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

July 2007 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 6, No. 10

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Stages: Philosophy, Art, Culture, Music Carvin’s AG100D Amplifier Full Circle.. …………4 The Singing Saw Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo Berkley Hart 10th Anniversary Parlor Showcase …8 Bushwalla Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Highway’s Song. …12 International Pop Overthrow Of Note. ……………13 Beston Barnett Writer Tim Egan Hot Club Combo Barbara Nesbitt ‘Round About ...... …14 July Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

AN IEGO Phiillosophy,, Art,, Cullture,, & Musiic Carvin Answers RS ODUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Acoustic Prayers! Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news STAGES by Mike Alvarez

MISSION CONTRIBUTORS coustic artists rejoice! Carvin’s To promote, encourage, and provide an AG100D amplifier was designed espe - FOUNDERS by Peter Bolland the next ride. Alongside the outright tribute alternative voice for the great local music that Ellen and Lyle Duplessie bands, and taking up most of the rest of the cially with you in mind. Neatly is generally overlooked by the mass media; A Liz Abbott ART AND COMMERCE: WHO OWNS sheathed in green vinyl, this jewel of an amp namely the genres of alternative country, schedule, were general cover bands, (metal and Kent Johnson Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and THE MUSIC? country) and genre-specific bands (the ubiquitous is just about perfect for gigs in coffee houses bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring PUBLISHERS Human beings seem to be hard-wired for art – swing band, the obligatory blues band, the de and small clubs. A stereo line-out jack in the together players, writers, and lovers of these Liz Abbott to create it, to receive it, to enjoy it, to need it. rigueur surf guitar band, and the mandatory reg - back is included in case you want to go into a forms; to explore their foundations; and to Kent Johnson The moment the first caveman made the first gae band). A relatively tiny portion of the fair’s house mixer or a recorder. expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS piece of art, the second cave man figured out how entertainment budget was spent on original So how does it sound? In a word, awe - Liz Abbott to make money off of it. SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for music bands. But that’s okay and here’s why: some! Carvin’s engineers have outdone them - Simeon Flick alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, The relationship between art and commerce is music belongs to no one and everyone at the selves in voicing this amp for acoustic instru - Chuck Schiele blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, as old as the species. It is disingenuous to same time. No one’s in charge. It belongs to the ments. They tested guitars and cellos as well is published monthly and is free of charge. ADVERTISING bemoan the commercialization of music. You people and the people get exactly what they ask as Carvin’s own semi-acoustic bass, and they Letters to the editor must be signed and may be Kent Johnson might as well complain about the moon following for. It’s an ill-defined amoeba morphing into edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed all sounded wonderful. This amp captures a Joanna Schiele the sun. unforeseen shapes and gliding into a future of its that they will appear. sweetness of tone that is only hinted at when Music is and always has been a commodity. BUSINESS MANAGER own making. No one can see around the bend one plugs these instruments into amplifiers All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Joanna Schiele Yes, of course, it begins as a spiritual experience, and no one is at the wheel. Musicians who play TROUBADOUR are solely the opinion of the designed for solid-bodied electric instru - an intangible, mystical communion between the in tribute bands are simply acknowledging what writer and do not represent the opinions of the DISTRIBUTION ments. Kent Johnson soul of a musician and the unfathomable collec - “pure” artists are too narcissistic to see – namely, staff or management. All rights reserved. The AG100D comes Dave Sawyer tive regions of melody, rhythm, and meaning, but that music belongs to the audience, not to the complete with three ADVERTISING INFORMATION Mark Jackson it ends as a product. You can give the product artists who play it. Tribute band musicians are For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488 Indian Joe Stewart away for free, or you can put food on the table. instrument channels or e-mail [email protected]. Dan Long making a living doing what they love, playing Your choice. Music may be the food of the soul, music, and playing really great music to boot. We and an XLR micro - SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER but musicians need real food too. don’t deride the New York Philharmonic for play - phone input, making Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: Steve Covault What’s the difference between a musician and ing Mozart. Does anybody care that the N.Y. Phil it ideal for solo San Diego Troubadour WEB MASTER a large pizza? A large pizza can feed a family of is a tribute band? Should we look down on the singer/songwriters P.O. Box 164 Will Edwards four. as well as small La Jolla, CA 92038 N.Y. Phil because they don’t write their own E-mail: [email protected]. WRITERS Making peace with the ancient adversaries of stuff? I don’t think so. combos. Channel 1 Mike Alvarez art and commerce requires an open mind, an Still, for singer-songwriter bands these are WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the Carvin’s AG100D amplifier is optimized for Peter Bolland open spirit, and a well-oiled sense of humor. hard times indeed. Original music venues contin - acoustic or electric San Diego Troubadour? Go to Lou Curtiss Accept the fact that club owners and talent buy - ue to close. Audiences grow increasingly wary of www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click Will Edwards guitars. Channel 2 can handle guitar, bass, or on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of Jim McInnes ers have huge overhead expenses and that they music they don’t already know the words to. keyboard. One can even plug in a tape deck locations we deliver to. Sven-Erik Seaholm need to put butts in the seats. Accept the fact that Talent buyers are crushed between the conflicting or drum machine. Channel 3 is designed to SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW Derek Shaw audiences as a rule prefer music they’re already demands of filling the house and booking the handle low-impedance input signals from If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for José Sinatra familiar with to music they’ve never heard. Say Next Big Thing (that isn’t big yet). Tribute bands microphones, but it is also equipped with a review, send two copies to: San Diego Steve Thorn yes to the fact that tribute bands will always out - are a safe harbor in an uncharted sea. Jody W. Wood quarter-inch jack for other signal sources such Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038. strip the earning power of original music bands. D. Dwight Worden I’m thinking of putting together a Neil Young as instruments or drum machines. I don’t ©2007 San Diego Troubadour. A quick survey of the bands hired by this and Crazy Horse tribute band. I’d call it Crazy Craig Yerkes sing, but this channel sure came in handy for year’s San Diego Fair makes the point. No less Whores. I can already hear the phone ringing off The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to Cover photos: Steve Covault than 11 tribute bands entertained Fair goers this my corny between-song quips! the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , Cover design: Chuck Schiele the hook. year. Bands paying homage to Johnny Cash, Pearl All of these channels can be used simulta - whose vision inspired the creation of this Peter Bolland is a professor of philosophy and newspaper. Jam, Alice in Chains, Ozzy Osborne, the Beatles, neously. At 100 watts, this amp is powerful humanities at Southwestern College and singer- the Doors, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, enough to fill small and medium-sized venues songwriter-guitarist of the Coyote Problem. You can Oingo Boingo, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Iron Maiden with a very robust sound. It even performed complain to him about what you read here at peter - (of all things) dominated the schedule. It’s satisfactorily in an outdoor setting. The [email protected]. www.thecoyoteproblem.com is the painfully ironic that outsider iconoclasts such as 112AG extension speaker cabinet (sold sepa - ethereal home of the Coyote Problem. Johnny Cash, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Eddie rately) proved invaluable in projecting the Vedder, and Zack de la Rocha have been com - modified for distracted fair goers on their way to continued on page 11.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle This Saw Is Not a Tool

