ester “Violet” Koehler, the her when she saw that little boy swinging business sense when it came to her Coon Creek Girls began singing on the it and batting weeds with it. She traded music. radio show where they’d stay for the next her treasured crayons for the fiddle, but Before leaving and in need of strings 15 years. she was still sure she got the best of the for her banjo, she walked from sunup to When the Coon Creek Girls were bargain. The fiddle was nothing but a sunset to the Pine Ridge General Store invited to play at the White House for shell, so she had to carve the pegs and because she was afraid she wouldn’t be King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the saddle and even had to steal some able to buy strings in Chicago. who were visiting President and Mrs. hair from a horse’s tail to make the bow. Even after she arrived in Chicago, Lily Roosevelt, Lair carried the bass fiddle She said, “I breathed life into that old fid - May would walk. One day she missed the behind her because it was the only way dle, and it made a life for me.” train and rather than take a taxi, she the security guards would let him in. She I guess many of the people she played walked to work. Now, she could afford to delighted in telling that story. music for never got past her shy offhand - ride taxis. With the station paying her With the National Barn Dance in edness. She became for them the stories $60 per week, she had money for the first Chicago followed by the Clear Channel she told. In their minds she remained a time in her life. She sent some of it home radio station WLW in Cincinnati, Lily mountain girl, awed by the city. In her May gained a national following, but it Lily May in her later years. own mind, she knew she had to become a was the Renfro Valley Barn Dance that polished performer and she did. started a national CBS hookup through cian. Away from the constraints of live As a girl walking across the ridges WHAS radio on November 5, 1939 that radio she learned how to take her time with her fiddle in a flower sack, Lily May gave her the greatest fame. and develop her stories. She talked about played for excursion trains that brought Lair dominated her career from 1936 growing up in Red River Gorge and play - tourists from Louisville and Cincinnati to 1957 except for a short period when ing music with the Coon Creek Girls. She Lily May is a young woman down to see the natural bridge. she followed her second husband to used stories to introduce her songs. She Sometimes she played solo, sometimes Columbia, South Carolina, to try and became a concert artist. Her performance moved from the one or two-song format by Lou Curtiss she would play with her brother Cayen, start a radio show. She told me, “I guess I her sister Rosa Charlotte, and eventually had the feeling, prevalent in the moun - of her Renfro Valley days to a full-length the whole family band, which by then tains at that time, that men managed concert. During her later years she suf - n 1977 Lily May Ledford came to San were calling themselves the Red River things and women just went along.” fered from diabetes and rheumatoid Diego for the Folk Festival as part of a Ramblers. Soon the Red River Ramblers Oddly Lair discouraged recording con - arthritis, but she continued to perform. Folklife package of performers put were playing square dances and talent tracts and it wasn’t until 1938 that Lily She was a trooper and when she felt well, I The Coon Creek Girls together by the National Endowment for contests. May and her sisters made recordings for she could go on for hours, singing and the Arts. I had a chance to spend some “We’d pass the hat,” she told me. to help the family. She also sent gifts, the Vocalion under the direction of Uncle Art telling stories about working with Woody time with her and recently came across an “Sometimes it’d come back with as much most treasured of which was a radio. Satherly. Lily May and her sisters original - Guthrie, Bess and Alan Lomax, Orson unpublished article that I wrote during as 50 cents or a dollar. Sometimes we’d She delighted audiences with tales of ly wanted to be called the Wildwood Welles, and Burl Ives when she went to the weeks following that tenth festival. I’d lose the hat.” getting from one place to another, and Flowers (calling themselves Rosy, Violet, New York during World War II to per - like to share some of those memories In 1936, when Lily May was 19, the she fooled them a little along the way and Daisy). Lair, however, wanted a name form in a show called the Martins and the with you. Red River Ramblers played at an amateur with stories of walking out into the that reflected the kind of music he want - Coys and later in a show called The A tall, confident performer, Lily May talent contest in Mount Vernon, Chicago Loop and causing a traffic jam. ed them to play so he called them the Chisholm Trail . carried a touch of mountain shyness with Kentucky. John Lair, the music librarian She said, “Cars were honking at me, Coon Creek Girls. He said, “A wildwood Lily May always took time to be with her on stage. She was a strong performer at radio station WLS in Chicago, had and I just didn’t know which way to go. I flower is a delicate thing,” and the music her fans and the folks who came to her whose banjo and fiddle playing and story heard Lily May and brought the station’s just yelled ‘Hush!’ and the cars all he wanted them to play was not. shows. Even when she was ill, she took telling drew audiences to her, and she program director, Harold Safford, with stopped honking.” It’s no wonder that she He froze them in time, dressing them the time. It was part of being a performer warmed to them like new friends. She him to hear her. He told her not to sign could stop traffic. The early photos show in calico and old-fashioned high-topped, and she did it with grace and dignity. was often called the “Banjo Pickin’ Girl” with Safford, taking her aside and whis - her to be a strikingly beautiful young pointed-toe shoes. They became hillbilly A record issued in the early 1980s, and was founder of the Coon Creek Girls, pering that he had plans for her. woman. All that walking must have been music stars who appeared on shows with which was recorded by Phil and Vivian the first all-female string band to play on Safford offered her a contract but she healthy for her. Gene Autry, Lulubelle and Scotty, Wade Williams for Voyager records in Seattle, the radio. did what Lair told her to do and politely When Lily May first arrived in 1936, Mainer, and Homer and Jethro. She was a presents Lily May the way she sounded Lily May’s shyness may have come turned his offer down. He was a north - the members of the WLS company poked star of the 1930s and 1940s who stum - when she visited San Diego. In fact, I from a certain amount of insecurity due erner and spoke with a funny accent. Lily good-natured fun at her because she was bled into obscurity in the 1950s although think it was recorded on that same trip to some huge changes during her lifetime, May didn’t trust him. Later she grew to shy and spoke with a strange mountain remaining active in music. She even West that included San Diego. She does a beginning with her early years in Pinch- like him. accent. Her performances on the radio learned to play Little Richard and Jerry lot of her early songs like “Banjo Pickin’ em-tight Holler in Kentucky’s Red River Lair, who was from Kentucky, “talked quickly became so popular that she Lee Lewis tunes on the piano. Girl,” “Pretty Polly,” and others and tells Gorge. like us,” she said. “I signed a contract for inspired a comic strip in the station’s When her old records were reissued in a story or two. Her childhood in the gorge, her broth - him to manage me.” He sent her $5 to magazine called Silly May, the Mountain the 1970s she was sought out again dur - Someone told me that when Lily May er’s home-made banjo, the fiddle she got seal the deal and to help with the cost of Gal . She was genuine, however, and took ing the folk and old-timey revival to died in the mid-1980s, they brought one by swapping a box of crayons and some coming to Chicago, where he had landed to performing on the radio right away. record again. She and her sister Rosy and of the Oak Ridge Boys in from Nashville worn-out toys, her mother’s insistence on her a regular spot on the popular show Following the success of National Barn a still younger sister, Black-eyed Susan to sing at her funeral. The preacher work over music and her father’s insis - National Barn Dance . Dance in Chicago, Lair moved the show played festivals and recorded some. announced that he was going to sing Lily tence on music over work, on play parties To help pay for her trip to Chicago, to Cincinnati and then to Renfro Valley, In 1968 Lily May, along with her sister May’s favorite song, “Amazing Grace” and and dances, and the stories of a rural Lily May’s father sold a hog, and she took where he created Renfro Valley Barn Dance Rosy, played at the Newport Folk Festival I guess he did. Lots of the folks in atten - youth in Kentucky became the bedrock of a job digging ditches in the gorge. The in 1939. It was there that the Coon Creek where she began a career as a folk musi - dance knew that Lily May’s favorite song her performances at festivals and concerts was “John Henry.” throughout the 1970s. She told me that the rough edges had worn down a bit to become the warmth of a childhood spent

4 www.sandiegotroubadour.com FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle P h o t o :

B i l l

R i c h a

r Recordially, Lou Curtiss d s o n

block or so to Saska’s Steakhouse for think he still has a boogie and stride Sound Library, which has enabled me Folksingers, playing old timey music at one of their steakburgers, coffee, and album in him somewhere. I attended to share a lot of rare stuff with the folks noon every Thursday in the Rose Arbor some conversation. It was often about one of his concerts a few years ago and, who listen to Jazz Roots on KSDS. I try behind Scripps cottage and talking music (that’s what we all did on one between musical interludes, George to evoke Nat’s memory when I can. about old time and traditional music level or another), but we also talked talked about such great old time blues Mark Wilson was a phi - with Curt. Now Curt and about other things. Like how Tom’s and jazz piano people as Mary Lou losophy and logic professor I don’t always come Monday night pilgrimages to L.A. were Williams, James P. Johnson, and Fats at UCSD during the 1970s together in musical tastes Lou Curtiss going at the Troubadour Club Hoot Waller, and his audience laughed like and also one of those folks but when we do cross it’s where he showed off his wares so that he was telling a joke and that these who has done a pile of field pretty solid. Much of he could get some kind of a record people didn’t exist. I remember feeling recordings of old timey what I know and spout CONVERSATIONS I REMEMBER deal, or maybe we’d talk about a new sorry for those very un-hip people and music from Cape Breton to about old timey music has song or a book one of us read, always hope that some of them checked out Appalachia, much of which its roots in something I like to talk with people, relate one accompanied by a joke or two. We those great old timers. About George: I has been issued on the heard Curt say. When we on one, mostly about music but always had a good time. Our get feel sad that he doesn’t have the time to Rounder label. Mark also started the Folk Festivals also about all the other things that I togethers lasted just a couple of years come and hang around Folk Arts and had a remarkable collection in 1967 Curt was part of come with it. Doing the music for festi - until Tom moved on. The music is still spin those old sides. of LPs and tapes of music them and has been part of vals and running an old time record good but what I remember is the con - Nat Jacobs has been gone awhile that I’d never ever had the every one since that time shop for 38 years or so has put me in versation and the burgers. Saska’s is still but I still cherish the times I spent with opportunity to acquire. He up to and including last touch with many people who also enjoy there but the conversa - him talking about old let me tape hundreds of April’s Roots Festival. I’ve talking. Many times when you see tions are only echoes. records and the folks who hours of old timey, blues, always enjoyed Curt’s someone for just a short while at a fes - George Winston used made them and also what jazz, ragtime, Irish and music but the knowledge tival or a concert, you don’t get to Mary McCaslin to come down and play it means to run a Scottish traditional songs, he has, both formal and spend the quality time that a good gab boogie woogie and stride shop.Nat’s stories about and quite a bit of rare stuff from remote informal, has been invaluable. fest can bring. So many of the people piano while people were the Duke Ellington Band, places like the Isle of Tonga and Tibet. I started bringing Mary McCaslin with whom I’ve torn apart the music filing into the concert hall Clarence Mark also got me into the down to San Diego around 1970 when scene have moved on and we just don’t at the folk festivals at Williams, and business of writing liner she opened for Lightnin’ Hopkins at the come in contact as much any more SDSU. George also played George Winston others who he notes, producing records, old Bifrost Bridge in La Mesa. After the (and when we do, there’s never enough at a couple of the concert knew always and researching things that concert we went out for something to time). Here are a few very memorable series I did at the Folk Arts store and at filled me with wonder. He’d I’d only had a smattering of eat, which became something of a tradi - people with whom I’ve had the fortune Orango’s restaurant in the tell me stories about visiting experience in. In the mid to tion. This is an interesting lady who to sit around and talk. I 1970s. He’d come down Clarence Williams at his late 1970s, Mark and I did a has been playing the folk music circuit know I’m leaving quite a few early and hang around the second hand store and talk - bunch of LPs for Rounder (I for awhile. She knows a lot about of them out and I’m listing store. We’d play old records ing him out of hanging on mentioned them all in an what’s going on in the music business them in no particular order, and talk about music. He to the rare records he had earlier column) and we and I learn a lot from her and have a just a few quality conversa - turned me on to such great stashed away. Nat was a Curt Carlisle Bouterse talked a whole lot about nice time doing it. tions. pianists as Cleo Brown and wheeler dealer as most music and what’s good and Conversation, work or play. My “The quality of time you James Booker and related every worthwhile 78 rpm collector is, what’s not so good. We didn’t always world thrives on it every day. I meet spend with people far out - which of Fats Waller’s great - but he dropped by my store regularly agree but most often we did. I think the music collectors from all over the world weighs the quantity,” says est sides were from a techni - and let me tape some of his rarest sides. mark of a good conversation is that you and performers who have a lot to say. I Tom Waits , but it applies to cal standpoint. George is a I still play Nat’s copy of Emmett Miller’s remember it years later and the knowl - learn from all of them and hopefully I most all of the guys listed walking encyclopedia when Georgia Crackers’ song “The Ghost of edge imparted becomes part of who throw out an idea or two that sticks. here. Starting with Waits, it Tom Waits it comes to pianos and how the St. Louis Blues” on my Jazz Roots you are. There’s a lot of Mark Wilson Folk Arts Rare Records is no Algonquin was during those late they are played. He wants to know Halloween show every year. His copy is hanging around in my head. Roundtable, but it’s left a lot of nice evenings after the Heritage coffeehouse everything he can about all things relat - cleaner than the one Columbia eventu - I first met Curtis Carlisle Bouterse echoes over the years. closed and we’d put away the instru - ed (some of which I was able to fill in). ally issued on CD. When Nat died, he in an African history class at SDSU ments that Waits, Ray Bierl, and I Recordially, Of course, he’s gone on to become one left his many and varied live Duke sometime in the very early 1960s. For a would wander down Mission Blvd. a Lou Curtiss of New Age music’s pariahs, although I Ellington recordings to the Lou Curtiss short time I was a member of the San Diego State Campus Organized

