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Tlrirty years of "Ilanuaii 50". That was the guitar, which created a rich fullness to the theme for the SanFrancisco showpresented music, by Lift Off Spacecapades and Tiki Nerrs magazine. Hawaii &0 was just one of two Playing through the superb sound system appearances by The Ventures, March 26th of the Maritime, the effect was enthralling. and 27th,the first show taking place down in Add to that,the Light ShoWsliguid projections (by Santa Cnn. on three sides Brotherhood Of Lights, who used to do the Airplane / Dead shows), and it Nolde rmaswith them, while Ger4rsat out the was - dare I say it - a mind-enhancing combo two shows. What a teat. This wasn't part of a of light and sound tour either, just these two performances. And though the sets, both nights were identical, Normally eschewlng covers, Ttre Mermen jaunty, the difference in venues made them each nevertheless opened with a flowing interesting in their own way. version of "Latinia". "Le Jizz Holl" was a pun title referring to the jazz chordings of the next In Santa Cntz, The Ventures played at number."Sponge Cookie", offthe new record, Palookaville, a small former movie house with features Jim's doulcle-neck gtuitar and shows a smaller capacity creating a more intimate the influence of 'Joumey To The Stals'. environment for the full house of rabid fans. One song merged into the next, uBurrru The San l?ancisco shoq was at Maritime (which did), was also a new tune. "Splashin' Hall,a cavemousballroom settingwith avery With Tfie Mermaid", you may recall from "Krill high ceiling and a large, steeply tiered balcony Slippin"',myfavourite Mermen recording and in the rear. A capacity crowd lent this show the mosttaditional sounding (and accessible) the feel of a big-scale event of Mermen music. Jim Thomas however, considers it primitive compared to where he The opening ast in Santa Cnrz was fire is now.I suggested he re-record some, if not Ziggens, a modem, altemative rock vocal all that CD.There's a lot of good material there. band, with a senseofhumour. Buteven playing a couple of instrrmentals didn't alter the sense "tonely Playbof' rmasrlvritten by dnrmmer of being out of place as aVenfures'opener, in Vince'sfatherwho used to be in The Playboys, terms of theme or mood. There wpre so many who once opened for The Venflues! What more possibilities, and I had been goes around..."lLstrobof'had a "Penefration" campaigning for Splashbac( who are home- flavou/' and was unitten by Shigemi Komiyama based in the SantaCruz area.But to be fair, we of Shig &.Buzz,who was in the audience and were in the minority as The Ziggens were saluted byJim. Shig also previously aranged popular with the mostly local audience wtro and sponsoredaJapanese tour ofTtre Mermen had seen them previously. Ilere's atitleforyou - "Emmylou & Clarence No problem in San Francisco with The Ride West & Then South - Way South.".For Mermen, or should I say the "nevd'Mermen. Emmylou Harns and Clarence \itlhite (eyras It's totallyJim Thomas'sbaby noq with a new etc.) are some of Jim's all-time favourite rhylhm section, and the addition of a second gruitaJists.More interesting musical pieces NEWqANDYDANCER rtr, THE VENTL/RES Continue next pcee. THEWNTURES Contirwed,frmn pase 5 Camp, who came to have his guitar signed, autogrrapheda guitar pick for Vicki's son. included "TtreCunre", "Mer4rGo Round", "Swal/' "Here","KitqrKit$' and "UntoThe Resplendent', When the familiar drunr roII and chords of with a marching beat, the feel of an kish jig '.Wallq Don't Run" began, I started writing and a haunting "Lonely Surfer" influence. V\IDR,Per, Lull, and Blue...,..Ihad to cross it out. What they opened with, Bob on lead gnritar, A terrific set, and kudos to Vince Littleton was a medley of "WDR", "Rawhide", (drums), (guitar) Randy Clark and Mike "Shanghaied","Torquaf', "\lt/ork Song", "Mr. Silverman (nass).AU highty professional who, Moto", "Comin' Home", "BesamgMucho", "EI between them have played (or are plaiurg) Cumbanchero","Bumble Bee","Perfidia" and with Daryl Anger, Merl Saunders, Fabulous "Blue Moon" with a 'VIIDR reprise in San Hedgehogs and a host of others. firey had Prancisco. Wow! It was great and I hadn't only two rehearsals (where else have we heard a few of these for some time. heard that latelf?), but you wouldn't have guessed it by the high calibre of precision. Bob continued on lead with "Peter Gunn" which sound.ed quite effective, even without Theyplayed cohesirrcly and very fluidly. Jim the missing Gerry McGee; "Hurricane" has been doing fire Mermen for eleven years (particulartystong) and "Bombora".Bob's leads now and still is not content. He continues to were really sizzling. push the envelope and he's been doing other projects, such as the Road Rashvideo game Nokie tookover onlead and offwewentwith along with Sugar Ray.The new CD will most "CruelSea','Telsta/', "Driving Guitars",'Bulldog" likely be called "TtreAmazing Califomia Health and "Apache".It was like he'd never lefi. He's & Happiness ShoW'. hasn't lost a thing and maybe sounds better than ever, Bob introduced Nokie and his Rrlp In the audience for THE VENl'ttRES in San Fiction number, "SurfRidet'' (The Lively Ones' Francisco, were members of The Phantom version is on the movie but you lcrew that) Surfers, SplashbacK Trashwomen, Swamis, which was taken at a brisk tempo. Pollo DeI Mar, Jumbo Shrimp as well countless others I'm sure I missed. In Santa Cruz,I met Ulith Gerry absent, Don did two vocals - "Do Martin and Vicki Neff, old ftiends of Nokie You Wanna Dance" and "Runawal/'.Someone Edwards, who had driven down from Eugene, has already said it, and I agree, the two best Oregon - a long drive. He plays guitar and she rhythm gruitarists maybe ever, are Keith produces the odd show up there including Richardsand DonWilson.Don's st:umming at The Ventures. Very nice couple with whom I both shows, was like a locomotive chugging chatted on and off throughout the course of the band along. A food counter person at both shorrys, Palookaville told me he larew of Ttre Ventures and particularlyNokie who had recorded five Martin and I were talking at Palookaville, CDs in the Philippines where this fellow was when a young gruy carryingr a gruitar case from, Judy Edwards told me those recordings politely approached us wanting to lcrow if he are hung up with the Japanese recording could have The Ventures sign hls guitar. We company - another headache for Nokie. said sure and he proceeded to uncasea 1964 Mosrite Ventures Model tr. I asked if he was in Next up "Shorrdorm At Nernrport" ("Black a band and he said yes, and had rushed over SandBeach"), Tequila", with a bouncing lead, from a rehearsal,having heard about the show "LaBamba", withvocal Bambas'and a powerfirl only an hour before. "House Of The Rising Sun". Nokie was particularly good on this one. Actually, Nokie IIe said his playing lllas vet1r influenced by was wailing on everlttring. The Venfl:res and when I asked the band's name, he replied Smashmouth.When Vicki "Penetra6on" and "Olrt Of Limits" followed heard that, it was "Oh,my God! My son loves and then 'WaJl<,Don't Run '64" with Don's you guys." Turns out Smashmouthis on Nm/ crrnching guitar chords was hot and the doing big concerts,has a new CD and are very audience loved it. Nokie continued with popular with the younger crowd. So Gregory Yellow Jackef and'secret Agent Man" (again THE VENTURES Continted nert Daqe NEW qANDY DANCER rtr,