by Derek Shaw is as simple as adjusting the Lady, has performed limited accuracy and range. S-curve. Making the sweet with orchestras and in Worldwide, musical saws remain fashion - aaaah, the singing saw. With the deli - spot travel up the blade subways, on movie able in Europe, Asia, Australia, and New cate tone of an angel’s cry, the saw has toward a thinner width will soundtracks and TV Zealand. Sandvik produces its world famous Abeen enchanting unsuspecting audi - produce a higher pitch. commercials. The saw Stradivarius model in Sweden where plate steel ences for generations. Similar to the sound of Conversely, moving toward has been integrated into of the quality necessary to produce clear musi - a Russian theremin, the saw can be manipulat - the handle generates a deep - a host of musical tradi - cal tones was first developed. The French ed with heavenly intervention to mimic the er tone. More experienced tions from folk and boast “La Lame Sonore,” a renowned toothless delivery of falsetto fantasia from a 1940s flap - sawyers are able to add blues to swing and clas - singing blade. per…high and pulsating, airy and penetrating. vibrato by shaking a leg or sical. A popular revival in roots music has spot - If you’ve never heard this winsome wonder wobbling the top hand that The saw phenome - lighted the saw once again. The International of nature, just go to the old shed and pick up a holds the tip of the blade. non swept the United Musical Saw Festival has been held every carpenter’s blade. That’s right, an average You’ll be surprised how States during the early August for nearly three decades in Felton, ing the Chinese playing musical saws. wood-cutting blade is preferred many profes - long the sound is sustained, and eventually twentieth century. At least ten companies California. Tucked in the wooded hills of Santa While some connect the saw’s origins to the sional sawyers over specially constructed you can learn to carry it through several notes made their own singing saws domestically, Cruz County, this historic logging town hosts Ozark and Appalachian Mountains, brought to musical saws. of a phrase. Its music classification is techni - which ranged from standard steel to limited professional sawyers from around the world. America by African slaves, others associate its First, place the saw between your legs with cally an idiophone because it self-vibrates edition gold-plated models costing hundreds Canadian sawyer Robert Minden has toured conception to Scandinavian laborers and even the teeth facing you. If razor sharp metal is without the use of strings or membranes. of dollars. and recorded for more than two decades. He the South American lumber trade. something that makes you squeamish, teeth Other than the human voice, or animal In the 1930s novelty first learned the instrument in Santa Cruz Perhaps the most out will suffice. Next, bend the blade into an sounds, the first instruments were likely idio - bands like Bob Skyles and from street musician Thomas Jefferson famous tale is of S-curve and find that fabled sweet spot in the phones. the Skyrockets used the saw Scribner. Once referring to the saw as “the lost Pennsylvania lumberjack middle where vibrations are the flattest. If you Much like its quavering, mysterious tone, to accompany their vaude - sound,” Scribner’s saw-wielding image is now John Schmidt, who is don’t have a cello bow handy, you can fashion the singing saw’s history is shrouded in ville of showy dance num - immortalized by a statue in his hometown. rumored to have dreamt your own mallet out of a wooden dowel or mythology. The singing saw wasn’t popularized bers. Traveling showman Over the past 15 years, the musical saw has up the idea. According to spoon. until the 1700s and lacked wholesale manufac - Leon Weaver performed saw been revitalized in movies, music, and art. legend, he received a Harmonics are created at varying distances turing until the 1900s. However, there are music to adoring audiences French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s fabulous request from his favorite from the sweet spot, and controlling the pitch images dating back to the third century depict - across the South with his black comedy Delicatessen frequently featured blade one night. The saw Okie group. the main character playing the saw. pleaded, “John, my back The first American saw Innovative fusion bands are now combining itches something awful. If marketer, Mussehl & folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and rock to form a you just scratch it, I’ll hum Westphal, sold over 30,000 refreshing sound. The Asylum Street Spankers some of the most beautiful units annually through the out of Austin, Texas, have enticed audiences music you’ve heard this Photo from a 1930 musical saw early 1930s. Operating out for over a decade with organic jams led by side of heaven.” instructional booklet of rural Wisconsin, it’s one Christina Marrs who plays both banjo and saw More than likely, the of only a handful of American companies still on stage. musical saw was developed simultaneously on manufacturing musical saws. During the late 1990s a few indie bands several continents in the context of many dif - Unfortunately, the Great toyed with the saw as ferent cultures. The first tones produced with Depression and World War II well. Southern neo-psy - a metal blade were probably associated with dampened the demand for chedelic rockers Neutral accidentally dropping a saw, striking it with metals. Despite the fact that Milk Hotel occasionally another dense object, or the playfully waving a actress Marlene Dietrich experimented with the blade in the air. entertained troops with her musical saw. San Diego’s One of the first famed sawyers was Swedish saw playing during the war, own Black Heart performer Martin Larrson who created a media mass production of musical Procession frequently uti - storm in Paris by playing the saw. Once, he saws became obsolete and lizes the saw to darken was pressed to perform under a bridge with a unaffordable, leading to a their spacey, cinematic bun stuck in his mouth so as to dismiss accu - decline in the instrument’s soundscape. Avant garde sations that he was whistling rather than coax - availability and application. composers like Aram ing melody from the saw. Depending on the grade, Khachaturian, Henri Charles Hindmarsh is the contemporary gauge, and temper of the Sauguet, and George equivalent, widely known as the Yorkshire metal, musical saws have Crumb have included saw Musical Saw Player. Natalie Paruz, the Saw Ad from a 1922 Popular Mechanics magazine acoustics and capabilities of solos in their ambitious wider range, richer tone, modern music. stronger harmonics, and Bob Skyles, leader of the Skyrockets, Few mainstream a novety band from the 1930s greater sustain. They are gen - artists have utilized the erally built wider and longer obscure instrument, but than standard saws for increased range and Sarah McLachlan highlighted the saw on the finer control. They can also be designed thin - composition “Last Dance,” and even rap-met - ner to increase flexibility. alheads Korn employed the saw during their The average saw is about five inches at the recent MTV “Unplugged” set. handle and one inch at the tip. It’s designed to The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad produce two octaves of range regardless of the has paid tribute to this overlooked but exqui - blade’s length. A bass saw is the exception site instrument. The Singing Saw exhibition with a six-inch handle and a range of two and will run through July 31. Musical saw virtuoso a half octaves. Two-person saws or “misery David Weiss, who gave a stunning perform - whips” are still produced but possess a very ance in November, admits, “I’ve played a lot of different instruments and many musical saws, and I keep coming back to my favorite. I love one of the first saws I purchased at a local hardware store…my Stanley Handyman.” Physics professor Arnold Tubis lends his expertise and extensive personal collection to this unique display. For more information, please visit www.museumofmakingmusic.org or call (760) 438-5996.

Folk hero Tom Scribner played the saw with Neil Young and George Harrison

4 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle n

GETTING HIRED AT THE us a CD with about three or four songs on o s d it that includes your snappiest lyrics, your r REALLY BIG SHOW a h c most startling guitar riffs, no long intros, i R

l l

he next big event I’m working on is the and music to knock our socks off right out i B

Recordially, :

Adams Ave Street Fair, which I’ve been the chute. o t o

doing for the last 15 years or so. Right h T That's how it happens. Oh, one other P now, me and a bunch of other noble folk are thing — if you are a blues band, don’t do stan - sitting and listening to four or five hundred dards. Give us something original or obscure. audition CDs and trying our best to narrow it Good luck. Lou Curtiss down to the 70 or so groups and solo acts that will wind up on the bill in September. I’ve A COUPLE OF SNAPPY WEBSITES TO been doing this awhile, and I have some sug - CHECK OUT The first is Old Blue Bus (www.oldblue - Larry and Lorrie Collins, Skeets MacDonald, gestions to some of you who might be submit - Rose Lee Maphis, Les “Carrot Top” Anderson, ting. bus.blogspot.com). This guy is a great talker and posts some really neat things to listen to. Lefty Frizzell, and always guests like Tommy 1. Remember, this is a street fair and the act He’s got another companion website called Duncan, Tex Williams, Marty Robbins, Gene has to be family friendly (mostly). Unless Lou Curtiss Barstool Mountain Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Roy Acuff, Kitty your goal is to shock (or get a laugh, (http://barstoolmountain.blogspot.com), Wells, Jean Shepard, and a host of others. It depending on who’s listening) the members own record store and started my own music devoted to drinking songs of all sorts and was the only one of the Country Barndance of the selection committee, keep it at least festival. I’m still trying to do that. kinds. They are compiling a list of the 100 shows that featured rockabilly and bluegrass double entendre if you want to get hired. greatest drinking songs of all time. One more on the same stage (a lot of young musicians ANNIVERSARY FOR FOLK ARTS RARE The four letter and sexist stuff dooms you is the Bibiotheque et Archives Nationales du who hung around Town Hall were students of RECORDS to the waste basket. Quebec Joe and Merle and occasionally got on stage Johnny Otis & Three Tons of Joy Folk Arts Rare Records will be 40 years 2. Don’t mumble the vocals. If I can’t under - (http://www.banq.qc.ca/portal/dt/accueil.jsp?bn for a number. They included Clarence and old on July 31. We started the store in 1967 stand you, it’s unlikely an audience can. q_resolution=mode_1024), which has a lot of Roland White, Vern Gosdin, James Burton, Adams and the Three Tons of Joy, the down at the corner of Washington and India Women in particular have this problem. It great French Canadian music. This site is a Barbara Mandrell, and Roy Buchanan. This Penguins, Don Julian and the Meadowlarks, Streets and stayed there for five years before often sounds like they’re trying to sing and must for fiddlers. Check it out. One more is kind of live exposure to country music made the Medallions, Little Julian Huerra, Big Joe moving up to Hillcrest on Fifth Avenue. Five chew gum at the same time. I fully expect American Routes (www.americanroutes.org), me a fan for life, that and going to Cliffie Turner, Trudy Williams and the Sixteens, Joe years passed and again we moved out to the to get an audition CD at some point from a which is a page of interviews with all kinds of Houston, the Mighty Flea, Chuck Higgins, Big 3600 block of Adams Avenue where we stayed band titled WOMEN WHO MUMBLE. people, including a lot of traditional and old Jay McNeely, and guests like Little Richard and for 27 years before moving to our current loca - Enunciate! timey musicians who bring their music along Fats Domino. So I grew up getting exposed to tion at 2881 Adams Avenue. Virginia and I 3. That band could be on a bill with a band for the ride. You should also check out the the best of two worlds of music on a pretty started working on the music festivals (now called GUYS WHO PLAY TOO LOUD FOR Field Recorders Collective (www.field - regular basis. Johnny Otis turned me on to over 50 of them) that same year (1967) as well US TO HEAR THE VOCAL. Boy, is that a recorder.com), which I’m going to talk about Bobby Troup, whose TV show in L.A. called as concerts, banjo and fiddle contests, and problem, and it won’t get you hired. extensively next month. The Jazz Scene pushed me along that way into building up the Lou Curtiss Sound Library jazz and blues. The ’50s was also a time when into one of the finest and most extensive 4. Don’t have a 50-piece orchestra on your THE BEST OF TWO WORLDS some of the great old show biz vaudevillians music and music lore collections in the coun - audition CD and still expect us to know I had a deal with my Dad in the ’50s. were having a last go-round on the TV variety try (now in the process of being digitized). what you’ll sound like on stage with two or Every couple of weeks or so we’d go up to L.A. shows and that was sort of easy to get involved Virginia and I thank you for the support three instruments. and stay with my Aunt Ruby and Uncle with. I remember seeing Eddie Cantor, Jimmy you’ve given to us but more important to the 5. We have to listen to a lot of stuff and noth - Gunboats and go to the Town Hall Party up in Durante, Sophie Tucker, Ted Lewis, and a kinds of music we care about. If you haven’t ing is more irritating than long intros to Compton (they lived in San Pedro). At Town whole lot more as old and in between. With all been by the shop for awhile, come on by and songs. 15 or 20 bars of bob-a-dop, bob-a- Hall, most every time, we’d see the then best that exposure to used record stores, coffee - say howdy this month. We’d love to see you. dop before the vocal starts might get you West Coast country and western music. Joe houses, and the local San Diego music scene, I Recordially, not listened to at all. It’s certainly going to Maphis led the big Town Hall band (with Katy came out of the ’50s with the urge to hear Lou Curtiss diminish your chances. Back in the early Warren on fiddle, Marion Ross on the steel, more, to pick more, and to find and collect Cliffie Stone ’70s I remember that the Bonzo Dog band Jimmie Pruitt on piano, and Joe playing his big more music. Seven years later I opened my did a song called “The Long Intro.” I wish double-necked Mosrite guitar and everything every band could listen to that before else. Other regulars on the show included Stone’s Hometown Jamboree, which was held at preparing an audition tape. Johnny Bond, Merle Travis, Wesley and the El Monte Legion Stadium (a show that 6. In most cases your professional CD isn’t Marilyn Tuttle, Jenks Tex Carmen, Tex Ritter, exposed me to Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, the best thing to send as an audition. Send the Sons of the Pioneers, Gee Nee Sterling, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Gene O’Quin, Bucky Tibbs, and the Hoosier Hot Shots. Once I saw the Three Shiftless Skunks there). Now, going to El Monte brings me to the other side of the equation, namely what went on in El Monte on Friday Nights: the Big Johnny Otis R&B extravaganza. If I’d go with the family to Town Hall or Hometown Jamboree on Saturday (which I was glad to do), then I got to go to El Monte on Friday to see people like Marie