FLASH Old Timey NighT at FOlk ArTs rAre recOrds is now on Wednesdays, 5-8pm We play old 78s and talk records Live pickin’ on the front porch at 7pm :

Folk Arts Rare Records 2881 Adams Ave. 619 282 7833

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

each other things every time we rent students who had given me a glow - encounter another human being. Most of ing recommendation. That is an insanely the time you just don’t get paid for it, I gratifying feeling: to have your reputa - Musings from the Lesson Room: guess. Being a performing musician is the tion precede you, to be well recom - same thing. I would still perform even if I mended by the parents of young stu - didn’t get paid. So for me, teaching and dents, and to have the parents feel com - playing professionally are both things fortable and safe enough with you to that I would do anyway regardless of wholeheartely recommend you to a The Way of the how much money I make doing them. stranger. The great thing about my life is that I get I found that the lessons were also a to do what I am naturally built to do and place where I could learn and grow. The make a living doing it. things I was encouraging my students to Guitar Teacher I teach my students to become the do were also pushing me to learn by best musicians possible. I give them the applying those same concepts to the would earn me 50 thou in annual that first epiphany, I’m still teaching both advice they need to be able to become larger scale of what I already knew, and interest for the rest of my life. guitar and English. And, ironically, I rode performers if that is what they would many of the experiments I conducted Within that “realistic” sce - my mountain bike down an El Cajon like, however, the rest is up to them. during lesson time with the students nario, I realized I would need back-alley just last week. To shake up a Being a performer can’t really be taught gave birth to new material for my own to go back out and work, nice mixed-metaphor cocktail: No, in a classroom, it has to be learned while musical endeavors. once the limos filled with acorns don’t crawl too far the nest! one is on stage. The thing I can give adoring groupies finally But, even though I’m still involved in them, however, is the confidence and Alan Vincent, Moze Guitars, La pulled away from the curb. something I’ve been doing since I was emotional support needed to perform Mesa Since my long-range goal 14, my motivations for doing it are com - their music live if that is what they would Why should people learn to play an instru - was to be a guitar teacher, pletely different. And, for that, the act like to do. Performing is all about being ment or even study music in the first place? I practiced the craft a lot in itself is completely different. Looking yourself on stage, expressing the most high school. But, as I indicat - back, I realize that I wasn’t truly teaching outgoing, energetic, and fun aspects of AV: First, I’m flattered that you’ve chosen ed, I wasn’t necessarily reeling in my younger years — I was showing yourself to entertain others. You can’t be me to respond to this very difficult ques - in a living, just a bong hit here off. However, now that I’m older, I’m not taught to be who you are, you just have tion. Why should people learn to play an and there and at times a quick kiss really teaching either. I’m actually learn - to learn to let the performer inside you instrument? In my opinion, people from a girl if I showed her that she ing from people who happen to call emerge. shouldn’t unless they want to. It seems to too could sing “Dust in the Wind” themselves my students. sour the experience if some desire isn’t while doing a poor man’s Travis With this in mind, I wanted to hear Simeon Flick, Private Instruction involved. But if you do want to, you are pick over those pretty chords. some of the teaching philosophies of the in for joy beyond your wildest dreams. Isn’t being a teacher much more than just At that time my more revered teachers here in town. Four Perhaps playing music allows you to being a person who passes on knowledge? goal was to hit it big, local teachers who have certainly honed express yourself without the use of pocket some quick coin, their craft share some sage advice. SF: I found that I became somewhat of a words, which sometimes just don’t, or and semi-retire at the counselor as well, aware of the teacher- can’t, do the job. Also, as a side benefit, I student subtext of their giving me a cer - think that you learn rapid decision mak - age of 25 or so, the Indian Joe Stewart, Blue Horse tain amount of power and control and ing, as the consequences of a question - elder-statesman of Music, Ramona El Cajon’s rock ‘n’ that it is my responsibility to make them able decision are immediately apparent. roll jet set. And, Do you think it’s necessary to teach sight as comfortable as possible during the les - Now, why study music? This is very in this capacity, reading? sons. Being a teacher, I found, was just as tricky. I’m a guitar player so my answer is I would build IJ: Blind musicians obviously cannot read, much about looking after their psycho - slanted that way. It’s possible to play the a clientele of but Ray Charles, Ronnie Milsap, logical well-being as their musical peda - heck out of a piece of music without younger Stevie Wonder, and others have made gogy. There has to be a complete com - knowing a lick [pun intended] of what guitar pick - monumental contributions. I find it bor - municative flow back and forth if the les - you are technically doing. I’ve heard it ers, who ing to watch a live performer who must sons are to be successful, and it helps said more than twice that knowing about would actu - read their music — plus their delivery immensely if the teacher and student can music, especially the kind that you enjoy, ally pay me usually lacks passion. Reading is no sub - open up beforehand if they’re having a will somehow decrease your apprecia - to sit in a stitute for knowing the piece. bad day or are otherwise in a weird tion. My experience and that of others is small room It is necessary to understand how space. Because of that I always make a exactly the opposite. It’s possible that behind a local music creates mood, how phrasing builds point of asking after their general welfare you may appreciate less what was once a guitar shop and song parts, to develop the skills of listen - before the lesson starts. Music teachers seminal musical experience, but your listen to me pon - ing with the other players, and respond - and psychologists are not that different appreciation of that which is beyond you tificate about the ing appropriately. Otherwise you cannot ... they’re both there to help the client [temporarily] might inspire you to make six-stringed universe improvise, which is essential, whether work through roadblocks of growth and, art that is timeless. while they ooed and extending a solo, or keeping the tune in the end, to become better people, awed and oogled and going when a dancer trips over the floor whether it’s becoming a better musician ogled like the devoted fans monitor and careens into the drum kit. In or a more evolved person. that they were. The bottom line my band experience this occurs all too I found that by approaching the was I wanted to teach guitar because in regularly, even in the finest of settings, teacher-student relationship in this way, its own little way, it seemed almost glam - like posh weddings. the students, and to a certain extent their by Raul Sandelin orous. And, when you’re a zit-pocked Here is a true story that illustrates families, who were often the parental teenager riding your 20-inch bike around using such musicianship skills when guardians of many of my students, think it was Aristotle who stated that the Cajon Zone in your obligatory hand- performing: I was a mercenary lead gui - became a kind of an act is defined by the motivation me-down Levis and flannel shirt, some - tarist for a bandleader/singer/ rhythm extended family for me. The wonderful Ibehind it. So, conceivably, the same thing glamorous, anything , sure sounds guitarist who relied solely on reading side effect of this was that I often got outward act— say running into a burning good right about then. instead of learning the songs. At an out - referrals for new students from then-cur - building, performed by two people with As I grew older, teaching guitar door show he prefaced our next number differing motives— say personal ambition became more than some condensed ver - with a grandiose soliloquy, then during versus true humanitarianism— would not sion of rock glory attained while sitting in the eight-bar intro a gust of wind blew be the same act at all. a six-foot square practice cubical. his sheet music up onto the roof This forces me to think for a moment I actually got serious about it. of a building. He was lost, dumbfounded, because there is one thing that I thought Perhaps, it was on my twenty-sixth and deflated! I knew the tune, stepped had been a constant in my life since I was birthday that I realized I wouldn’t be up to the mic, and led the other players a teenager: teaching guitar. But, since my retiring from the road at 25, returning to through it with musical cues, hand sig - motives for teaching guitar were different my hometown roots, the journeyman six- nals, and some verbal communication then than they are now, perhaps, if slinger who thereafter roamed the East [calling out chords and parts]. The audi - Aristotle is right, I really haven’t been County like a mysterious silhouette in a ence was elated; the bandleader was teaching guitar for 25 years. Maybe what Spaghetti Western. Around this time, I incensed! I did then is not what I am doing now. really started to see teaching guitar as Indian Joe and the Chiefs are notori - Or, perhaps, this is making absolutely no something more spiritual, as a means of ous for playing song requests we have sense and I’m waxing too philosophical connecting with other human beings never done together, but one of us for a subject better adorned with gaudy who floated through these same absurd knows enough of the lyrics and chords to spandex, smoke pots, and tabloid slices of space and time. At the same attempt it. We often are the most tableaux. time, I decided to turn the potpourri of amazed at how well the tunes come out! That said, allow me to wax away: classes I was taking at Grossmont College Many moons of playing VFW halls and When I first started teaching guitar, into a plan for earning an actual degree Moose Lodges in pick-up bands creates which mostly involved showing my so that I could turn my growing love of the opportunity to hone these skills, and friends a G-chord in exchange for any teaching into a stable career. you can’t survive without ‘em! combination of mind-altering chemicals, It wasn’t long before I wasn’t only I admit that I was in it for the glory. I teaching guitar but English as well. And, Anna Troy, El Rayo GuitarWorks, wanted to be a rock star, but a practical suddenly I was something quite different San Diego rock star at that. I figured it was a long than the irreverent kid who rode his bike shot to be the next John Lennon or down the alleys of El Cajon. I actually We all know the old adage “if you can’t do, Jimmy Page. (I was quite the level-head - cared about people; I cared about my teach,” but you do both: you perform pro - ed lad.) I thought I could at least become students. Call it that latent maternal fessionally as well as teach. Would you a one-hit wonder, go out on tour, sell a instinct that all men have. elaborate your own thoughts on this? few records, and horde a cool mil that Now, a healthy decade and a half after AT: Everyone is a teacher. We all teach 6 www.sandiegotroubadour.com FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

