FREE ROUBADOURSAN DIEGO Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news August 2004 Vol. 3, No. 11 what’s inside Welcome Mat………3 Mission Statement Contributors History of the Banjo SUMMMERGRASSERGRASS Full Circle..…………4 Homegrown Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch…………6 Guitar Artistry Opossums of Truth Hot Monkey Love Cafe Parlor Showcase...…9 Summergrass Ramblin’...…………13 OB’s New Music Wave Mudcat.org’s Blue Plate Specials Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Highway’s Song... …16 Jennifer Spector FAR-West Regional Conference Of Note.……………17 Fragment Ron Spears & Within Tradition Tim Flannery Bearfoot Bluegrass ‘Round About .......…18 August Music Calendar The Local Seen……19 Photo Page Pull out section with complete Summergrass information: featured bands, schedules, children’s activities, map, museum attractions, and directionsdirections on pages 9-12. San Diego Troubadour • August 2004 welcomewelcome matmat Despite Its African Origin, Today’s ROUBADOURSAN DIEGO Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news Banjo is an All-American by Kent Johnson of the largest producers MISSION CONTRIBUTORS of banjos in the world today. During the mid- To promote, encourage, and FOUNDERS rowing up provide an alternative voice for the ’70s, my friends Gino Ellen and Lyle Duplessie loving music great local music that is generally more than and Sam from overlooked by the mass media; namely Liz Abbott anything, but not American Dream the genres of folk, country, roots, Kent Johnson G Guitar sent me out to Americana, gospel, and bluegrass. To knowing anything entertain, educate, and bring together PUBLISHERS about it, just about Lemon Grove to take players, writers, and lovers of these Kent Johnson describes my life up to my guitar to two guys forms; to explore their foundations; and Liz Abbott the age of 30. Luckily, who repaired and built to expand the audience for these types education and experi- instruments. Who of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS Liz Abbott ence came into the pic- would have thought For advertising rates, call 619/298- that Greg (Deering ADVERTISING/DISTRIBUTION ture and I finally knew 8488 or e-mail [email protected]. a little about music and Banjos) and Bob Kent Johnson had some experience per- (Taylor Guitars) would San Diego Troubadour had five strings, which is considered P.O. Box 164 PHOTOGRAPHY forming as well. By the time I was in go on to develop that little shop into part of our American heritage. The La Jolla, CA 92038 Millie Moreno my late thirties, a seasoned veteran, I the two incredible, world-class compa- reporter asked, “What’s that thing E-mail: [email protected]. was still of the opinion that the banjo, nies that exist today? WRITERS called?” The guy said, “It’s a banjer.” along with the Appalachian dulcimer, Ain’t history great? Living it is even Liz Abbott The reporter, knowing that these peo- were the only original American better. SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local Bob Biscoli ple didn’t say potato but potater and instruments. Wrong! source for alternative country, Peter Bolland didn’t say tomato but tomater, thought Today most people know that the Americana, roots, folk, gospel, and Lou Curtiss that the guy must have meant banjo, bluegrass music news, is published banjo came from Africa, and took Phil Harmonic not banjer. So that’s how the name monthly and is free of charge. Letters many different forms. The Africans, Paul Hormick banjo came about. Well, it’s possible to the editor must be signed and may Kent Johnson who were brought to the new world in be edited for content. It is not, howev- that this story is true. Jim McInnes bondage, called these instruments ban- er, guaranteed that they will appear. Because of the recent interest in the zas, banjars, banias, and bangoes to Bart Mendoza five-string American banjo, bluegrass All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO name a few. Thus, the concept and the Dennis Roger Reed music, one of the main influences of TROUBADOUR, unless otherwise stated, Sven-Erik Seaholm name (or variation of) are African in are solely the opinion of the writer and do rock and roll, has made a comeback. Chuck Schiele origin. not represent the opinions of the staff You might call it a revival, since I like to tell the story about a New or management. All rights reserved. José Sinatra today’s growing interest has prompted Steve Thorn York reporter who was traveling in the ©2004 San Diego Troubadour. many people to learn how to play the Appalachian mountains and came Betty Wheeler instrument. across a guy who was just sittin’ there, D. Dwight Worden Here in San Diego we are lucky to playing a banjo. This particular banjo have the Deering Banjo Company, one The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie, whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper. WRITE TO US! We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments, feedback, and suggestions by email to: [email protected] or by snail mail to: San Diego Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038-0164. 