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Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo – o t o h A New Twist on an Old Favorite P by Craig Yerkes club” music. And if you’re in San Diego, variety of musicians for different shows. the only real game in town is Patrick The main difference from the days of the s I sit with my vodka tonic and Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo. Hot Club of San Diego is the switch from look around the room, I see what I Ironically, it wasn’t until 1998 (long a two-guitar lineup to guitar and accor - Awould not expect to see at a San after leaving France and relocating in the dion (played with blistering mastery by Diego bar on Tuesday night: a large group U.S.) that Berrogain really embraced the Lou Fanucchi). of patrons actually listening to the musi - Django style and began to pursue making I recently spoke with Berrogain and cians who are working hard to entertain music in that direction. Up until that asked him to explain his own personal them. The crowd looks like they’re equal time, he was busy establishing himself in approach to this much beloved form of parts delighted and hypnotized by this the broader world of jazz and jazz/fusion music that now takes up most of his seductive music and I find myself caught as a guitarist and composer/arranger. time. For me, personally, one stumbling up in the magic as well. Some of the After graduating (with special honors) block I’ve had with regard to really tun - crowd seems to know the performers from the world famous Musician’s ing into the current Gypsy/Django school The Hot Club Combo: Paul Hormick, Lou Fanucchi, and Patrick Berrogain while others have just wandered in and Institute of Technology and also the of playing is the fact that it tends to be become caught up in the sounds and, to renowned Dick Grove School of Music, highly stylized, and players seek to stay vodka tonic (okay, maybe my second back for more. Patrick Berrogain and his my surprise, I see every age group repre - Berrogain made his way to San Diego. very true to a uniform approach. In other one) and a night that is about to be over Hot Club Combo stand poised to serve sented, all showing equal enthusiasm for While at M.I.T., the young Berrogain was words, I have found a certain redundancy for this wonderful band and their enthu - up Gypsy jazz with an overriding musi - what they hear. In a thick French accent, fortunate enough to study with some of in this genre, making it sometimes hard siastic listeners. The music ends too soon, cality that elevates the experience into the guitarist greets the audience, and the the great jazz guitarists of our time for me to connect to the music amid all but this is San Diego (the land of early something truly unique. Vive le Hot Club!! uninitiated among the crowd discover (including local hero Peter Sprague, who of the rapid-fire notes and familiar riffs. closing times) and it’s a weeknight, so the For more information, including an that they owe their current state of musi - was a big part of the move to San Diego). Berrogain shares my view on the dangers band says goodnight and we all say upcoming date for the Hot Club Combo’s cal bliss to Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Back in the late ’90s, in an effort to give of falling into a rut of form vs. substance thank you. There is only one CD left on CD release, go to Combo. an outlet to his new-found passion for while playing this kind of music and the merchandise stand and I have a feel - www.patrickberrogain.com Born in the south of France, San Gypsy/hot club jazz, Berrogain formed explains, “If you take five hardcore ing that many of these people will be Diego jazz guitarist Patrick Berrogain the successful Hot Club of San Diego, Gypsy-style guitarists and listen to them grew up in the country where Django building a loyal following and garnering all, you would have to be very familiar Reinhardt and his Quintette du Hot Club rave reviews over a nine-year run. In with this type of playing to even tell de France began enchanting audiences addition to leading his band, Berrogain them apart.” He went on to say that with their new sounds back in the mid- also kept himself busy with other projects while he has always had great respect for 1930s. The innovative melodic and such as collaborations with world famous the technical virtuosity that rhythmic approaches that Django and his Gypsy jazz master Angelo DeBarre, plus Gypsy/Django style guitarists typically counterparts began to incorporate in other playing and composing/arranging possess, Berrogain has “no desire to be those early days would push the bound - gigs outside of the Gypsy genre. known as the fastest or most technically aries of jazz and go on to create a lasting This brings us up to 2007 and the proficient Gypsy guitarist out there.” For musical sensation known as “Gypsy” birth of our subject’s latest project: our subject, the trick is to bring his own and/or “hot club” jazz. Some refer to this Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo. musicality to the art form and create a music as simply “Django” style jazz, but With a brand new CD (reviewed this sound that pays supreme honor to the whatever you call it, there is no denying month, page 13), a steady Tuesday night past while also striving to make it fresh. the world-wide appeal associated with gig at the Prado restaurant in Balboa Park While Berrogain certainly does dazzle this genre. For my money, one of the (where the band continues to enjoy a with his fretwork (and Fanucchi on most intoxicating elements of this music robust attendance) and an upcoming accordion will make your head spin!), the is its ability to transport the listener to recurring weekly show at the House on main focus here is not to show how fast another place, time, and state of mind. If the Hill in Poway (starting July 18, someone can navigate their instrument, a trip to France and/or a time machine www.house-on-hill.com), the band is in but rather making music that sounds isn’t in your travel budget this year, I sug - full swing (pun intended). The personnel beautiful and exciting…something an gest putting on some French duds and of the Hot Club Combo is fluid (with the audience can connect with. getting to where you can hear some “hot exception of Berrogain), employing a This brings us back to me and my

6 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

by Peter Bolland only as hot as your last gig. Essentially, you’re perpetually unemployed until you can put the ll great partnerships have one thing in next tour or house concert or recording session common – a shared realization that the Berkley Hart Celebrates together. Sometimes you draw a packed house, Asum is stronger than the parts. In the sometimes not so much. Self doubt, envy, anxiety, mysterious space between partners a spiritual compulsion, exhaustion, and other demons in a alchemy occurs. In the emptiness between egos, performer’s life rarely leave you alone for long. there is room for the manna of heaven to pour Rapacious promoters, false promises, and empty down and fill in the serrated edges between souls, a Decade of Harmony threats are the norm in the music business. It’s binding two together in a strength not attainable hard on family and on relationships, it’s financial - within a single individual. Over the years a potent ly challenging, and it can unravel the hardiest of souls. In spite of all these challenges, Hart claims dialectic emerges. You unconsciously adapt your tend to be story songs with linear narrative and immunity. “I find it easy to stay positive,” said strengths to the other and, like the ocean and the sharply drawn characters. Berkley favors impres - Hart. “Having anyone want to hear us play origi - shore, you form a perfect harmony where your sionistic non-linear portraits of sensual and emo - nal music, whether it’s 30 people or 300, is a beauty only enhances the beauty of the other. You tional terrain as seen from a bird’s-eye view – become each other’s teacher, therapist, cheer - gift.” broad images and distant longings flowing t l

u Berkley, on the other hand, admits it isn’t leader, and, depending on what part of town the through timeless dreamscapes. Put these two a v show is in tonight, bodyguard. o always easy. “You don’t always stay positive,” he approaches together, and you get an amazingly C

e said. “We just try and get positively motivated by Great partners have to have a lot in common, v

rich palette from which to paint folk songs, star - e t

S the bad stuff. Make it your goal to create some -

but they need to challenge and push each other as

tling for their clarity, depth, power, and beauty. : o well. Most often, songwriters and artists of all t thing positive out of the negative. It works!” But But writing songs together is the high-wire act of o h