Pettibone Steps Out of the Shadows and Into the Spotlight

also demonstrates his versatility by playing cuts from The West Gate . Due to prior commitments, Pettibone is sition from supporting player to headliner various guitars, bass, mandolin, banjo, har - “I think I am most proud of “My Little not really in a position where he can tour in Pettibone said, “If they call me up to do it P

h monica, and even assorted kitchen utensils Man.” That was a deeply heartfelt song that support of his newly released CD, but he that would be great. You never know what o t o :

on the cut “Original Originator.” Especially came out easily. I’ve been getting a lot of hopes to play a couple songs from it at the is going to happen with a CD when you E r i k surprising is Pettibone’s vocal ability as a good feedback on that one. People think next Tim Flannery and Friends performance throw it out there. So I am just putting it a

G

o front man and his refined songwriting skill. that “Honey Biscuit” is an old Robert on February 4 at the California Center for out there, getting it up on the website l d r

i “I’d been a co-writer on a handful of Johnson song, so that is a huge compli - the Performing Arts in Escondido. He is also (www.dougpettibone.com), linking up with n g things throughout the years, but I had ment. And “Original Originator” is another hoping to open for Lucinda Williams on a few people, and trying to get it into other never really written a song all the way one that people didn’t realize I had some of her upcoming tour dates. people’s hands. I have been selling quite a by John Philip Wyllie through by myself. I knew I could do it, but written.” Asked if his new CD might signal a tran - few of them. So we will see what happens.” I just got so busy playing with other people or local music fans, Doug Pettibone is that I never did. Lately, I’ve been writing the talented pedal steel guitar player quite a bit and it feels good.” who sits unobtrusively stage left for the F Bolstered by the success and satisfaction Tim Flannery Band. Tracy Chapman fans of having completed his first solo album, Paige Aufhammer Is have seen him perform in the same capaci - Pettibone is preparing to do a follow-up. ty and heard his backing vocals. So have Finding the time could be the biggest the fans of Lucinda Williams. And he has obstacle to the sought-after session player played behind Jewel and Mark Knopfler. But on a Musical Mission and touring veteran. Pettibone found now, with the release of his superb new recording his own album to be quite a CD, The West Gate , Pettibone moves out of departure from his previous studio the shadows and onto center stage. experience. son before but you can’t remember from town to town, carrying with “I was working with this producer “It’s been different. [In the past] when I who it is. It is a clear and optimistic them news and good will from one named Ned Albright on a number of other came in [the artist] usually had a pretty voice that Paige doesn’t have to gloss town to the next. Speaking from my projects and he suggested that I make my good idea of what they wanted. The direc - up at all — there is no need. It is per - own experience, I would say that own record,” Pettibone said in a recent tion is usually pretty much there once the fect just the way it is. artists become more intimate with phone interview. “He told me to get a little skeleton of each song is laid out. Having to I recently spoke to Paige over the their audience over time. In that inti - tape recorder and a pad of paper and just draw out the skeleton myself, I had to step phone about her experience in Ireland. macy there is also vulnerability. Most write down a bunch of ideas, throw them back a little bit and come at it from a differ - I wanted to know how her music had people can imagine why it is important together, and see what I came up with.” ent angle. But it is not an overly produced been received there, and I was curious for a musician to feel appreciated and What Pettibone has come up with is an about how such an experience might Paige described the audience in Ireland record. I really enjoy live radio broadcasts by Will Edwards impressive 10-song album. Seven of the and I wanted to capture that live feeling.” have influenced a talented musician as curious and very supportive. selections are either his own compositions To do that, Pettibone recorded all of the who is still finding her place in the The tour was booked and coordinat - or were co-written with Flannery or aige Aufhammer was seated at vocals and most of the guitar work in a sin - music world. “I’d never gone anywhere ed by long-term friend, AJ Degrasse Albright. The remaining three are covers of the center of the stage with her gle take. There was no punching in. As a to play music before,” says Paige. “It’s a and supported largely by local church - Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” Bob eyes closed. Her voice was full of result, there are spots that are imperfect, P part of their culture… they appreciate es — a kind of musical mission. Paige Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me,” and Lennon power as she sang from her heart. I was but that is by design. “That was the sound I music.” I found that our interview recalled the first weekend of the tour and McCartney’s “Two of Us.” Williams, captivated. was going for. I didn’t want to use electric focused on a special connection that for me. They arrived in Wexford on the with her distinctive vocal style, joins Having become serious about music instruments or make it ultra-slick,” he said. Paige felt she had established with her East coast of Ireland and played two Pettibone on the latter two. a year ago, Paige recorded a three-song Happy with the overall product, new Irish audience. Specifically, there nights at a local pub called The Sky Not surprisingly, Pettibone’s trademark demo and took it on tour to Ireland at Pettibone is particularly pleased with three were fewer barriers between folks in and the Ground (a moniker describing pedal steel brilliance is displayed, but he the end of last year. When you hear the pubs and the musicians. What she the two places in Ireland where one those recordings, you will notice that described reminded me of the old idea will find rain). Not only was the show her voice, in particular, sounds very of a traveling minstrel who gathered familiar — as if you’ve heard this per - up stories and songs and wandered continued on page 12.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

It is still many hours before his band’s gig later that night as Chuck Schiele saunters somnolently down the stairs in search of a cup of joe. His wife Joanna had just let me in moments before, greeting me with a warm hug and a smile, and trailing the scent of many enticing culinary delights in from the kitchen behind her. I have entered nothing if not the cozy HQ of Charles Schiele Creative, Beach Music Mafia, and a number of other joint and singular ventures on which the still somewhat recently married Mr. and Mrs. Schiele collaborate.

they seem to be working like mad these days, gigging frequently, taking advantage of every available opportunity that comes their way, and building a successful career in music outside the from spiritual motivations, often associated with confluence of the flagging major label system.) travels,” Schiele relates. “I also write from Schiele picks up a snack-laden tray that Joanna explorations in my personal music learning. I has prepared and leads me out through the small learn something new to do everyday...something back yard, past a congenial sea of deck chairs to pick on my own skills about...and I’ll always and barbeque grilles (where much colloquial rev - be in that school.” elry has obviously transpired) and into the con - We’re conversing over the hors d’oeuvres in verted garage. Here is where his growing collec - the darkened garage studio when the husband tion of instruments, eclectic trinkets, eccentric and wife team of Craig Yerkes and Elise Ohki furnishings, band posters, memorabilia, and finally arrives. They’ve left their gig clothes and recording equipment is housed. This is the cre - instruments up front in the living room and have ative womb where Schiele conducts rehearsals joined us in the studio. “Craigness” and “Sweet Elise,” as they are familiarly known, are The Grams: Craig Yerkes, Elise Ohki, Chuck Schiele for the Grams and other local bands as an ancil - lary service provided by his Beach Music Mafia usually late for Grams-related events because they have to commute all the way from North It is also ground zero for the Grams, or, simply, the Mob. County. The married musicians also have full- Schiele’s latest musical project. Everything This tapestry and rug-laden room is the princi - time careers — Yerkes commutes to Orange about the Grams (as in the movie 21 Grams , pal—if not always literal—birthplace of Schiele’s County five days a week for which is the supposed weight of the soul leaving music and the locus where it usually passes his job, and Ohki works the body upon death) begins and ends here in through sundry bits of recording equipment to was off and running. I never really had any for - in the biotech field. this halcyon two-story house and accompanying find quasi-physical form. He is the chief song - mal music training, but I took a lot of classes in The trio harbors no back yard garage. These edifices both literally writer and lead vocalist for the Grams and a vet - college, went to recording school, and then old-fashioned dreams and figuratively bespeak the anatomy of a mod - eran of the San Diego music scene. learned mostly by jumping in. I could write of—and have no time ern working band. Schiele’s formative years transpired in upstate songs before I could play guitar and have written or patience for—the (Now, by “working” I mean to imply two New York, but you would hardly know it from them all through my life. Early on I often wrote idiosyncrasies of rock things: one; the Grams “work” in that there is the laid-back bohemian air he now emanates. stuff I couldn’t play, so my lesson became the stardom, but they a symbiotic synergy between them, that each It’s necessary to wait for the brusque New York act of learning how to play the music I heard in may still be able to band member has his or her own complementa - frankness to spill out of his Sagittarian mouth to my head.” enjoy some ry function, ergo it works in a way that won’t confirm his East Coast origins. When he was “Before I knew it kind of suc - find them disintegrating anytime soon, and two; four or five he matter-of-factly informed his par - ents he would be heading out West when he I was in a band,” came of age. Perhaps the shock of his leaving Schiele continues, was more due to the realization that the time “and have been in a band had finally arrived than to any disbelief of the ever since. My favorites include The child he had been when he’d made the prom - And (rock and groove band), Modern ise. Even at such an early age, Chuck Schiele Peasants (rock/groove/world), Mysterious Ways already had a supple grip on his destiny like (rock/acoustic), the Gandhi Method (folk Babe Ruth’s hands on a baseball bat. rock/acoustic), and now the Grams.” While the time-biding child languished in Along the way he also made a point to play Syracuse, he vainly set about trying to get his solo, fleshing out the musical concepts that elementary school music teacher to learn him stemmed from what Jim Earp had taught him the drums. Schiele was diverted to at least three about alternate guitar tunings during their time other less enchanting instruments before quitting together in the Modern Peasants. In a live per - music altogether. It wasn’t until college that he formance scenario with the Grams, Schiele draws picked up the trail again, inspired by the Beatles, on this erudition by providing the perfect foun - Queen, Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” and his dation for his bandmates: a bass-heavy sound dad, who was a professional jazz bass player in with solid, driving rhythms. He is, in effect, a San Diego at the height of the ’70’s club self-contained rhythm section. scene. The music that flows out of Schiele now is at “There was a guitar in the corner, so I asked once Southern sass (think New Awlins, Cajun, him to show me how to play it,” Schiele remi - Zydeco), classic rock, and what is implicitly nisces. “He explained music theory to me and I evocative of old world locales where ancient reli - Chuck Schiele & Craig Yerkes at Kenny’s Castaways gions have roosted for eons. “I write mostly in NYC