3 August 2004 • San Diego Troubadour fullfull circlecircle San Diego’s Homegrown: A Bumper Crop of Local Talent by Bart Mendoza and Steve Thorn Thus the Homegrown albums were [filmed] right in front of the born, enjoying a run from 1973-79, Mission at seven in the morning,” with an additional volume that Intravaia recalls with more than istory buffs know that came out in 1984. touch of amusement. “We did things rarely ever happen in “Hundreds of people turned in ‘Where is San Diego?’ I remember H a straight line. A case in tapes,” says long-time local radio we were facing down the hill of the point is the Homegrown albums of 1973 host Jim McInnes. “I was involved Presidio as we were being filmed the 1970s. These local artist compi- with every one of them, except the in our Yes outfits with capes and so we thought, ‘There are all lations with a twist were produced first, mostly in the selection of spangly things, when our keyboard these great bands out there; by KGB-FM. 1972 was an impor- tunes. Most of them had probably Let’s pitch the station a tant year for KGB. The station had never recorded before — you know, Homegrown return, only with a been recycled. No, it didn’t have the kind of stuff you hear on the different idea.’ So we did it anything to do with old newspa- outtakes from American Idol,” he and it failed. We ended up pers or beer cans. This was a recy- says with a laugh. “We’d have sep- with an album that only sold cling of the airwaves; the station arate boxes to put them in — one about 10,000 copies.” dropped its old Bill Drake “boss was labeled ‘listen to again’ and 1974 Ironically, McInnes himself radio” format in favor of a more the other one was labeled ‘broken may have been partially to blame. progressive sound. During one and battered dreams.’ And that’s “I started the Homegrown show on extraordinary weekend, KGB-AM where most of them ended up.” KGB-FM in 1984 to go along and KGB-FM stripped their Famously, one song that was with that. In fact I played that “money-cash-giveaway-top-40” rejected would soon be a hit item. whole album on the first show, sound and instantly evolved into a Oscar-winning songwriter Stephen and I think I cut into sales.” progressive format that was more Bishop was among those vying for Although the series ended, in tune with the 1970s. a slot on the first volume. His song McInnes continued with his Another major KGB event took 1975 was turned down, but after the Homegrown show for the next place in November of 1972, when opening line was changed from five years. the station arranged and presented “Down in La Jolla,” to “Down in Today, Homegrown albums are its one and only Charity Ball at Jamaica,” “On and On” became a collectors’ items, despite the fact San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium top 40 staple in 1976. that (or maybe because) many of (now Qualcomm Stadium). For the Despite this miss, the albums the songs included on the price of $1.01, 51,778 rock fans were a huge success, selling over records are dated. There is a cer- spent a long afternoon under the 50,000 copies each year. “We were 1976 tain charm in hearing a collec- sun enjoying the sounds of Jesse selling them at $1.01 and all the tion of songs about your home- Colin Young, Boones Farm, Doctor money town, and they were always an Hook and the Medicine Show, was going eclectic mix that featured music Quicksilver Messenger Service, to United ranging from country to punk. For Foghat, and the J. Geils Band. Way. We every less than memorable Despite raising a large donation would moment, there are numerous gems for the United Way through the make to be found with popmeister Gary great turnout, the station ran into them 1977 Hyde, singer-songwriter C.J. bureaucratic red tape from the San available Hutton, and punk from Ronnie Diego Fire Department. Although at 7-11 as and the Respectables among others the rule has long since been impulse who are ripe for rediscovery. rescinded by the management of items, and These albums are also the place Qualcomm Stadium, at that time people to look for exclusive tracks from fans were not permitted on the really the Penetrators, Listen, the Beat field, making a stadium show less loved the Farmers, and many more.