P then he admits, “I’m real bad at getting to that stripes work within the stillness of their own soli - songwriting. It’s one thing to lock yourself in point. It’s the hardest part of our job as artists: tude. In the push and pull of a great partnership, your room and draw a song out of the depths of keeping up the force field while letting folks in. however, the wheat has a much better chance of your own psyche, but to risk the delicacy of the Everybody does it differently, but you have to fig - separating from the chaff. There’s even a hint of process by bringing in another person, another ure out how to beat that negative stuff to succeed, competition, not the destructive kind, but the whole set of experiences and expectations and both as a human being and as an artist. I fight it kind that impels each partner to his or her best aesthetic standards – that takes courage and faith. every day.” work, if only to keep up. You have too much But Berkley and Hart have that kind of trust. “Being away from loved ones is for sure the respect for your partner to turn in anything other They bring their musical ideas to each other and hardest thing about being a musician,” Berkley than the best. expect great things to happen. And they almost adds. “The second hardest thing is dealing with It’s been ten years now since Jeff Berkley and always do. “Co-writing is hard for me,” admits the music ‘business’ and all the weird stuff that Calman Hart decided to cast their lots together, Hart, “because it’s a struggle to get into my cre - goes with it. It’s just not in my nature to know but they’ve known each other for longer than ative space with another person around. However, what to do next business-wise and very often the that. Their paths first crossed at the legendary when it clicks, it’s great. Some of my favorite folks who know what to do in the business world Java Joe’s in its first incarnation in Poway. It was songs are Berkley Hart co-writes.” are not real patient about what needs to be done the mid-1990s and the fertile San Diego singer- “Ultimately, co-writing works really well for artistically. We’ve had our biggest challenges in songwriter scene was starting to heat up. John us,” adds Berkley. “I generally have a riff and a this department.” Katchur introduced Berkley to Hart. If Katchur is chorus and Calman will add verses. He’s great at But Berkley wouldn’t change a thing. “I hon - the Moses of the folk scene, leading us all out of verse writing. I love that. I feel strongest coming estly just love the lifestyle of a musician. I think I the wilderness, then Berkley and Hart are David up with musical hooks and writing choruses and feel strongest when I’m on tour, racing from gig and Solomon, establishing a solid temple of folk bridges. That was one of the ways the sum was year. “It was an amazing experience,” said everywhere. A collective trip of some kind. It to gig to airport to hotel to meal to gig. Passport around which so many San Diego notables have stronger than the parts. We both excel at different Berkley, “and something we’ll always remember.” sends shivers up my spine when we all hit it in pocket, flight cases in rental car, clothes in orbited. parts of the song. Our co-writes are my favorite Soon thereafter John Katchur and his wife together at a gig. There is a lift-off feeling. I can suitcase, sleep deprived, still high from the music In the early years Berkley was best known for songs.” moved to New Zealand and Dani Carrol moved to see it happen to people’s faces and I feel it in my the night before, and carrying that spirit to the his percussion work, most notably his spot-on In 1999 Berkley and Hart joined forces with Nashville. Berkley and Hart decided to put their own heart at the same time.” next show…it’s in my DNA. I can’t live without and much sought after djembe playing. He’s on John Katchur and Dani Carroll, another up-and- last names together and make it official. After a “It’s electric,” said Hart. it.” pretty much every folk record that ever came out coming singer-songwriter, to form the Redwoods. long gestation period, Berkley Hart was born. “It’s “And we’ve finally learned how to create that Berkley applies his long-time love affair with of this town and for good reason. The man has Soon they were wowing audiences with the depth really rare to find two folks who have the same feeling,” Berkley continued. “It’s like being Merlin music and his road-tested expertise on a daily more heart, soul, and feel in his little finger than and breadth of their live performances. Katchur’s kind of ideas about writing and performing, how or something, but it has nothing to do with me, basis in his recording studio, Miracle Recording. most musicians have in their entire body. But he top-tier lead guitar work, Berkley’s percussion, to craft and edit a song, and how to lead an audi - or with us. We’re caught up in it just like the Though he’s been involved in the recording was also a singer-songwriter, and while he was Hart’s and Carroll’s guitar stylings and voices, ren - ence through a show,” Berkley said. “We both had audience is. It’s something that honest, pure art process for 23 years, his own studio had its offi - often asked to sit in on djembe with everybody in dering each other’s songs with delicate yet power - the same instincts and our voices fit so great creates in the beholder and the artists. It’s better cial launch in 2003 with Berkley Hart’s award- town, only a few of the artists he backed had the ful strokes – the Redwoods packed houses and together.” than any drug.” winning album Twelve . Since then Berkley has sensitivity and grace to ask him to play some of raised the bar for all other folk artists. That same For both Hart and Berkley, the best part about With four Berkley Hart albums behind them produced, engineered, and mixed dozens of his own songs – artists like Dave Howard, John year Hart suggested that Berkley submit one of being a musician is that moment in the middle of and countless shows all across the country, albums for other artists, bringing that warm, bur - Katchur, and Calman Hart. his songs to the country’s most prestigious folk a song when it’s going really well, and the crowd Berkley and Hart bring years of experience to nished, or, as he likes to call it, “furry” sound to a Hart heard something special in Berkley’s songwriting competition, the Kerrville Folk is hushed and riveted, and the room falls away everything they do. What advice do they have for who’s who of bands. songs and suggested they start doing some shows Festival’s New Folk Emerging Songwriter contest. leaving only a nameless, sacred, intangible con - young singer-songwriters coming up? “Be true to With ten years gone and their whole lives together. Their voices were a surprisingly warm “I thought he was crazy,” said Berkley. “I mean nection that draws everyone into a shared, com - who you are and don’t get caught up in all the ahead of them, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart fit and their guitar playing styles formed a perfect Kerrville is a huge deal that was started 35 years munal reverie. “It took a while to learn how to trappings of the music business,” said Berkley. show no signs of slowing down. They’ve struck a counterpoint. Hart’s plain-spoken prairie strum ago by Peter Yarrow [of Peter, Paul and Mary] make that happen,” said Berkley, “but now it’s so “That will work itself out if you do what you nice balance between family and career, and lays a seed bed out of which the vines of Berkley’s and has a long list of past winners like Shawn completely satisfying to have success in this know is real and right.” they’ve successfully negotiated the pitfalls of the ascending and descending DADGAD lines Colvin, Lyle Lovett, David Wilcox, Nancy area.” Where does this magic come from? What is “And don’t try to write what you think other music business with their artistic integrity intact. emerge, winding like Mulholland Drive through Griffith, Joel Rafael, the list goes on….” Hart per - it? Jeff takes a deep breath. “I don’t know,” he people want to hear,” added Hart. “Write and play A triumph of simplicity over artifice, the long- Laurel Canyon, like smoke from a pipe, like sisted, Berkley entered, and, surprise! He won. To said. “There is some shared force in the universe. songs that make you happy. That way, if you get lived career of Berkley Hart deserves celebration. prayers through the heavens, mesmerizing audi - this day, Berkley’s most requested song is his Some call it God, some call it Great Spirit, some lucky and catch a wave, you won’t get stuck play - Join Berkley Hart and special guests in concert at ences and reminding many people of another Kerrville winner “High School Town.” The call it rock and roll. Something happens in a ing music you don’t like for the rest of your life. Acoustic Music San Diego, 4650 Mansfield Street great pair of guitarists: Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia. Redwoods went to the festival and performed that room when a group of people gather to create and And if you don’t get lucky, you won’t have wasted Soon they began writing together. Hart’s songs experience something together. It happens in the - your time sacrificing your art trying to please in Normal Heights on Saturday, August 4 at 7:30 aters, concert halls, stadiums, amphitheaters, other people.” p.m. For tickets and dinner package information, churches, nightclubs, bars, and coffeehouses Being a musician can wear you down. You’re visit www.acousticmusicsandiego.com, and for all things Berkley Hart, visit www.berkleyhart.com r

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

Story by Will Edwards Photos by Steve Covault

and acting in independent films, AUDIENCE Bushwalla diversified his roles and PARTICIPATION experiences, which eventually included announcing for the “Luckily, it’s not just me making it WNBA. It was a productive phase Bushwalla Defies up,” Bushwalla says. He and I are in his life that enabled him to talking about his show later sharpen his public appearance tonight and, specifically, I’m trying skills and learn to make connec - to analyze his very unique musical tions with the general public process. I’ve been watching the through performance. show every week since he started For a handful of years, his residency at Hot Monkey Love appears in different incarnations Bushwalla followed an unlikely and I know there’s going to be an (which still changes from week to breadcrumb trail of jobs, hobbies, intangible, but palatable inertia week). The relationships are musi - and relationships, even moving to there. Just like on all the other cal and personal and some histo - Virginia where he took a job run - nights, tonight’s audience arrives ries go back further than others. ning a recreational gymnastics ready and arrives early. Seating is But one thing is evident from program. Not that he had any quickly filled up and the band is watching Bushwalla perform: his experience with gymnastics — he just as anxious and excited as the passion for music is as strong as lied on his job application and got audience. This show is about every - his passion for the people around the job! He was looking for “any one in the room, not just the peo - him. job that didn’t feel like a job; any - ple on stage. Tonight’s show will thing where I was performing.” neither be a repeat of previous per - Working with kids gave him an formances nor is it likely to be audience, a tough audience. repeated in the same way down the “They’ll boo you!” he exclaims. road. Bushwalla (or just “Bush”) is Although he liked working with hoping to once again do the dance. kids, the job was short lived “If the audience is really going for because he wasn’t comfortable it and they want to bring the funk, with the environment and didn’t oh yeah! Okay!” like the politics. Finally, San Diego Bushwalla has been cultivating Bushwalla calls himself the wound up on his radar. He came his art and his audience for a long Original Gangster from Cleveland. out and connected up with his old time — and it shows. Whether he’s Cleveland’s a rough town. college roommate (from New York), singing, dancing, juggling, or Bushwalla is a mellow guy, a peo - Jason Mraz, who was playing gigs laughing, he’s doing something ple person. Maybe that is why he’s around San Diego and L.A. very unique in a way that smacks acquired such a large band – a bit He moved in fits and starts, of practice as much as talent. like a rhythmic mafia crime ring. working again as a gymnastics Bushwalla Fridays at Hot Monkey Andre Desantana has been per - coach in Los Angeles between 2000 Love include, but may not be limit - forming with Bushwalla for over and 2003, but it didn’t satisfy him. ed to, Talking Heads cover songs, six years. Hailing from Brazil and “I’ve got to do something that’s beat-boxing, live DJs, Beanie armed with two barrels of rhythm, true to my heart,” Bushwalla says, Babies, and, of course, audience he’s a force to be reckoned with on recalling the lesson that he learned participation! Having lived in bass. Andre is also producing from that experience. Running Cleveland, New York, Los Angeles, Bushwalla’s upcoming record, due seven different open mics in the and San Diego, Bushwalla has out this fall. Justin Kirk (trombone), Los Angeles area during the six expanded the definition of his live Ben Adamson (trumpet), and Aaron years he lived in there connected performance over and over to Liebowitz (saxophone) are like the him to a community of comedians include an eclectic array of per - horn section equivalent to the mus - and musicians. “I was working on formance pieces, and he relies on keteers, a triple reminder that my stage [presence], working on the audience to make them really romance and virtue exist in all my timing,” he remembers. “I did - special. Usually by the middle of places, in all songs. Keith Benton n’t have a home; I was living in the night, he’ll be guiding the brings the beat on percussion and coffee shops.” By 2001, Jason was entire audience in one giant sing- Ian Sheridan (also on bass) sets the doing regular shows and along, like a conductor poised in groove while the vocal stylings of Bushwalla started doing opening front of his symphony. Think back MC Raz, Jessie Payo, and sets consisting of stand-up comedy to the last time you were some - Bushwalla, himself, paint the and music at Java Joes (where he where and the guy on stage men - melodies. even lived in the back) under the tions “audience participation.” name Mr. Funny Man. Everyone in the room shuffles Like many artists, they live a uncomfortably in their seat and life and then they make their art out-of-town heavy weights like Bob considers going to the bathroom from what they have. In Schneider as part of his ongoing until this obligatory segment of the Bushwalla’s case, the music has search for new live experiences. If show has ended, right? Breaking obviously been influenced by his you step outside for a butt break down the audience’s apprehensions own experiences, but the evidence during this phase of his develop - and reminding them that music of his varied backgrounds shows ment, you’re going to miss some - can be a contact sport is a noble through as well. His band is an thing. He is charged with gratitude achievement. amalgamation of folks he met in and creative energy and plans to New York, L.A., and San Diego. He’s release his new full-length record SYNERGY So, how did this collection of invented his own unique style that in late summer/early fall of this I’d hesitate to refer to the other characters assemble? When did fuses theater with music, East Coast year. musicians on stage as “Bushwalla’s this story begin? It began when with West Coast, and creates some - band,” since they all take the reins Bushwalla (then William thing all-new that a lot of people THE WHOLE WORLD’S at various times during a perform - Galewood) left Cleveland, Ohio, and can relate to right off the bat. “It AN IMPROV! ance. They coordinate flexibly like made tracks to the American took me a long time to find my Live, everything about a Bushwalla multiple arms on a musical octo - Musical and Dramatic Academy in sound; it took me 12 years.” show is highly dependent upon the pus, where and when they are New York City, where he studied Bushwalla’s residencies at vibe in the room from minute to needed. They work together, con - musical theater. He loved perform - Twiggs Green Room and, currently, minute, night to night — a series of structing various messages, each ing, music, and theater. However, Hot Monkey Love keep him sharp moments in which music defines one contributing fresh ideas to the the academy didn’t give him what and aware. You’re likely to catch the mood, bonding every person in mix. There is no static name for he wanted – it wasn’t true north. his show in San Diego and L.A., the room. “That is how the audi - this band. It is, as they say, a mys - He went back to Cleveland and weekly or monthly. He’s regularly ence connects,” explains Bushwalla. tery wrapped up in an enigma. pursued any and all opportunities paired himself on stage with “Because we’re just going on one Under many names this band has that were made available to him. numerous local artists, L.A. bands little journey. We’re right there in existed. Additionally, the band Continuing musical theater locally (like regulars Raining Jane), and 8 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