8 www.sandiegotroubadour.com FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

cess and notoriety due to the growing number of continues. “I just wanted to keep getting faster to what she does administratively for the Grams. resources and marketing avenues now available due to influences like Al DiMeola and Steve Her understanding of both sides of the commer - to independent artists. Their recent inclusion on Morse. Now it’s all about the solo singing its cialization of art sums up her contribution to the a Japanese radio playlist, Schiele’s recording ses - own song, whether I’m playing one note or trio’s behind-the-scenes machine. sion at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, 100.” Schiele had already become quite proficient at his solo appearance at New York’s renowned After a brief, failed stint as a guitarist with executing the administrative functions that most CBGB, and the Grams’ San Diego Music Award two Grammy-winning gospel artists, Yerkes musicians bemoan and are poorly suited for nomination this past September are all evidence decided to downgrade his musical pursuits to when Joanna came into his life. Now they are of such emerging possibilities. hobby status. He had only occasionally picked virtually as unstoppable as they are thorough in Elise Ohki grew up in the greater Buffalo area up the guitar during the previous 12 years when their combination of complementary attributes. of upstate New York and discovered the piano Schiele came calling. They work together in the conjoined pair of bed - and the violin while still in single digits. She Yerkes is a lead guitarist in the old tradition of rooms on the house’s second floor, unearthing played the latter in school and county orchestras, axe men who don’t always double the rhythm predominantly Internet-based marketing opportu - including the Buffalo Suzuki Strings, and found part under the vocals but add another compli - nities for the Grams, and shouting updates back her way to Oberlin College, where she would mentary texture or melody to the underlying arrive at the crucial musical crossroad of her life. work. Yerkes’ leads are concise, rich in tone, Ohki felt too much pressure to be perfect on the and wildly entertaining. When the gig is long path to becoming a professional classical violin - and space needs filling, Yerkes is the Gram who ist, so she made the decision to pursue a career is most ready, willing, and able to step in and fill in science and keep her musical activity free on it. He has the chops and exploratory mindset to the side. She was determined to obtain a degree The Grams rock out at the Adams Ave. Street Fair improvise lengthy, interesting solos within the in a field that would enable her to provide for live milieu, and the restraint to compose ingen - herself financially, since the classical music pro - often astute in these observations and conclu - ious countermelodies and instrumental har - fession seemed to be a glorified crapshoot for sions than not lends a paradoxically endearing monies for him and Ohki live and in the studio. even the most proficient of players. Nevertheless, puerility to her general countenance. His curtailed jazz aspirations led him to an ideal she continued to play violin through graduate Ohki and her violin provide the group with a grotto where the wild, histrionic waterfall of school at SUNY Buffalo, as well as with the connection to both old and new musical idioms. technique met the pool of mature melodic Amherst Community Orchestra, and finally The lyricism of her neoclassical violin melodies restraint. moved to San Diego to pursue employment provide a traditionally fresh counterpoint to Yerkes adds his clear, crisp tenor to the opportunities in 2002. Ohki now works in the Schiele’s lead vocals, and the modern “fiddle” Grams’ vocal palette, performing close har - Yerkes at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge gene regulation division at the Invitrogen context of the instrument itself connects the monies with Schiele and even singing lead on Corporation. Grams with a more contemporary folk and blue - “Poor Little Rich Girl” from the recently com - and forth to streamline their efforts. By the time she met and befriended Schiele grass tradition. When she’s not recapitulating pleted, eponymous debut album (reviewed on “With Joanna coming into my life, things through a mutual acquaintance at an Ocean vocal melodies or introducing new motifs, she’s page 13). The general gist is that Yerkes may be have only gotten better and healthier, including Beach bar, Ohki had all but abandoned the vio - adding staccato and sustained pedal tone tex - singing more songs in the future. For now, music matters,” Schiele says. “We work togeth - lin. The plot gradually thickened, however, as tures underneath Schiele’s vocal expositions. though, he is content with his predominantly er very closely, and I am astonished by what Schiele discovered and slowly drew out Ohki’s The occasional addition of her own mezzo- supportive role in the band. happens when we combine our strengths to fix musicality. They began their collaboration in soprano voice at the top of three-part group While we’ve been talking in the stu - on and obtain our goal. We are furthering our 2003, and the result was a creative detour for harmonies rounds out her contributions to dio, Joanna has been occasionally involvements to include the movie industry as Ohki’s classically trained hands, which, the Grams’ sound. popping in and out with updates well as alternative markets and distribution. although still well regimented, were liberated by Ohki was eventually drawn into the on the sumptuous meal she is We’re also big on serving our community and their first foray into contemporary music. overlapping spheres of Schiele’s myriad preparing. A few minutes pass go so far as to get them involved. We’ve grown The two outspoken, yet also somehow musical connections, and it didn’t after one such visit when we so fast that we’re in the process of reorganizing reserved, upstate New Yorkers fell into (and still take long for her own circle to expand collectively realize that and building our team.” enjoy) an older-brother/younger-sister kind of and create the perfect conditions for Joanna is as much a We wrap up the interview and head inside, rapport, full of acerbic yet lighthearted jabs, a fateful meeting with Craig Yerkes. part of what goes on where Joanna’s delectable dinner awaits us. We quips, and jovial razzing. The male Grams will Brother to fellow San Diego musi - behind the scenes at watch something about the end of days on the be the first to tell you that Ohki is the band’s cian Marcia Claire of the Citizen Grams Central as her History channel while we eat and drink wine and barometer of relative goodness, as she is blunt in Band and the Cathryn Beeks husband. Yerkes and revel in the sense of unity and nourishment her views and deft with the power of veto when Ordeal, Yerkes had known Ohki are as anxious to we’ve established throughout the day. Then the it comes to such things as new song choices, Schiele for some time and trav - hear our new pertinent time comes for them to do the fun part of their stage volume, and the length of her husband’s eled in the same circles. The subject’s story as I am, work and, after changing into their performance solos. The sardonic twist to the “Sweet Elise” pieces slowly fell into place for they are equally as une - attire, the Grams disappear into the inviting night nickname is that she is decidedly curt and by the end of 2003 the ducated as to exactly what it to show a new audience the weight of the soul. and brusque with her opinions and Grams had become a band. is she does on behalf of the Catch the Grams’ CD release on March 15, 8 judgments, though not malicious - Yerkes and Ohki would even - Grams. p.m., at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. ly so. The fact that she is more tually marry in July of 2004, Joanna also grew up in New and it is a point of pride for York and cut her music, market - Schiele that he not only got ing, and networking teeth at them together but also brought Manhattan Design, the same them both out of semi-retirement. company that was responsible Yerkes is the only California for the MTV logo among native of the three, having spent most many other pertinent icons of his life in San Diego County. He got of pop culture and music. an early start and was playing guitar in She brings these years of a touring teenybopper group with his big-city marketing expe - sister by age 12. He also played in his rience (not to mention high school and college jazz bands her own history of until he realized he was “a rock gui - singing in bands—she Joanna & Chuck Schiele, Elise Ohki, Craig Yerkes tarist doing a bad imitation of a jazz lent background guitarist,” as he self-deprecatingly put vocals to some of the it. “I was really into the chops thing to songs on the record) a fault when I was younger,” Yerkes

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER

by Sven-Erik Seaholm would be Libya (go ahead and get a by Dwight Worden map, I’ll wait). Consequently, it takes us exactly six hours to cover the whole Last year the bluegrass community lost two Isaac Stern of bluegrass, Vassar’s career STEALING NAMM thing. Granted there’s a lot of “busi - greats: Jimmy Martin, the King of Bluegrass, spanned 50 years, beginning with joining Bill Sven-Erik Seaholm ness-related” conversation and a brief and Vassar Clements, the most influential fid - Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys in 1949 at stop to ingest perhaps the worst ham - dle player of his time. Let’s take a look at the age of 14 while he was still in school. (stashpicks.com). Each of their five burger ever served (Gail has a fishburg - these two standouts who, in very different Vassar stayed with Bill Monroe though 1956 designs have unique features — some er, which slows us down even more a ways, left an indelible mark on bluegrass and then took up with Jim and Jesse have multiple gauges on the same pick, little bit later). Regardless, we’ve music. McReynolds. Throughout his career Vassar others do special effects. As the guy played with, and formed a friendship bond sprung into action. JIMMY MARTIN shows and explains each one, I’m still with, John Hartford, the man who gave The first issue to address is how to Jimmy Martin passed away on May 14, 2005. holding onto the previous model. I Vassar his famous Duiffopruggar violin with hold all of our acquired booty. There The self-styled “King of Bluegrass,” he was walk away with five free, very cool definitely one of the orneriest, most colorful the carved head. are lots of free bags available. Many Vassar also played for a while with Earl picks! Things went really crazy when I characters the exhibitors’ booths have easily accessi - Scruggs and the Earl Scruggs Revue, which visited the PickCard booth bluegrass ble racks holding tons of these things, led to his fiddle contribution on the Nitty (pickcard.com). The pick card is a cred - community emblazoned with their respective Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be UnBroken it card sized plastic card that houses a has ever logos. Judging from the abundance of known. album, which was released in 1972 and has few die-cut guitar picks. At an open them, Roland and KORG seem to be Jimmy’s voice become one of the most influential bluegrass mic and forgot your pick? Pull out the the most popular. I attribute this to was powerful records of all time. From there, Vassar record - card, punch out a pick, and you’re ed with Dicky their size, which is roughly twice that and aggres - good to go! I featured these last year, Betts, Jerry of the average bag. But they’re made sive, making Thursday, January 19, 2006 8:58 p.m. and I excitedly relayed this to the nice Garcia, the out of paper, and the weight eventually other blue - girl working there. “Wow! Well, we grass music Grateful Dead, am standing in the main lobby of causes the handles to tear. No, it’s the Allman have all kinds of new designs this year. Jimmy Martin sound a little the Anaheim Convention Center at cloth for us, baby. The red cotton Brothers, Take whatever you’d like.” This was of tame. While Bill Monroe, the Stanleys, Flatt the 104th NAMM Show, and I am Musicorp (musicorp.com) bags have Linda I course like dropping a lamb chop into and Scruggs, and other greats among the on a mission. Technically speaking always been my fave, but this year two Ronstadt, the a tank full of hungry piranhas. I was bluegrass pioneers always had at least one (and I think that pun may actually new contenders made their debut. The eye on the commercial success of their music Nitty Gritty determined to grab as many of the someday kill me), I’m on two missions: first was Dickies Guitar Straps and were willing to mold their music and per - Dirt Band, dozens of new designs as I could. Not The first is to shake as many hands (dickies.com). Their cotton/nylon sonae to that end, Jimmy Martin never did. David for me mind you, but for all the folks Vassar Clements Grisman, Paul belonging to representatives of musi - blend was a basic black (the official He simply wasn’t able to. Jimmy remained that I had showed them to that wanted McCartney, and others. In May of 1973, the cally related product manufacturers NAMM musician’s uniform color), what he always was: an outspoken, prickly a set. Let’s just say the company presi - classic Old and in the Way album was and distributors as is humanly possible smartly accented by little white peace individualist. His signature tune, a crystal dent wasn’t amused when I said, clear blues number called “I’m a Freeborn recorded in San Francisco during a live per - over the next two days. The nearly signs. Coincidentally, Peace Drums formance, enriched by some of the best and “Pardon me, sir” and then reached Man” declared that he had made his choices obvious purpose of said glad-handing (peacedrum.com) offered the clear win - most creative live fiddling ever recorded, around him to grab a handful of these and he’d stick to them. will be to secure products for review or, ner: a really heavy duty canvas bag thanks to Vassar. Sales from that project has bad boys. Time to split. in plainer English, talk folks into send - with a metal snap at the top! You may not like my appearance, exceeded other albums of like kind and has After leaving that hall, we stop at And you may not like my song, ing me stuff that I can use for a few So what goes into these things? formed staunch cults that still exist after the magazine section. They have every You may not like the way I talk weeks free of charge, in exchange for Well, you don’t want to put product more than 20 years. It is also said that one of conceivable musician-oriented maga - But you'll like the way I'm gone my honest (that’s almost a pun too, as demo CDs and DVDs in there, because the prime reasons Jerry Garcia put together zine in big stacks all along the wall. We I'm a freeborn man, Old and in the Way was for the opportunity you’ll see) critique and (hopefully) rec - you’ll never watch them. That said, I go through and grab 30 or so of these, My home is on my back, to play with Vassar Clements. ommendation. At the end of this “eval - did take and view an excellent one I know every inch of highway, and now our canvas bags are at brick- Vassar’s personal uation period” I may elect to return from Electro-Harmonix (ehx.com). You Every foot of back road, like capacity. We’ve planned well for discography totals 27 the product or purchase it at a slightly also don’t want the whole press kit in Every mile of railroad track. albums ranging from coun - this contingency: we’ve parked as close discounted rate. The results will be there. Those often include a product While throughout his career Jimmy covet - try music and waltzes to to the hall as possible. We just haul printed here. The second quest I am catalog, etc. Stick with the one-sheets ed admission to the Grand Ole Opry, he never swing and jazz. Ironically, this stuff to the car, empty our bags, about to embark upon is far simpler: of stuff you like. It has all the info you received that honor, no doubt because of his in 1992 he recorded his and head back in. Grab as much free stuff as I possibly need, and you can visit the web site for inability or unwillingness to “fit in.” No mat - only straight bluegrass This process continues for the rest Vassar’s famous violin head can. more info. Almost everybody offers ter. His songwriting and recordings are recording for Rounder of this and all of the next day. Gather, Now before some of you “highly candy in some form or another. Taylor among the best ever made in the bluegrass Records titled Grass Routes . dump, repeat. In the process, we genre and they will keep him well remem - Vassar’s unique style has influenced virtu - principled” types begin wagging your Guitars (taylorguitars.com) has red obtain earplugs from the House Ear bered for a long time. Jimmy wrote and sang ally every fiddle player who has followed righteous index fingers in my particu - vines and M&Ms in big jars. Hard can - Institute (hei.org), revolutionary new about himself and his life — what he knew him. One need only hear a few notes of a fid - lar direction, let’s not kid ourselves. dies and miniature Snickers bars drum dampeners called Drum Drops and what he loved. Never a whiner, and with dle line to know whether the player is Vassar, Everyone packed into these several abound. I avoid most of this, as a sugar as his style is that distinctive. The world of (drumdropsinc.com), a cure for sweaty little patience for those perceived as whiners, halls has an angle. Everyone here crash in this environment is like run - Jimmy sang about life, women, and love. music will truly miss this talented and influ - palms called Palm Dry hopes to come away with something ning out of water at the Coachella ential man. (travelwellness.com), a cord strap that You sit here a-crying they didn’t have when they arrived, Music Festival. Unless they have Bit o’ stays attached to the cable (wrapn - Right in your beer LOCAL HAPPENINGS whether it’s an order for 10,000 widg - Honey. It’s frightening to imagine what Supergrass will be happening in Bakersfield strap.com), a Frisbee from our friends You say you got troubles, ets, a new Chinese manufacturing deal, I would be capable of doing to procure My friend, listen here on February 2, 3, 4, and 5. Doyle Lawson at PSP (pspaudioware.com), a T-shirt or just a picture of themselves standing just one of those fine confections. Don't tell me your troubles and Quicksilver, the Nashville Bluegrass from Shure Microphones (shure.com), next to Playboy ’s Miss November, 2005. Guitar picks are the second most I've enough of my own Band, the Cherryholmes , and many other 347 guitar picks, and some really cool The fact is, I’m not officially stealing plentiful thing on offer here. This is Be thankful you're living greats will be appearing, so consider driving buttons that say stuff like “I believe in anything, I’m just carefully removing where it seems the most like shoplift - Drink up and go home. on up. goin’ to 11.” I also lined up some great the bait from the hook like a clever ing. I’m standing there, cheerfully con - He loved women all right, and his hopes Claire Lynch and the Claire Lynch Band products to review that will make your largemouth bass at Lake Murray. versing with the attending person and were high. will be giving a special concert in Del Mar at recording life easier in the very near the Del Mar Powerhouse on Sunday, April 23, Judging from the record turnout at this all the while, I am sorting all of the On the hit parade of love, future, so stay tuned (okay, that will be so mark you calendars early for this rare local year’s show, I doubt anyone will mind. medium gauges out and surreptitiously You know I'll never stop, the absolute last pun for this particular appearance by one of the greats. Her band There are plenty of fish in this NAMM putting them in my pocket. Granted, I've got a long long way to climb column). includes Jim Hurst (multiple time IBMA guitar Show sea. Before I reach the top, they can see that I’m doing this and player of the year) and Missy Raines (multi - At previous shows, I had always hit they are offering them for free, but Sven-Erik Seaholm is an award-winning But if I do get there soon I'd really have it made independent artist and producer. He likes ple time IBMA bass player of the year). the main hall first. Many of the prod - still…it feels like I’m thieving heavily. Then I'll know I'm number one in your lover's hit to hear from you. You can send him email The San Diego Bluegrass Society will be ucts I’m most interested in are here, so Case in point: 4 db, inc has these parade. at [email protected] holding its regular jam sessions on: it’s always seemed the logical primary Jimmy was born in Hancock County, things called Stash Picks Sneedville, Tennessee, and joined Bill Second Tuesday of every month at destination. This hall is about the size Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys in 1949 as Fuddruckers in Grossmont center, 7-9 pm of oh, say…Egypt. Covering this lead singer and emcee. He performed with Third Tuesday of every month at amount of acreage in one day has con - Bill Monroe for five years before moving on Fuddruckers in Chula Vista, 7-10 pm sistently resulted in my missing some to join Bobby and Sonny Osborne. He later Fourth Tuesday of every month at Boll of the exhibitors in neighboring halls, formed the Sunny Mountain Boys. We will Weevill on Miramar Road, 69 pm so my wife/photographer Gail and I miss this true character and enormous talent. The North County Bluegrass and Folk Club have decided to stay two days and start VASSAR CLEMENTS holds its event on the first Tuesday of every at Hall D, which is, in the parlance of Vassar Clements passed away on August 16 month at Round Table Pizza in Escondido 7-10 Oliver Stone’s JFK , “down, and to the of last year at the age of 77. With an incredi - pm. So stop on by one or more of these left.” ble career that began at age seven, he played events to hear some great local bands, and I’ve always figured the main hall to bluegrass, jazz, rock, and pop music at the bring your instrument for some fun jamming. be the largest, but this one is actually highest and most innovative levels over the Hope to see you out there picking! bigger. Using the previously employed years. Not bad for a self-taught man who couldn’t read music. Sometimes called the African geographical metaphor, this 10 www.sandiegotroubadour.com FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’ P h o t o :

J e s s e

E Radio g a Hosing n Daze

Down by Jim McInnes by José Sinatra was usually able to Working Stiff maintain a stiff upper Jim McInnes LESSONS IN TOLERANCE lip, a trait that he Modern Rhythm Band (“my” pleased the ladies no band) has played the annual Why is it that to this day, George off when I finished. It was so cold even the OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic end and that became The allegedly stable Mr. Sinatra at left T politicians at the party had their hands in Washington and Abraham Lincoln Club) Coming Out Party for the past six legend at all the belt - their own pockets. Why, it was so cold we continue to exert such important show seemed to fly by in a matter years. We consider it an honor to play this way watering holes. were feeding hot sauce to the seagulls! It influence on the lives of hundreds of minutes. I recall being a bit gig because it’s for a great cause and Both men were known to have was so cold on that Saturday that even the (if not thousands) of Americans? annoyed by Dano’s rather stiff, because there’s always enough free beer submitted to a painful early form of Lotto balls retracted into the machine. Scholars will often mention a robotic movements but in hind - and grub to put us into the proper “operat - electrolysis, having found the Lemme tell ya, it was cold! national obsession with nostalgia, sight, I understand their necessity ing condition.” Unlike some musicians, we process of daily leg-shaving boring Then I had a brilliant idea. but I think it goes deeper than that. in achieving a connection with the do our best performances when we’re and embarrassing. One of the guys in the band is a doctor, As my lifelong friend, physician culturally challenged, youthful hip- stumbling over our foot pedals, slurring Both were similarly bored and with an actual M.D. degree, a private prac - Vynell Okimba once wrote, “The hop members of the audience. The words, and drooling down our embarrassed by their wives, who tice, hot nurses, white lab coats, and every - shirts...except it’s always been so cold at speculum of the mind must be triumphant show ran for decades thing. The Doc had brought to the gig a feared razors and were anything Mariner’s Point in June that our shirts were warm and gentle in opening the when it could have merely walked; small package of value that I had requested but sharp upstairs, where it always covered by our jackets, so we’d precious veils of truth.” Although such is the athletic American seed in anticipation of the freezing conditions...a counts. drool on them instead. It’s precisely he was actually obliquely referring whence it whelped. five-pack of Viagra! I’d asked him,”Hey, George was known to carry because of the c-c-cold June weather that to horse racing in Ecuador, the I once took in the show with Doc, isn’t Viagra a vaso-dilator?” “Yep, it himself proudly on his horse. If OMBAC officials moved last year’s party to maxim can certainly be of value in two friends, the brother and sister increases blood flow.” “That would help us Abe had known about the horse - September, and it was actually above 70 our own understanding of of the aforementioned Dr. Vynell stay warmer, wouldn’t it?” I queried. less carriage, he would have been degrees! It was really wonderful to play the Presidents Day. Okimba. LeVelcro and LaTwanda “Maybe.” proud. World’s Biggest Beach Party and not have Why this holiday occurs in knew personally the tragic reality So I popped a blue pill and talked three George appears on the one dol - to wear a parka and mittens for once! February nearly every year is of prejudice, having been immi - of the other guys into doing the same. One lar bill. At the age of one, the I know what you’re thinking, “How cold another mystery, but one of little grants from Scotland during a peri - of them got a raging headache, I turned infant George was weened. was it in 2004, Jim?” It was so cold that my importance to any but the psychot - od when, for some insane reason, beet red, and I’m not sure about the other Abe’s devil-may-care attitude is, tongue stuck to my guitar strings (I have an ic astrologer. two guys but I think they liked it. Americans detested the Scottish unorthodox playing style). It was so cold of course, gracing the five dollar Nevertheless, despite my best intentions, No, what’s immediately remark - (this was, needless to say, pre Bay that the fire we started backstage, using bill. He was known to drink five we hit the stage an hour later, frozen stiff. able about the Washington-Lincoln City Rollers America). I had been another band’s equipment, only served to glasses of milk every day even (Rimshot!) saga is how extraordinarily similar falling secretly in love with piss them off for some reason. It was so before he was weened. Thanks, I’m here all month. Try the lin - yet remarkably different the two LaTwanda, but years earlier she cold that when I took a leak I had to snap it While Washington lived in a guini. men really were. Or as the French had stolen my bicycle and I detest place that, coincidentally, bore his like to say, “Plus ça change, thieves. A solution to my emotional own surname, Lincoln was known voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” dilemma came naturally when, in to vacation in Lincoln, Nebraska Gitzi gitzi ya-ya indeed. the darkened Main Street Opera before finally settling in Each of those charismatic fel - House, she removed her hands Washington , where his home, the lows spent the most important from my lap, tapped my shoulder, White House, had a private area years of his life in the Washington and opened her blouse to flash called the Lincoln bedroom ! D.C. area, in similar jobs, and with - me. There are at least two more in a stone’s throw of each other, What would Lincoln do? Or examples of the strange, cosmic and yet no one has ever been able Washington, for that matter? bond these two American icons to document that the two men I screamed; she was arrested possessed, but they really start ever even met ! Complicating this for indecent exposure and has getting creepy and seem more fit dilemma are the known personal been a registered sex offender for a TV program like One Step characteristics as documented by ever since. Beyond than in a swinger’s column more than a few of their reliable I don’t think the Scots or any of a paper devoted to music. Even contemporaries. Abe (which I’ll other kind of foreigner can ever though Washington and LIncoln, in hereafter utilize as an accepted understand how much it hurts any a long-distance collaboration simi - contraction of Abraham, although real American when the temples of lar to the early years of Bernie the “e” is of questionable origin our forefathers are besmirched. Taupin and Elton John, composed and silent) was, when off the bas - So I lost my LaTwanda. “The Battle Hymn of America the ketball court, modest, almost dour But this month I’ll welcome Beautiful,” which topped the in his dress. George, who was also back to town a long-absent friend charts for six weeks and nearly of above-average height, preferred who means more to me than all became our national anthem, they delicately flamboyant styles of the the LaTwandas of the world, I were trumped when Francis Scott, western European psychedelic delude myself enough to believe. key plagiarist of his time, ripped trends, which would be so suc - This person has been missed by them off, literally sic sempering cessfully resurrected in the 1960s many, and it’s only appropriate he their tyranus. They would never by Mary Quant. Powdered wigs comes back to us in February, issue another song, save that and laces at the wrists and throat month of the truly great who once which they inspire in our hearts were seen in those days as toiled in amber waves of grain and and the hearts of all free men and badges of fearlessly rugged mas - forged a nation. Let us pray. many women of the world. culinity by the mentally chal - Oh. And happy Valentine’s Day, Do I hear an Amen, my G’s? lenged. In contrast, Abe was con - LaTwanda Okimba, thief of my bike Interestingly, I was in the audi - sidered somewhat of a fruit. and my heart. And to all of you, ence at Disneyland’s opening George had wooden teeth, Abe especially my returning partner in week of the fantastic direct-from- a wooden disposition when it Time. May our history become a Phil Harmonic Sez: Broadway one-man show, Great came to biting comments directed song. Moments with Mr. Lincoln in the his way. mid-sixties. I immediately recog - George’s personal secretary nized the the actor portraying “If I know what was named Orenthal Mills, while Lincoln. It was Royal Dano, who Abe’s had once been a miller in had previously impressed me with love is, it is Orenthal, Alaska. his Lincolnesque performance as Oh, it gets better . . . Peter No-Last-Name in the glori - because of you.” A childhood illness rendered ous film King of Kings . What a impotent the facial-hair follicles mesmerizing performance was this — Herman Hesse above Abe’s mouth. George also Abe! So enthralled was I that the suffered occasional impotency but www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