fans coming back and the variety things moving along nicely. keeps everyone engaged – includ - “Before I go on stage every ing the musicians themselves who [time], I like to do affirmations. I all have commitments in several tell myself that I can do this, Bushwalla Defies other bands and as independent [that] I’m enjoyable to watch, artists. and that the audience and I are P Improvising leads to one of the sharing these moments. I repeat big challenges on the upcoming that to myself. I know that the record: synergy. I’m not talking whole band feels that way, that about the synergy among the band we are as much their audience as

r members. That’s never been better. they are ours.” Bushwalla rests Live, the band participates in tan - on the support of everyone dem with audience; it is an around him and he’s learned e exchange, not just a recital. Fans that honesty of expression is the are part of the show and they help best policy. “[The audience is] to create the experience. So, the giving us a show and we’re

d synergy between the studio envi - responding to something that ronment, where things tend to be they’re doing. I think that when Andre Desantana rehearsed and polished, doesn’t you’re completely honest – and naturally accommodate the organic they’ll love you for your mistakes

i style of musical performance that – if you’re completely honest, Bushwalla is known for. This has they’ll love you for your victo -

c posed interesting creative questions ries.” for Andre and Bushwalla as they’ve worked on the record together. AFTERGLOW t They are resisting the temptation I’m relatively confident that dif - to create in isolation – a temptation ferent people get different things

a that the studio environment makes out of Bushwalla’s music and the so available. They want to have a show. However, for my part I’ve full, lush “produced” feel without interpreted a few clear messages sacrificing the groove and energy there: let loose, share your gifts,

b that they showcase on stage. and be grateful for the chance to In talking with Andre about the do all of the above. Bushwalla recording, process he explained isn’t preachy. He lives by exam - that the approach in the studio is ple and even that feeds the music to follow the same paradigm that Jessie Payo i like fuel. Quirks and mistakes are Bushwalla applies on stage. The just part of the landscape. It’s idea is that if you create