Song for Scotland: Dougie Paige Aufhammer, continued from page 7. a big hit the first night but most every - one came back for the second night too. MacLean Comes to Town Talk about feeling appreciated! The power went out during the show and, as Paige tells it, there was a momen - tary lapse, but they evenutally decided to to be: a group activity. singer-songwriters who are driven by keep the music going using the good old MacLean’s heritage is built into a love of music, MacLean felt the sound hole (built into most modern gui - his songs like an inexorable iron confining noose of the record com - tars). Hours later everyone in the pub was framework. On it rests his sense of pany around his neck early in his joining together in rowdy renderings of duty to sustain and respect the land career. In an effort to maintain an “Eleanor Rigby” and “Redemption Song.” that has sustained his family for gen - unfiltered integrity in his music’s, he The beer tap was finally shut down at 3 erations. and his wife, Jennifer, started the a.m. and everyone had to head home for An advocate of Scottish independ - Dunkeld label over 20 years ago. All the night. But they were right back there ence, it is this love for his homeland of his subsequent recordings have the next night singing and sharing that provided the inspiration for been released on his label. music. I got the impression that the “Caledonia,” his most famous song. Coming full circle is a recurring musical mission was really about just A Gaelic word for Scotland, MacLean motif in MacLean’s life and career. As that: sharing and connecting people composure on stage that Paige has a very wrote it in his 20s, while homesick a base for his label, MacLean bought together based on their common love of strong and innate talent for music. She’s and traveling around Europe. Sung the 200 year-old structure that was by Kate Kowsh music. very confident and uncompromising. by Frankie Miller, the song reached once the primary (elementary) So where did Paige’s love of music However, becoming a successful artist number one in the Scottish charts in school that he and his father attend - t may be difficult to imagine, come from? She says that she has been also requires good business sense. She is 1992 and has since assumed its ed as children. He converted it into a especially in this country where heavily influenced by female singer-song - currently backed by Lee Chestnut, throne as the unofficial Scottish home and recording studio. With his aggressive capitalism is the norm, writers like Patty Griffin, Mindy Smith, founder of Del Mar-based LMC Records. I anthem. son Jamie producing his tracks and Over the course of the last year, he has a time when music was community and Allison Krauss. I could especially As part of a 10-date U.S. tour, his wife’s watercolor artwork gracing property, a tie that bound families hear elements of Allison Krauss in Paige’s put together a marketing and promotion MacLean will be in San Diego on the covers of many of his albums, and friends together. Of course, such singing style, whose music and perform - team to help Paige develop her audience February 12 for a performance at La MacLean is keeping music what it an honest age came before the ance skills have also been heavily influ - and promote her upcoming full-length Jolla’s 498-seat Sherwood Auditorium has always been for him: a family music industry tried to convince the enced by the church. “Most of my pres - CD. Although the album should be ready at the Museum of Contemporary Art. affair. world that music should be tucked ence on stage started in church,” she this month, it won’t be officially released Performing since he was 16 years The couple also used to own the on a shelf and charged a premium to says. Her faith is extremely important to until later in spring. For now, Paige is old, MacLean’s comfort and joy in Real Music Pub, where they still offer enjoy. Scottish singer-songwriter her and her compositions are definitely sticking to the local scene and working to the spotlight is contagious. His con - fiddle and guitar classes every Dougie MacLean is living proof that grounded in a sense of spiritual confi - reach new audiences anywhere she can. certs have been described by Thursday and host an open mic on such a time existed. His music dence. Her songwriting is melancholy but Paige is also currently finishing a two- Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe writer Iain Friday nights. inspires the belief that it still can. As also resonates with an honest sense of year degree in fine arts although she fully Gilmour as “meeting an old friend, Although his studio is armed with he explained to the Santa Barbara hope. I found myself feeling reflective by intends to follow the direction of her rather than attending a concert.” the most up-to date, high-tech music News-Press in 2003, “When I was her songs, which provoked thoughts and musical career. MacLean was born in Perthshire, tweaking mumbo jumbo one could growing up, both my mother and feelings that I would definitely describe During the tour, a film crew was also Scotland. His father, a gardener, shake a guitar at, he told Billboard father’s sides of the family were from as inspiring. in attendance and will be combining played the fiddle, while his mother USA in 2002, “There’s nothing like the west coast of Ireland and Another major influence for Paige is interviews (with both the artists and the played the mandolin. Before music filling this place [the pub] with local Scotland. They all spoke Gaelic, not collaboration. While in Ireland Paige had audience) and performance footage became his life’s work, MacLean musicians; we’ll pack in 50 people English. In that culture, music was the opportunity to jam with fellow tour - together in a documentary style film worked as a gardener, like his father, and play our fiddles and swap tunes. very much an everyday kind of thing. ing artists Frank Lenz (drums), Aimee directed and produced by Charlie Matz (a and a pipeline worker. He also It’s full of music, not business. You It was like eating, breathing, and Nelson (violin), and Bjorn (bass). Frank founder of a film group called The attended college, where he was an don’t have to be the best to con - sleeping….everybody in that genera - and Aimee played with Paige at each per - Veracity Project). The documentary will engineering major. tribute something. The pub is great tion could knock a tune out of some - formance and Bjorn was a member of be appropriately titled Pub and will pre - Since then his music has earned for that. It’s really magic.” thing. That’s how they socialized.” Degrasse’s band. When I recently saw mier at Coast Hills Community Church him scores of diverse fans and taken For more information on Dougie MacLean’s voice is disarmingly them perform together at the Belly Up, (in Aliso Viejo) on March 8. Other details him all over the world. He’s toured MacLean, go to: honest, peppered with integrity and they were so in synch that I expected about the film can be found online at the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, www.dougiemaclean.com. For tickets tradition. Sometimes labeled the them to have a more extensive history as http://www.theveracityproject.com. Singapore, Canada, the U.S., and and information about MacLean’s Scottish James Taylor, his songs tell a group. Paige says she doesn’t really As both a participant in, and a fan of, Cape Breton. San Diego concert, go to: stories that captivate his audience. have a band per se, but she especially the independent music community, I MacLean’s music has also felt its www.eticketsNOW.com or call (619) His appeal lies in his musical sensibili - enjoys getting together to play with other hope to see much more of Paige fair share of warmth from the 224-1297. ty and in his tunes that are pleasing musicians. “Performing is a passion of Aufhammer because I believe that her Hollywood spotlight. He scored to the ears and heart. Like literary mine [and] I’m inspired by performing music is honest and vulnerable. Both of music for Last of the Mohicans, star - icon Ernest Hemingway, MacLean with others.” She’s found a number of these important attributes are, I feel, ring Daniel Day-Lewis and wrote uses succinct clarity, weighing his opportunities to play around town in the sadly missing in much of the music “Turning Away,” sung by Mary Black, words to make them all count. He past few months and she’s making new released by the standard media outlets for the movie Angel Eyes , starring ends his choruses with open vowels, friends… and fans. currently available to people. To hear for Jennifer Lopez. inspiring audiences to sing along. He “My job, I feel like, is music. I’m so yourself what Paige sounds like, she will As is the case with most prolific makes music the way it was intended passionate about it.” It is clear from her be performing at Acoustic Alliance XI on February 21 at Brick by Brick. I advise that you don’t miss it! You can learn more about Paige Aufhammer at http://www.paigeaufhammer.com.

12 www.sandiegotroubadour.com FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