l like Bushwalla a space in which enthu - said, “If you’re siasm and encourage - completely hon - i “It took me ment fuel a unique est, they’ll love artistic performance, the you for your vic - t end result becomes more a long time tories.” The mix - creative and more elab - ture of different y orate over time. The to find my people in atten - record, like each per - dance testifies to formance will be the fact that unique. They have a bit sound. It many people more control over the want (and even pitch of the energy they need) the chance capture, but they under - took me 12 to share their the moment; we’re being there now stand the contribution gifts and they and there’s nothing else that really that the larger commu - are truly grate - years.” MC Raz matters in those moments.” It’s an nity makes to the music ful – some, so experience that mimics everyday and they want to much that they life. It’s full of surprises, where embrace that contribu - — Bushwalla come every week new possibilities are always pres - tion on tape. With such just to live ent. At the top of this article, I an eclectic group of per - another chance. explained that I was analyzing formers and such a willing audi - Later that night, following Bushwalla’s unique musical ence, Andre and Bushwalla have a our interview and after the show approach. I wanted to be able to great opportunity to create exactly was finished, I took notes while recognize the ingredients in his the synergistic cycle, in the studio, Bushwalla and the band mingled performance recipe, discover their that the music needs to flourish. and caught up with friends. individual properties, and articu - MISTAKES AND There was a steady roar of chat - late the experience that they com - ter and conversation. The mood bine to create. However, his model VICTORIES was buoyant and everyone rev - rejects that kind of analysis Just as the route that Bushwalla eled in the afterglow of an because it isn’t premeditated. It is took in his 12-year journey to find uplifting and refreshing experi - always “becoming.” his “sound” was long and circuitous ence. Day-to-day apprehensions “Basically, all day, all we’re and just as his band represents an and insecurities faded a little bit. doing is [improvising],” he says. unlikely range of musical back - The audience found a respite Keith Benton “We improv our lives, you know? grounds and influences, so do his from the serious world - the It’s just a metaphor for what you live show travel a unique and wan - “real” world - that they had been do. There’s no reason we’ve got to seeking. When the show is over, dering path to creation each and You can catch Bushwalla live come to a show, stand up [on stage] it isn’t really over. It has simply every night. Even the simplest of every Friday night in July at Hot and say ‘this is how we do this.’ entered into another phase of boundaries – one that separates the Monkey Love. The show starts at The whole world’s an improv!” The being. Everyone wants a few performer from the audience – is 7:30pm, and Alma will keep you fact that so many kinds of talents more moments in which their dissolved, blending in well enough well caffeinated. You can also learn and creative journeys take place, refreshed selves can settle as if to blur the line where the stage more online at http://www.bush - from free-styling to story-telling, building up a store of positivity starts and the seating ends. Keep in walla.net. makes the show more vital than it mind that defying predictability they can rely on to get them would otherwise be if there was isn’t simple or easy. Bushwalla still through until the show next simply a recipe to follow. The con - needs to gain perspective to keep week… sistency of the band’s output keeps www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER by Dwight Worden by Sven-Erik Seaholm turn folks onto an excellent studio microphone with a retail price of just $399 ! BLUEGRASS TRANSITION: A BRIEF HISTORY experienced a major transition. Festivals The mic I’m referring to is the Avantone THE AMAZING $400 T UBE Many think of blue - popped up like weeds around the country, CV-12 Tube Microphone . grass as very old attracting large family audiences to their CONDENSER MICROPHONE : In normal fashion, I petitioned the manu - Sven-Erik Seaholm music that hasn’t multi-day events. A whole new market for FACT OR FICTION ? facturer for a review unit, anxious to get my changed much over bluegrass bands and bluegrass music was coffee-stained, mouse-curved hands on it ASAP, these guys are shooting for the stars with this the years, but actual - created as bands began to travel and per - almost didn’t write this review. Not out of as I had projects coming up that I knew would one. ly, that is not the form on the festival circuit. laziness, procrastination (really), put it through its paces. As is sometimes the Powering up the mic (and let’s please case. While the roots The 1970s and Armageddon, or any other “acts of nature” I case, they didn’t get back to me within my rel - remember to allow it to warm up for about a of bluegrass date 1980s saw even that might ordinarily plague a writer of techni - atively narrow time window, so I decided to half hour prior to use) and placing it in front back to Appalachian more transition and Bill Monroe, father of cal things as they pertain to the world of stu - put my very own money where my mouth of a soft-voiced female vocalist yielded a déjà mountain music, Irish change when bluegrass dio recording, etc. is…and buy the thing sight unseen. After some vu like I’d never expected. I mean, my hopes fiddle music, and “newgrass” No, no gentle readers, the reason for this were high already and what with the extras early American blues from the 1800s and became prominent, searching I finally located one at Professional brief lapse of informational dissemination was Sound & Music (www.prosound.com) and gin - and obvious care that went into the packag - even earlier, bluegrass music itself dates spearheaded by the a far more insidious beast. Shining the sun-like New Grass Revival, gerly sped back home with the thing. ing…well, I never imagined I’d be thinking “I back only to the 1940s. It was then that Bill beacon of full disclosure down into the deep, Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys produced the a band that featured more complex melodies The CV-12 comes in a sturdy, attractive alu - just saved myself $19,600!!” dark chasm of my reluctance reveals a singular first true bluegrass music, featuring the and chord progressions. Formed by a then minum travel case (not a cardboard box, like You see the word “silky” (over)used a lot in self-serving motive: I just simply didn’t want three-finger banjo style of Earl Scruggs, the 19-year-old Sam Bush in 1971, the original one might rightly expect at this low a price mic reviews, but it wasn’t until I had worked anyone else to have one except me. fast-picking mandolin of Bill Monroe, and the members of this important band included point). Inside, there is a secondary, velvet-lined with that Telefunken mic that I truly under - characteristic “high lonesome” harmony Sam Bush on fiddle and mandolin, Courtney Perhaps I should explain. wooden box that holds the actual microphone. stood that term. It’s all in the sibilance; the ‘s’ singing that launched bluegrass music. This Johnson on banjo, Curtis Burch on res - By now, frequent readers of this column Very classy. Also packed in the padded travel and “ch” and ‘t’ sounds that can have us new music was an integration and transition onator/dobro, and Ebo Walker on bass. should be fairly aware that I am committed case are the dedicated power supply, cables, reaching for the de-esser quite often. Lower- from earlier forms of mountain music, Irish Bluegrass music began to branch out dur - not only to the art of recording but am also an and the “Custom Retro Shockmount” for priced mics often have a slightly “hyped” top fiddle tunes, and blues into something new, ing the 1990s and early 2000s with promi - outspoken advocate of leveling the playing attaching the mic to a stand. As if that weren’t end that brings these out even further, in a which became almost instantly popular. nent groups forming in Canada, Europe, and field that is shared by home recordists, project enough of a bargain, Avantone also includes generally unflattering way. One of the most Bluegrass music continued to evolve and Japan. This period also witnessed the pro - studios, and top-tier professional facilities. two additional tubes besides the one installed in distinctive features of the other mics I men - change almost immediately upon its birth. gression of bluegrass to an unparalleled There are three main areas to consider in the microphone for those adventurous tioned is their ability to capture all of that height of technical prowess in instrumenta - Bill Monroe introduced the accordion to his this effort: Knowledge, Experience, and Tools. recordists that may want to explore other sonic “gloss” and “airiness” without the unwanted band in the 1940s, which was played by a tion as well as the rise of a handful of As I’m sure they said at least a few times on possibilities. Care should be taken with regard artifacts, and it’s one of the things that makes woman, Sally Ann Forrester. Soon thereafter, nationally prominent super groups like Alison the old ’70s TV show Kung Fu , there are many to swapping out the tubes, and my advice is to them most desirable. The CV-12 has this in the dobro was added to the bluegrass arse - Krauss and Union Station and Nickel Creek. paths to Knowledge. There are educational cur - leave this thing as is, because the best matched spades. nal of instruments, although Bill Monroe The music also experienced the ever-present ricula directed toward the aspiring recording Proximity effect was a bit more pronounced never used one because he reportedly didn’t pressure from young people who wanted to tube for the mic (a hand-selected Russian engineer on college campuses all across the 6072) is already inside it. AND...They’ve even with this mic, but careful positioning (okay, like it (“...that ain’t no part of nothin!”). As is do it their way and break new ground, and country as well as dedicated recording acade - that resulted in what is often called “pro - included a couple of replacement elastics for asking the vocalist to step back a bit) as well as often the case in a growing family, even the mies and my personal favorite: The University father couldn’t control his offspring! gressive bluegrass” although traditional the shock mount. Anyone with mics that use engaging the 80hz rolloff switch worked great of Barnes & Noble. Maybe even reading this The 1950s saw material still remained popular. these probably already knows the agony of try - for this, and the tone was still very present and column helps. Maybe. the rise of electric These days the ing to replace them, so the inclusion of them forward sounding. There’s also a -10db pad Experience is somewhat more fluid, yet still instruments — with Internet, the declining here elevates Avantone’s gesture from thought - switch on the mic, which is useful when mik - Elvis Presley, Little cost of home recording fairly simple to acquire. You basically just fulness to flat out altruism. ing amps or louder vocalists. The CV-12’s pro - Richard, Buddy Holly, equipment, MySpace, record all the time. Record anything, every - Then there’s the whole “how does it nounced proximity effect came up again with a and other rock ‘n’ YouTube, and other new thing, and in every conceivable (and some - sound?” thing. different vocalist, and this time the solution rollers —nearly caus - technologies are chang - times inconceivable) way. I mean, you don’t I’m going to preface this with a brief anec - was to alter the mic’s pickup pattern slightly. I ing the death of blue - ing the music business get better at playing the guitar by not playing dote: A couple years ago, I had a client who say slightly, because while the mic can be set grass. It seemed that and changing bluegrass it, right? And just for the record, that preced - rented a microphone for the two months it to cardioid, omni, and figure 8 modes, there Elvis Presley takes the no one at the time, music along with it in ing sentence would have come in quite handy took to record their project. That mic was the are also several “in between” settings available world by storm except the truly faith - important ways. Many small labels currently earlier in my career…but I’m digressing even Telefunken ELAM 251, a rare thing that is con - via the switch on the power supply. A couple produce bluegrass CDs. The Internet supplies ful, wanted to hear the old acoustic music further. sidered by many to be the singular benchmark of clicks toward figure 8 and we were golden. and listeners deserted it in droves for the vast resources for those interested in blue - It’s tools that eventually become the obses - by which all mics compared to it stand (or Using the mic in omni mode as a an over - newer, brasher rock ‘n’ roll. Flatt and Scruggs grass music unheard of even 20 years ago, sion for many of us. Maybe because it’s some - mostly) fall. At a price upwards of $20, 000 it’s head for drums (yay, Ringo!) as a room mic and other bluegrass bands experimented including instructional materials, videos, thing tangible, concrete. We can (almost) a holy grail microphone if ever there was one. and in figure 8 mode on electric and acoustic with electric guitars during this period, trying lyrics, and slow downers. No longer do large touch it. Yet it’s often kept beyond our reach guitars yielded uniformly excellent results, and to hang on to a share of the listening audi - record labels have control over what music is I exhaustively studied that mic’s tone on every - due to its prohibitive price. The price/perfor - thing I could think of to put in front of it in it’s hands down the new go-to mic in my ence, but the going was tough. recorded and released to the public, since mance ratio is most often illustrated by a time- even small bands can produce and release an effort to tattoo that information into my already formidable mic closet. Oh, and did I The folk music honored equation: The more expensive it is, revival in the their own music at reasonable prices. It has brain. mention that it’s RED? That makes it one of the better it’s built and the better it sounds. 1960s re-empha - become easier and easier to learn to play The design of the CV-12 is based upon the most attractive ones you’ll have too. It was largely due to my own financial frus - sized “legitimate” and enjoy bluegrass as well as to be selec - another venerable classic microphone: the Look, you can get out your slide rule and trations (or maybe just plain, old-fashioned and “authentic” tive about the music one purchases, i.e., get - AKG C12. That microphone is closely related show me all sorts of charts and graphs dis - music, played ting that one song for the iPod instead of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion) that I became obsessed to the previously mentioned Telefunken counting claims that this mic compares well acoustically. having to buy a whole album and listening to with proving that great sounds can come from (although I believe it’s the model 250 that it’s with rare vintage models, but I say use your minimized investment, so imagine my excite - Clarence White & the Although blue - satellite radio. As a sign of the times, 2007 more closely related to), so you can see that ears. At a street price of under four hundred White brothers grass was not at was the first year that more music was sold ment at the prospect that I might be able to dollars, the Avantone CV-12 is hands down the the forefront of the folk music revival, via download than on CD! most singularly important contribution to Clarence White (the White Brothers and the It remains to be seen what the next tran - affordable recording since the ADAT. Kentucky Colonels) and Doc Watson per - sition in bluegrass music will be, but I think formed at the seminal Newport Folk Festival we can rest assured it will be influenced by in the mid-1960s, introducing new audiences technology as far as how we listen to our to the pyrotechnics of their state-of-the art bluegrass and by some of the hot young flat picking and the driving appeal of blue - players who will continue to innovate and grass music. However there was still no dazzle much as father Bill Monroe did back mainstream means for presenting regular in the 1940s. Bluegrass will remain tradition bluegrass music, so times were tough for bound and there will always be popular those in the business. bands playing it the way Bill Monroe and Then, in the Flatt and Scruggs did, but there will also be late 1960s a the innovators and pioneers who take us in bright young man new directions, and that’s the way it should dreamed up the be. idea of the “blue - grass festival” and once again The Telluride Bluegrass Festival draws thousands bluegrass music

10 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’ Hosing Down Radio Daze by José Sinatra

y by Jim McInnes city that constant bus use of Aldine is caus - a d

a ing portions of their back lots to start col - KICKING BUTT IN ALTERED STATES r a F

lapsing into the canyon . So sometimes you

n The Kensington o

My little niece Hosetta was enchanted by l

l can hear falling rocks. a

the iconic color photo of James Dean, which F Sound : Trying to ignore the traffic noise, I was o t