The Grams The Wild Sligo Rags The Wigbillies Gully The Night Before Going Up the by Simeon Flick Truth by Tina Stone This music drifts in like a nag the Morning After Mountain Gully , the a self-titled EP produced champa haze over the Appalachian This Golden Era by (7th Day Busker boss) Shawn range, leaving a rarified mist of joi de Rohlf is a five-song ride through by Kate Kowsh by Jeremy Browne vivre in its wake. The Grams start with by Tom Paine Americana themes that ring familiar a compelling admixture of east- After mulling over what a peculiar At the Adams Avenue Street Fair right from the get go. Gully opens meets-west aesthetics; then they add Pop music often seems like a banal name Sligo Rags is, I popped their last year I slipped into Lestat’s at a up with a drivin’ number called superlative old-school songwriting pack of lies too contrived to rise new release into my discman, and good friend’s recommendation and “Lead Filled Kites.” This is the kind of and vocal harmonies, and pound in above its own mediocrity. Hair exten - started flipping through the liner went to catch the Wigbillies for a tune you roll down the top for and the final nail with a prodigious lineup sions, focus groups, product place - notes and track listings. As I was great set of music and a fun time. turn it up and sing along to some of multifaceted musicians. ment, and music by marketing scanning the song titles and produc - Here was a band of musicians who lost interstate Kansas sky. “See Ya Chuck Schiele (vocals, guitar, and departments have all but replaced tion credits, the fiddle-ridden musi - blended humor and flair with assort - Swinger” is an ironic little ballad chief songwriter) has corralled ten the gritty, back-alley primordial ooze cal concoction I had ordered up ed instrumentation and vocals into a slow dancing its way through anoth - songs that combine old-world eastern from which rock first emerged started pouring into my ears. fine, old-timey, bluegrass, country- er tequila sunrise. Such a sweet sounds and western musical forms decades ago. Then along comes the Hailing from Long Beach Sligo rock, blues vibe. Fronted by Cindy song. Such an apathetic and bitter into an aurally inspiring pastiche of Wild Truth. Running through the Rags is Michael Kelly, David Burns, Lee Berryhill, Mary Fleener, Paul lyrical irony. The outro boasts an intermingling cultures and textures. suburbs like a hybrid on triple espres - and Gordon Rustvold and they seem Therio, and Patrick Dennis and Chris uncredited horn, but, nonetheless, “Sixteen Seconds,” “Joujouka,” and so, the Wild Truth takes your father’s to really know their Celtic music. Hoffee from the Truckee Brothers my ears perked up at what an oddly “21g” practically throb with Indian rock and roll deep into the future. This band can lighten up an played a very impressive set utilizing cool decision it was to put it there. I and Asian modality and groove as San Diego journeyman rockers atmosphere as dim as the Guinness vocals, bass, guitars (acoustic, elec - like a risk that works. exotic percussions blend together Sven-Erik Seaholm, Charlie Loach, stout you just ordered at the bar. tric, bottleneck), mandolin, dulcimer, In fact, irony seems to be the with an often alternately tuned guitar, David Ybarra, and Bill Ray have been Candles on the tables, mahogany and drums. common thread throughout, both dobro, e-bow, occasional bass, and performing and recording as the booths, and these guys sitting in the Their new release, Going Up the musically and lyrically. On one hand violin. “Crabbuckitt” blows it wide Wild Truth since the early nineties, in back, hooting, stamping, and slap - Mountain , is stylistically all over the these fairly traditional arrangements open with Cajun rhythmic attack and between myriad other projects, and ping their knees, while their instru - map music-wise, as would be are full of the moves we know as a group-sung chorus punctuated by their new album This Golden Era ments and great harmonies struggle expected. There are lots of good American roots-oriented rock and Schiele’s animated yelps, which help makes one thing perfectly clear: this to keep up with the melodies. originals and covers here. roll. On the other hand there is a cultivate a spontaneous vibe on other is where they really belong. According to Rob Williams of the The keyword for this CD is eclec - certain gusto from Shawn, who sings songs as well. “You” might initially Besides sporting the best scream Fenians, “The arrangements are tic, which can be a doubled-edged lead and plays guitars, mandolin, seem like just another love song, but this side of Dave Grohl, singer, gui - interestingly different and yet sensi - sword as we shall see. The Wigbillies and harmonica; and his buddies you’ll be amazed at how this tune tarist, and principal songwriter ble. Music choices are made in favor are proficient and comfortable in all Peter Bolland on guitar, lapslide, and actually makes you feel like you’re in Seaholm brings a producer’s ear to of artistry not gimmick of happen - the styles listed above, however it vocals); Bryan Spevak on bass; and love. And the acoustic folk-pop this marvel of recording excellence. stance.” doesn’t translate to this CD unfortu - Chris Conner on drums and backing melodies of “Secret,” “Perfect World,” Keeping it simple and in your face, How refreshing! With some songs nately and I’m bummed. In an effort vocals. “Katydid” is the twisted, and “Poor Little Rich Girl” will stay in Seaholm’s production creates a three topping five minutes, it’s clear that to display their versatile sensibilities, quirky, nasty little riot in the bunch. your head for days. dimensional soundscape of pure rock commercialism is not welcome in the tempo and continuity of Going Turn it up, start dancing, break some The husband and wife team of muscle. Sounding like Garbage, their music. But they also remember Up the Mountain suffers due to furniture. It’s okay. The irony in this Craig Yerkes (lead guitars, vocals) and Matthew Sweet, and the Kinks on that music is for fun. Take “The Irish mediocre production and poor song pulsating rocker comes from the Elise Ohki (violin, vocals) put the meat steroids, the Wild Truth makes great Rover” for example. It’s an uptempo, sequencing. Great versions of “Long cool slide guitar lines butting their on these songs’ bones. When not melodic rock. smokin’ fast track about a ship full of Black Veil,” “Out in California,” and way into the mix with a Klezmer trading virtuosic leads and filling When lead guitarist Charlie Loach workers, sailing over to build New their own fantastic “Native Oak” are touch or two. Oy! Fun things hap - space with sublime melodies on their launches into a solo, it puts you right York’s City Hall. Over Burns’ vocals, standouts. The almost zydeco “Party pen here in this song. It’s rowdy. respective instruments, they’re adding back in your big brother’s Camaro Kelly adds humorous sound effects Time” and the clever “Bob Marley Is Audacious. Stupidgood. Absolutely their vocals to Schiele’s for tight two- with the eight-track blaring some and harmony vocals. Dead” get lost in the shuffle of the nuts. It would make a great Hatchet and three-part harmonies. Yerkes’ Tom Johnson-era Doobies. And when The true gem of the album is the order. The sound quality is muffled Brothers song in that after anyone’s leads are crisp and wonderfully drummer Bill Ray and bassist David shining, relaxed love song “Dirty Old and muddy and the drum sound third beer, a shot, and a few extend - restrained; the dobro on “Joujouka” is Ybarra really dig in, like on the R&B Town,” which tells the story of a could be improved. ed choruses screaming along with akin to the outstandingly nuanced, scorcher “Set Fire,” they cut a groove town where a man met the woman The band line-up seems to be a the boys, the party would become sitar-esque solo on Steely Dan’s “Do It so fat even George Bush would fall he loves. The chorus may sing, “It’s a work in progress. Cindy Lee Berryhill its own show. (Speaking of appear - Again.” And Yerkes’ lucid tenor is the in. What’s also clear is that this is a dirty old town,” but the way the you only appears on background vocals ances, guest appearances on the EP yin to Schiele’s raw yang, especially band effort. The wise decision to are taken through the song, it’s evi - here. Hopefully she will continue include Jeff Berkley, Steve White, during his lead vocal turn on “Poor tackle many of the writing, arrang - dent that the man loves the town as with the Wigbillies. Mary Fleener Cady Truckee, Dan Broder, Gregg Little Rich Girl.” ing, and producing chores collabora - much the girl he met there. does a great job on bass, vocals, and Carpenter, Par Andreasson, Ben Although some songs beg further tively created a truly cohesive work. The most telling piece of informa - lead dulcimer. Paul Therio is right on Moore, and Steve Denyes. instrumentation, the Grams still man - This album really is greater than the tion I garnered from the album the money with his vocals, fine gui - Gully finishes with “Cisco,” a aged to strike a good balance sum of its parts. booklet was on the back: the seem - tar solos, and fills. tune that evokes the lazy river quali - between embellishment and restraint Spanning themes of love, anger, ingly nonsensical phrase, “CeltHick Recommendation: Dear Wigbillies, ty of the mandolin. Beautiful instru - with the help of co-producer/multi- redemption, forgiveness, and sixties’ Music.” I disregarded it, but looking Please FOCUS and concentrate on mental weaves and patterns flow for instrumentalist Jeff Berkley, whose idealism, This Golden Era never sells back now after two full listens, I’m your strengths, for you have many. five folk minutes, bringing the ener - percussion prowess did unobtrusive itself short. It never pretends to be back to the “aha” moment that Resequence the song order, lose a getic EP to its natural center. service to the music. something it’s not, and it never over - slipped through my fingers. This couple of the clinkers, and we’ll have Whether they’re pumping you up reaches its bounds. It’s a nearly per - album, a blend of Celtic and country a better idea of how talented and or chilling you out, the Grams will no fect balance of intelligence and emo - music, with just as much of an old capable you are. doubt leave you with the impression tion. Who says you can’t philoso - Irish jig as there are Johnny Cash- Try this order and see what you that they have made a life-affirming phize in bed? Who says rage has no esque alternating baselines. I always think: acoustic record worthy of your atten - place in compassion? Bridging para - knew the two genres shared com - 1. Single Girl tion. doxes is the task of any artist, and mon musical instruments like the fid - 2. Long Black Veil Get uplifted soon at the Wild Truth does it with authority dle and the banjo, but I had never 3. Out in California http://TheGrams.net/, cdbaby.com, and humility. Master craftsmen know grasped just how similar they are. 4. Native Oak Tower Records, and at the official CD the past. Artists know the past but This album proves that the musi - 5. Big Rock release party on March 15 at the Belly build the future. This Golden Era dis - cal experience is one and the same 6. Party Time Up. tills the best from the past, present, regardless of whether you slap your 7. The Dentist and future. And that’s the wild truth! galloping knee or tug on your 10- 8. Bob Marley is Dead This Golden Era is available at gallon hat, while doing the two-step. 9. Cuckoo’s Hollerin’ www.thewildtruth.com If this sounds good to you, I’ll pro - duce your next album and sit in on mandolin. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