I had recently cut out from a magazine, o startled by a shrill Awk! Awk! Awk! I hate h framed, and hung on my Dead Celebrities P ou read it all the time in pop crows. A murder of crows is like a friggin’ Wall between Barbara Payton and Linda music periodicals and advertising gang of flying thugs taking over your Lovelace. Yhype: Catch the Seattle Sound!; The neighborhood. The crows in Kensington At her request, I recited what I knew Bosstown Sound!; The Sound of Chicago; Area look like they weigh 15 pounds each and Jim McInnes about the revered cultural hero: that he had man drowns in Long Island Sound! Even our would be more than happy to poke your made a few films a long time ago before turn - fair city was the sound of the month in the eye out if you mess with them. “Awk! Awk! Kensington, the lawn mower/leaf ing into a singer and starting his own pork early to mid 1990s, when Rocket from the Awk!,” I hollered back. They laughed at me blower/chain saw. This being Kensington, sausage business . . . that he eventually Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Lucy’s Fur Coat, the as only birds can. everyone has their own gardener. There entered politics, where he became embroiled Rugburns, and Jewel were among those Then I heard one of the primary ingredi - seems to be a mower or blower running in the Watergate affair . . . that, in order to signing major record deals. ents of The Kensington Sound: the slow, The gently twisted Mr. Sinatra from dawn to dusk, every day! spare his best friend Richard Nixon, he took The Kensington Sound, however, has lit - low rumbling thwok-thwok-thwok getting Kensington is popular with contractors, the blame and was tried, found guilty, and lot of my friends got it, and they were really tle to do with music. louder as the Doppler effect shifts the pitch too. Hardly an hour goes by without the executed at Guantanamo Bay. That’s what (as we’d say) jazzed. And I was happy for Yesterday I took a book out to the deck and our dog starts barking at the sky. Ah, sound of table saws, tile cutters, nail guns, happens, I explained, when a person turns his them until I saw the item for myself. Another and decided to read in peace and quiet in police helicopters...250 feet overhead. and jack hammers helping to turn another back on his art, only to be seduced and cor - iconic picture, now back in mass circulation. the warmth of the sun. Aaaahhh. But after Sometimes there are two or three at a time, $800,000 house into an $815,000 house rupted by politics. But this time, the cigarette was missing from ten minutes or so I found it increasingly dif - all seeking a scofflaw hiding in a canyon that will spend eight months on the market. “Was James Dean a mean man, Uncle Paul McCartney’s right hand. Besides being a ficult to concentrate because of all the nearby. Sometimes I think we’re living a And then there’s the noise that sounds Hose?” victim of a corrupt action, the pose looked f@#*ing NOISE !!! scene from Blue Thunder , the film that did like a jet engine being tested, sometimes “No, darling. Just a bit sick in the head. vaguely idiotic now, something I’ve always We live atop one of Kensington’s many for choppers what Jaws did for sharks. for 20-30 minutes. I think that at MCAS Sort of like your mother.” felt the Beatles had been able to avoid. It beautiful canyons. Aldine Drive runs right I mentioned my dog earlier. In Miramar, they’re probably doing just that. “But what gang was he in? See, he’s mak - reminded me a bit of the airbrushed nudist behind and below our house. Aldine Drive Kensington everyone has at least one dog. We lived in Tierrasanta for 15 years. When ing a gangster sign with his hand.” magazines of the early ’60s (or, come to think was put in as a fire emergency access road Unfortunately, most of the dogs are little we moved to Kensington, I thought, Hot damn. I hadn’t noticed. There he stood of it, what Playboy often looks like these in the 1920s and was never intended for ankle-biters who all go off whenever some - “Thanks God I don’t have to hear those in his white tee shirt and red jacket, comfort - days, for a whole different – even voluntary – regular traffic. Unfortunately it’s also a short - one has the audacity to walk down the damned jets from Miramar anymore!” ably slouched, his right hand contorted into a cultural reason, but that’s another story). cut between Adams Ave. and Fairmount street. “Yip! Yip! Yip!” “Owr-owr-owr!” The So, rather than trying to read and relax gang-like salute in front of his chest. There’s On Sunday, June 17, the national newspa - Ave., so thousands of vehicles use it every tiniest of them go, “Arf-arf-arf!” Some of on the deck, I went into the house and something weird going on here, I thought, per tabloid Parade had a cover story on John day. Despite a sign prohibiting vehicles over these critters like to sing along whenever cranked up the sound on the TV and moments before reality splashed my eyes and Travolta, once the lead singer of the early rap four tons, several regularly scheduled bus they hear a siren . This being Kensington, we watched Terminator 2: Judgement Day . soaked my soul. group the Sweathogs before finding fame and routes use Aldine. The average empty bus hear a lot of singing hounds, and coyotes, Truth be known, we love living in the James Dean’s cigarette had been air - happiness in movies, airplanes, heterosexuali - (and it looks like they’re always empty,) too. midst of The Kensington Sound . brushed, or Photoshopped, out presenting a ty, and Scientology. It contains a picture of weighs about 12 tons. Those behemoths After a while, though, I was able to tune I think the worst noise of any city is the sweet, fascinated nine-year-old girl with a Travolta in Saturday Night Fever that over the make our deck rattle when they lumber by, out the buses, the falling rocks, the crows, roaring silence that happens when the false image of a famous legend who wasn’t decades has itself become iconic. It’s relative - the sounds of sneezing air brakes and the helicopters, dogs and coyotes, only to power goes out. even around anymore to see himself so crass - ly small, but in color, and I began turning vari - groaning engines shatter the tranquility. be brought back to reality by one of the ly misrepresented. He was now not only a ous shades of red and purple myself while Several neighbors have complained to the other main ingredients of the Sound of non-smoker, he was being portrayed as a looking at it. Steam literally began to shoot gangsta to impressionable children. The very out of my ears (in the cartoon version of this foundation of our nation’s future was being column). John Travolta’s cigarette has been Carvin, continued from page 3. intuitively select an effect and tailor it to slyly brainwashed, and my own delicate sen - removed, it appears, by some rusty surgical your individual taste. The optional FS22 sound. It can either be used in a stack con - sibilities were being waterbagged. instrument. The hand is pathetically maimed, footswitch can be used to remotely turn figuration or placed at another part of the When Goldfinger was first shown on ABC disfigured. The Revisionist Cultural Nazis have the effects on and off. stage to ensure all-around coverage. It’s a in the early ’70s, the villain’s line “American struck again, and this time it’s really a howler. One minor nit would be in the design of very handy option and is highly recom - motorists kill that many people every year” What’s next? I envision wholesale digital the contour switches. There is a side-by- mended. was seamlessly removed. (So was the last removal/replacement of smoking in just about side pair each for channels 1 and 2. One is There are enough shot of Goldfinger being sucked out of the any movie ever made, if they have their way. a cut while the other is a boost, and it’s sound shaping plane’s window, but that was just standard Don’t call me crazy. easy to confuse the two in a live situation controls to satisfy censorship.) The spoken words were deleted Unless you mean it. But be prepared to (it happened to me!). But this is a very even the most because the film’s airing was sponsored by an take it back when you watch, sometime soon, minor complaint. With practice, one should exacting tone auto company. I was upset by the alterations Casablanca or Up in Smoke or, heck, even be able to master these controls with ease. craftsman. In but somewhat assuaged when the network at Deep Throat ; you’re likely to see a lot of peo - Since Carvin sells factory direct, addition to a mas - least allowed James Bond to end up with his ple on the screen licking a lot of lollipops. All Carvin’s AG100D acoustic amplifier is a ter EQ, each Pussy (Galore). By the next day, it didn’t really executed for society’s benefit by people who steal at $429.99. Another $239.99 brings channel has its seem to matter too much. I mention this only love to manipulate the truth. And funded, in home the 112AG extension cabinet. It’s a 12AG extension speaker own set of knobs. because I now see that broadcast as a start - part, by some big candy company.... great way for acoustic musicians to have Channels 1 and 2 ing point for my increasing obsession with a It was nearly midnight when I suddenly an excellent sound system for well under a even have their own contour switches. mysterious, powerful group; some sort of cul - snapped out of my troubled trance of memo - grand. Weighing in at 35 pounds, it’s as Onboard digital effects include echo, tural lobby I’ve come to call the Revisionist ries. I told little Hosetta it was time she head - easy on your back as it is on your bank reverb, chorus and flange, and the controls Nazi Bastards. ed home. She hugged me, thanking me for account! for these are very sensibly laid out. You can Whether it’s San Diego State’s Aztec mas - having earlier shown her Love Slaves of the cot being recognized as “demeaning” or Cannibal God on DVD, and asked if she could Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride see a James Dean movie next time. I said being bowdlerized after 30-some years to sure, as long as it was okay with her mom. wipe out a reference to historical misogyny, it (Heck, I’d even show her Saturday Night is intelligence itself that is being corrupted. Fever if I thought the wardrobe in that one This all ties in with an item I mentioned wouldn’t give her nightmares.) I slipped two last month: the “smoke a cig, get an R rating” dollars into her tiny hand and she merrily threat made recently by the Motion Picture skipped away toward the bus stop half a mile Association of America. But this alteration of down the street. photographs – removing cigarettes from smokers’ hands – is to me, idiotic, criminal, and frightening. In 1984 there was a 20-year-anniversary re-release of the Beatles’ U.S. breakthrough record I Want to Hold Your Hand /I Saw Her Standing There, complete with a reproduction of the original photo sleeve. I didn’t buy it, having saved my original (still have it) but a