FEBRUARY CALENDAR WEEKLY Marcia Forman Band , Twiggs at The Gooses/Adam Lopez/Tim Mudd , Keltic Karma CD Release , Dizzy’s, 344 7th every sunday the El Cortez, 6pm. wednesday • 1 Twiggs, 8:30pm. Ave., 8pm. 7th Day Buskers (Gully plays every Old Timey Night , Folk Arts Rare Tommy Emmanuel , Bonita Country Club, The Autumn Defense , Lestat’s, 9pm. Steve White , Artists Colony, 90 N. Coast other week) , Farmers Market, DMV 5540 Sweetwater Rd., 7pm. Records, 2881 Adams Ave., 7pm. Wild Truth CD Release/Deadline Hwy, Encinitas, 8pm. parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Mark DeCerbo & Four Eyes/Jigsaw Friday/Michael Tiernan , Humphrey’s Bass/Shannon St. John/Evyn Lopez/ High Society Jazz Band , Tio Leo’s, Seen/The Shambles/Rachael Gordon & Backstage Lounge, Shelter Island, 9pm. Aaron Bowen/Derek Evans , Twiggs, Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley 5302 Napa St., 7pm. Frankie Fiction , Humphrey’s Backstage 8:30pm. Stage, Twigg St. & San Diego Ave., Lounge, Shelter Island, 8pm. 12:30-4:30pm. Tomcat Courtney , Turquoise Cafe friday • 10 Emersen/J. Turtle/Megan LaRoque , Bar Europa, 873 Turquoise St., 8pm. Acoustic Blues w/ Robin Henkel/Billy Lestat’s, 9pm. Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4pm. Watson/Ben Hernandez/Nathan Randy Phillips & Friends , Rebecca’s Open Mic Night , Twiggs, 8:30pm. James/Anna Troy , Lestat’s, 9pm. Coffeehouse, 3015 Juniper St., 7:30pm. saturday • 18 Traditional Irish Music & Dance , Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F Still on the Hill , House Concert, North The Field, 544 5th Ave., 5:30pm. every thursday St., 9pm. Park, 7:30pm. [email protected]. Howling Coyotes , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Hot Fudge Sunday Open Mic , Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, Bryan Bowers , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 O’Connell’s, 1310 Morena Blvd., Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain 182 E. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. (no jam thursday • 2 9pm. Jack Tempchin & Rocket Science , Boys , La Paloma Theater, 471 S. Coast Feb. 16) Joe Rathburn/Dan Connor , Hot Monkey Hwy 101, Encinitas, 6 & 9pm. Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, Love Cafe, 5960 El Cajon Blvd., 7pm. Artists Colony, 90 N. Coast Hwy 101, Joe Rathburn , Folkey Monkey Encinitas, 8pm. Wigbillies/Stereotypes , A St. Stage, 90 A KSDS (88.3 FM). The Cherryholmes , Hilltop Center, 331 E. St., Encinitas, 7pm. Thursdays, Hot Monkey Love Cafe, Elder, Fallbrook, 7:30pm. Cowboy Jack , Del Dios Country Store, José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 5960 El Cajon Blvd., 7pm. 20154 Lake Dr., Escondido, 8pm. Cheryl Wheeler , San Dieguito United Bernie Maupin Ensemble , Athenaeum, Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, 1921 Bacon St., 9:30pm. Sue Palmer , Martini’s, 3940 Fourth 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. Sue Palmer Trio , Ki’s, 2591 S. Coast Hwy 101, 8pm. Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Ave., 7pm. Stevie Harris/Byron Hudson/The Gooses , Rice , 10-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Caballero Latin Jazz Quintet , Dizzy’s, 344 Tom Rush , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Twiggs, 8:30pm. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. 7th Ave., 8:30pm. Lucky Star Restaurant, 3893 54th Pete Thurston , Lestat’s, 9pm. Laura Kuebel/Tiamo/Derren Raser/ Dave Beyond the Pale , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., every monday St., 7pm. Boodakian/Christopher Cash , Twiggs, 8pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Borders friday • 3 8:30pm. Waldo Bliss/Dawn Mitschele/ Backstage Lounge, Shelter Island, Afterglow/Dan Tedesco/Jen Knight , Books & Music, 159 Fletcher Pkwy, Chamber Music Concert Series , Jaime Robb/Ali Handal/Jenn Grinels , 7pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. Twiggs, 8:30pm. El Cajon, 7-10pm. Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, Open Mic Night , Lestat’s, 7:30pm. 7:30pm. Allison Lonsdale/Greg Laswell , Lestat’s, Amelia Browning & David Owen 9pm. Steve White , Artists Colony, 90 N. Coast saturday • 11 Tango Dancing , Tio Leo’s, 5302 (Jazz), Turquoise Cafe-Bar Europa, Hwy 101, Encinitas, 8pm. David Lindley w/ Buddy Blue/Jerry Napa St., 8pm. 873 Turquoise St., 8:30pm. S.D. Chamber Music Society , Museum of Rainey , Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, Bob Malone/Sue Palmer , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Making Music, 5790 Armada Dr., 8pm. Singing in the Shower Karaoke w/ Ave., 8pm. every tuesday Carlsbad, 3pm. José Sinatra , O’Connell’s, 1310 Crash Carter , La Playa Cantina, 1020 W. Kev , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy 78, sunday • 19 Blues Jam , Blind Melons, 710 Morena Blvd., 8:30pm. San Marcos Blvd. #110, 8pm. Julian, 6pm. Garnet, 7pm. Bobby Gordon Quintet , Elks Lodge, 1400 Swing Thursdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Stasia Conger/Christopher Dallman/ Jon Middle Earth Ensemble & Belly Dance Open Mic Night , E St. Cafe, 130 W. & Noah , Twiggs, 8:30pm. Showcase , Acoustic Expressions, 2852 E. Washington Ave., El Cajon, 1pm. Napa St., 9pm. 619/297-5277. E. St., Encinitas, 7pm. A.J. Croce , Lestat’s, 9pm. University Ave., 7pm. Tom Chapin , San Dieguito United The Earl Brothers , Acoustic Expressions, Zydeco Tuesdays , Tio Leo’s, 5302 every friday Crosswinds CD Release/Robin Henkel , 2852 University Ave., 7pm. Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., 9pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Napa, 7pm. California Rangers , McCabe’s, Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. Michael Peter Smith , Dark Thirty House Concert, Lakeside, 7:30pm. Reservations: Open Mic Night , Cosmos Cafe, Oceanside, 4:30-9pm. Kokopelli World Jazz Ensemble , Dizzy’s, 8278 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. saturday • 4 344 7th Ave., 8pm. 619/443-9622. Basin Street Band , Lucky Star Carl Janelli Sax Quartet , Museum of Len Rainey’s Blues Allstars w/ Sue Winard Harper Quintet , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Irish Music Jam , The Ould Sod, Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Making Music, 5790 Armada Dr., Palmer/Lady Star/Deejha Marie/Fuzzy , Ave., 8pm. 7pm. Carlsbad, 1pm. Jazilla , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Shelter Edie Carey , Lestat’s, 9pm. The Sidewinders , Turquoise Cafe Just Add Water , Wynola Pizza Express, Island, 8pm. 873 Turquoise St., 8pm. Bar Europa, 873 Turquoise St., 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Adrienne Nims/Spirit Wind , La Playa monday • 20 Open Mic Night , Egyptian Tea Blues Party , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main Cantina, 1020 W. San Marcos Blvd. #110, 7:30pm. Room & Smoking Parlour, 4644 St., El Cajon, 6:30pm. 8pm. Chamber Concert Series , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. Jack Tempchin , Calypso Cafe, 576 College Ave., 9pm. Patty Hall , Borders Books, 668 Sixth Ave., Jamie Crawford/Roy Ruiz Clayton/ N. Hwy 101, Encinitas, 8pm. 7:30pm. Kethro/Kristina Bennett/Jamie Robb , every saturday Twiggs, 8:30pm. tuesday • 21 Hot Club of San Diego , Prado Marie Haddad , Twiggs El Cortez, 702 Ash Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. St., 7:30pm. Michelle Shipp CD Release/John Hull , Le Choeur de Clarinettes , Museum of Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Lestat’s, 9pm. Making Music, 5790 Armada Dr., Comedy Night w/ Mark Serritella , Stage, Twigg St. & San Diego Ave., Molly’s Revenge , San Dieguito United Carlsbad, 7pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Gully/Truckee Brothers , Casbah, 9pm. Lestat’s, 9pm. 12:30-4:30pm. Encinitas, 7:30pm. 858/566-4040. Acoustic Alliance XI w/ Lisa Sanders/ Christian/Gospel Open Mic , El Kevin Danzig/Paige Aufhammer/Patti wednesday Rasa CD Release , Yoga Fusion, 5632 La sunday • 12 Zlaket/Sven-Erik Seaholm/Alyssa every Cajon. Info: J.D., 619/246-7060. Jolla Blvd., 8pm. Dougie MacLean , Sherwood Auditorium, Jacey/Christopher Dale/Rusty Jones/ Music at Ocean Beach Farmer’s Calima , Artists Colony, 90 N. Coast Hwy Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, Simeon Flick , Brick by Brick, 1130 Market , Newport Ave., 4-7pm. 101, Encinitas, 8pm. 7:30pm. Buenos Ave., 7:30pm. Tim Flannery & Friends , California Ctr. for Darvak , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., 8:30pm. Lecture: Music in American Cinema , the Performing Arts, 340 N. Escondido Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 9pm. Laura Cortese , Clarke House Concert, Blvd., 8pm. 7:30pm. Kensington, 8pm. Reservations: 619/291- sunday • 26 Elise Levi/Brett Vogel/Erik Janson/ monday • 13 Brad Steinwehe Jazz Orchestra , Dizzy’s, 4954. Big Mo Band CD Release , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Andrea Reschke/New Dadists , Twiggs, 344 7th Ave., 8:30pm. Moncef Genoud w/ Joe LaBarbera/ Tom Ave., 7pm. 8:30pm. Athenaeum Mini-Concert Series , Lyceum Warrington , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., 8pm. Theatre, Horton Plaza, noon. Tom Russell , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Lindsey Troy/Audrye Session/Push to thursday • 23 Peter Rutman Blues & Jazz Band/ Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Talk , Lestat’s, 9pm. Bonnie Raitt , Copley Symphony Hall, 1245 Joe Rathburn/Joel Rafael , Hot Monkey Kethro/Ernie Halter/Andrew Norsworthy , 7th Ave., 8pm. Mundell Lowe/Peter Sprague/Bob Love Cafe, 5960 El Cajon Blvd., 7pm. Twiggs, 8:30pm. Magnusson/Jim Plank , Athenaeum sunday • 5 Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Acoustic Music Showcase w/ Jack the Robin Henkel , Lestat’s, 9pm. Studio, 4441 Park Blvd., 8pm. Backstage Lounge, Shelter Island, 7pm. Dave Howard , Lestat’s, 9pm. Original , M-Theory, 3004 Juniper St., Lucinda Williams , House of Blues, 1055 Chuck Perrin CD Release w/ Bob 7pm. saturday • 25 5th Ave., 8pm. Magnusson/Rob Whitlock/Brian monday • 6 The Syn , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Wood ‘n’ Lips , Acoustic Expressions, Price/Gary Nieves/Arthur Fisher/Dave Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Bob Marley B-Day Celebration w/ Peter Curtis , Dizzy’s, 344 7th Ave., 8pm. 2852 University Ave., 2pm. monday • 27 Sprague/Josh Nelson/Jack Crash Carter , Canes, 3105 Ocean Front Mile High Band , Wynola Pizza Express, Athenaeum Mini-Concert Series , Lyceum Miller/Duncan Moore/Leonard Walk, 8pm. 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Theatre, Horton Plaza, noon. Patton/Eric Lige/Rebecca Curtis , Dizzy’s, wednesday • 15 Indie Limelight , Humphrey’s Backstage Band in Black , Pine HIlls Dinner Theatre, Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s 344 7th Ave., 7pm. Stripped Acoustic Showcase , House of Lounge, Shelter Island, 8pm. Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 8:30pm. 2960 La Posada Way, Julian, 7pm. Backstage Lounge, Shelter Island, 7pm. Johnsmith , Meeting Grace House Eve Selis , Seaside Church, 367 La Veta tuesday • 7 Concert, Normal Heights, 8pm. Ave., Encinitas, 7:30pm. tuesday • 28 Marta Topferova , Acoustic Music S.D., thursday • 16 [email protected] Mort Sahl , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Lecture: Music in American Cinema , 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Joe Rathburn/Suzanne Reed , Hot Robin Hitchcock , Belly Up Tavern, Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Monkey Love Cafe, 5960 El Cajon Blvd., Solana Beach, 8pm. Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, Adrienne Nims/Calima , Calypso Cafe, 576 Orrin Star , Clarke House Concert, 7:30pm. N. Coast Hwy 101, Leucadia, 7:30pm. 7pm. Brian Benham/The Gooses/Josh Hall , Kensington, 8pm. Reservations: 619/291- Gone Tomorrow , SDBS mtg., Boll Weevil, North County Cowboys , SDNCBFC mtg., Crash Carter , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Hwy. Twiggs, 8:30pm. 4954. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. 7080 Miramar Rd., 7:30pm. Round Table Pizza, 1161 Washington Cash Only (Johnny Cash Tribute) w/ Jim Adrienne Nims/Spirit Wind , La Playa Ave., Escondido, 8pm. Benny Green Trio , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall Soldi/Joey Harris/Whiskey Tango/Citizen Cantina, 1020 W. San Marcos Blvd. #110, St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. Band/The Grams/Cash’d Out/7th Day 8pm. Buskers/Mark Jackson Band/Clay wednesday • 8 Dennis Quaid & the Sharks , Belly Up, Colton Band/Band in Black/Neverly Gilbert Castellanos Quintet , Dizzy’s, 344 Solana Beach, 8pm. Danny Daniels/Randy Rigby , Dizzy’s, 344 Brothers , Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 9pm. 7th Ave., 8:30pm. 7th Ave., 7:30pm. Abigail Nolte/Lee Coulter/The Gooses , Rachel/Nikhil Korula Band/Amy Twiggs, 8:30pm. Chris Trapper/Exfriends , Lestat’s, 9pm. friday • 24 Ayres/Grand Canyon Sundown/ Terrence Acoustic Underground w/ Laurence Hale , Twiggs, 8:30pm. Juber , Lestat’s, 9pm. Patty Hall , Borders Books, 71800 Hwy thursday • 9 111, Rancho Mirage, 7:30pm. Jack the Original CD Release , Lestat’s, 9pm. Joe Rathburn/Steve White , Hot Monkey friday • 17 Sue Palmer Trio , L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Love Cafe, 5960 El Cajon Blvd., 7pm. Del Mar, 7:30pm. Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , Tio Leo’s 5302 Napa St., 9pm. Baja Blues Boys , The Boulevard, 925 W. The Syn , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Alex de Grassi , Acoustic Music S.D., San Marcos Blvd., 6pm. 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. Brazilian Carnaval , 4th & B, 8pm. Patty Hall , Borders Books, 159 Fletcher Peter Sprague , Artists Colony, 90 N. Willy Nelson , Pala Events Center, Pkwy., 7pm. 7:30pm. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, 8pm. Mary Gauthier , Acoustic Music S.D., 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. 619/303-8176. 14 www.sandiegotroubadour.com FEBRUARY 2006 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR the local seen h c a

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