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

marmalade skies to make his sum - mer pilgrimage IPO: How it Works to IPO. Beatles’ Schedule: Friday, July 27 – Saturday, covers will make August 11. Nightly shows and mati - way for DeCerbo nee sets on the weekend. San Diegans Head North originals but a Venues: Music clubs in Los Angeles splendid time is and Orange County. Ages 21 and up. guaranteed for Countries musically represented: all! Sunday, July Canada, Dominican Republic, Japan, 29, 7:30pm. The United Kingdom, United States. Joint, 8771 W. Suite 100 for International Fest Pico Blvd., Los Admission: $6 to $10 per night. Angeles. Seven Perks: Free IPO album to each bands, $8 cover. attendee. In the past, these music “jewel boxes” have contained three Static Halo – Led by Steve Thorn power pop, a genre best known by the CDs featuring more than 60 tracks. Beatles-inspired recordings of Badfinger, the by one of San Concert goers also get a free festival avid Bash wears many different Raspberries, Big Star, Dwight Twilley Band, Diego’s most gift - program featuring lineups and artist hats, including a famous cowboy Jellyfish, and many more. Although power ed songwriters, Static Halo biographies. There is also a mer - model that resembles something pop bands are still a major draw at IPO, the Dylan Martinez, chant table for artist-fan chit chat D Static Halo is out of a Sergio Leone western or the one concert attendees will also see artists spe - and the sale of individual band discs. worn by former Byrds member David cializing in Americana, rockabilly, folk, always a wel - Artists to see from a San Diego Crosby during the Younger than Yesterday R&B, and singer-songwriters performing comed act any at Troubadour perspective: Dime Box recording sessions back in ’67. solo on piano or guitar. IPO. Sunday, (alt. country, Americana), Barry And while his other “hats” symbolize When he is not introducing an artist August 5, Holdship Four (Americana, roots responsibilities that would test the stamina from a stage in Nashville, L.A., or Liverpool, 7:30pm. The rock), Chris von Sneidern (singer- and patience of any individual, Bash, the Bash is listening to CDs and tapes of poten - Joint, 8771 W. The Shambles songwriter), Glowfriends (folk, alter - founder and CEO of the highly successful tial acts. “Bands are selected by myself,” Pico Blvd., Los native), and the Mello Cads (lounge). International Pop Overthrow music festival, said Bash. “They either contact me via e- Angeles. Seven Two surprise acts in 2007 are John remains the quintessential music fan. mail and refer me to their website or bands, $8 cover. Batdorf (of the ’70s folk duo Batdorf and Rodney) and the Tokens, leg - Anyone can become a music fan. But to myspace page, or they send me a CD. I will Frank Barajas endary doo-wop and Brill Building take it to the next level and to champion also look on MySpace for worthy bands, and the songwriting group who practically the cause of hundreds of musicians from especially when doing the first IPO in a par - Shakedowns – invented world music 45 years ago around the globe isn’t for the faint-hearted. ticular city, but even for cities like Los Originally from with their adaptation of an African For a decade Bash has offered a summit for Angeles, where we’ve been doing IPO for 10 IPO organizer David Bash South Bay, Squiddo folk song. Baby boomers know it as artists to be heard, an element of the do-it- years, MySpace is still a big help. We are have played IPO have gone on to be signed Barajas’ live “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” yourself ethos as effective as an iTunes web - also partners with a company called to major labels, some with great success. shows have Wimoweh! site or a music page on MySpace. This year, Sonicbids, an Internet-based service which impressed IPO Many others have been signed to indie Websites: Additions/cancellations puts bands directly in touch with festivals. audiences in for the tenth consecutive summer, more labels on the strength of their IPO perform - occur with a festival of this magni - than 150 artists will be congregating in Los Through Sonicbids several worthy bands ances, and that’s very gratifying. I plan to Liverpool and tude. Visit www.internation - Angeles to perform sets to audiences com - have applied and have been accepted.” continue to do the festival as long as it L.A. Sunday, alpopoverthrow.com for daily prised of devoted fans and first-time listen - Another marketing tool is the commem - makes me happy and as long as people want August 5, 8pm. updates. orative IPO CD, featuring many of the The Joint, 8771 ers. IPO X begins on Friday, June 27, con - to come and see the bands.” Roxy Monoxide Quality downtime: Visiting Amoeba cluding after 16 days on Sunday, August 11. artists who have played past festivals, others The following San Diego artists are W. Pico Blvd., Los record store in Hollywood and Pink’s It was a life-long passion that took seed making their debut, and performers who scheduled to appear at IPO-L.A. Angeles. Seven bands, $8 cover. Hot Dogs on La Brea Ave. in Bash’s native New York, where he listened simply believe in Bash’s mission. “Any band Suite 100 – A melodically inclined band The Shambles – San Diego Troubadour staff Happy globetrotting through music! to the top 40 radio stations of youth. Later, who has played at any of the IPOs we’ve from North County. Bash described their writer Bart Mendoza’s band never misses after he moved out to Southern California, done in the past 12 months is eligible to be CD, In the Night Kitchen , as “ambitious yet IPO! Sunday, August 5, 9pm. The Joint, Bash scoured the record bins of legendary on this year’s IPO CD,” said Bash. “We inviting, rich with harmony and potent, 8771 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Seven vinyl emporiums like Aaron’s (Hollywood), charge a fee to each band to have their track telling lyrics.” Saturday, July 28, 2:30pm. bands, $8 cover. Rhino Records (Westwood), and Off the on the CD because we incur all the produc - Fitzgerald’s, 19171 Magnolia St., Squiddo – Hector Penalosa and Maren Record (Hillcrest) in his search for the next tion costs, but for the past six years we’ve Huntington Beach. Seven bands, $6 cover. Parusel bring an art school ambience to three minutes of melodic bliss. He insists he been fortunate enough to put together their live shows. Sunday, August 5, 9:30pm. was never a player in the recording industry, three-disc sets of very cool tracks. Each year Corporate Circus – According to their The Joint, 8771 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. an institution that Joni Mitchell once we give away the CD at IPO Los Angeles to MySpace page, their music is “a great vari - Seven bands, $8 cover. referred to as the “star-maker machinery.” people who attend the shows. Then, Not ety of catchy punk rock melodies backed by “I really didn’t have any involvement in Lame Recordings officially releases the CD great vocals and lyrics.” Geographically, Roxy Monoxide – Looks can be deceiving. the industry per se but for three years previ - and sells it to people who couldn’t attend they were described in last year’s festival By day, guitarist Michael Rennie handles ous to the first IPO in 1998, I had been a IPO LA.” program as a “band from San Diego by way publicity at the Poway Center for the journalist who wrote reviews and articles on After Bash blows out the candles on his of Warsaw, Indiana.” Saturday, July 28, 9pm. Performing Arts. Roxy’s lead singer, Diana music for various publications, including tenth anniversary cake, will he take time to Fitzgerald’s, 19171 Magnolia St., Sun, is a successful international attorney. Yellow Pills , Audities , Popsided , Amplifier , ponder how many more countries he needs Huntington Beach. Eight bands, $10 cover. Be prepared for a riveting live show. Friday, and Discoveries ,” said Bash. “In fact, I still to stamp on his IPO passport? Four Eyes – After a highly successful recre - August 10, 11pm. Club Good Hurt, 12249 write reviews (and the occasional article) “My main thought is that I’m glad we’re ation of the Sgt. Pepper album in concert, Venice Blvd., West Los Angeles. Six bands, today, for Amplifier , Bucketfull of Brains , still here, and I’m proud of some of the Rockola guitarist Mark DeCerbo leaves $10 cover. Author Steve Thorn with Brian Wilson at Shindig , and [San Diego-based] Ugly Things inroads we’ve made. Several bands who behind the world of tangerine trees and the 2001 IPO magazines.” Prior to embarking on his musical mis - sion, Bash was an adjunct college professor with teaching assignments at different cam - puses, including the Grossmont-Cuyamaca District. What compelled him to launch the International Pop Overthrow? “I’d been developing e-mail relationships with several of the bands whose CDs I was reviewing, and many of them had men - tioned that they really wanted to play in Los Angeles, where I’m based. So, I thought it would be wonderful to create an environ - ment in which bands from all over the world could play under one roof [Los Angeles], on bills with like-minded bands and in front of fans who would be likely to dig what these bands were all about. The first IPO took place in August of 1998 in L.A., and it immediately realized that vision to great effect. Ever since I started branch - ing out to other cities — we’re doing 11 of them now — each IPO has become more regionalized, but the worldwide vision still is realized, especially at IPO Liverpool [at the world famous Cavern Club], where we have a gigantic melting pot of bands from several different countries, including many bands from the U.S.” As the festival has expanded, so has the diversity of the acts. In the early years, IPO became a mecca for for the followers of

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

Beston Writer Tim Egan Patrick Barbara Barnett Cover Your Tracks The Long Ride Berrogain’s Nesbitt Home loneliness and by Mike Alvarez Hot Club A Million Stories Writer is a local band comprised freedom waltz of Andy Ralph on vocals and guitar; by Jody W. Wood by Craig Yerkes James Ralph on guitar, percussion, Tim Egan’s new album The Long Combo together through synthesizer, and vocals; and Matt Ride Home reminds me of when I A Million Stories , the debut CD Fredrich on drums. I must confess was a young man of about 18 years by Craig Yerkes from Barbara Nesbitt, is some down - that when I first played this CD I was the night and dated a voluptuous blonde right heavenly music. What you have prepared not to like it as the opening drum major from my rival high As soon as I heard the guitar and here is simply a girl with a tremen - track unfolded. “Title Track Part 1” is by Mike Alvarez school. She was pretty cool, until she accordion playing the harmonized dous, angelic voice singing wonder - an odd combination of electronic dumped me for some grocery bag - melody line on “Nomadic fully crafted songs while backed by a sounds and acoustic guitar strum - The old advertising slogan, been ger in our freshman year of college, Thoughts,” the opening track of this band that never once strays from the ming underneath a simple vocal line, there, done that, comes to mind but it was her family that I really fine disc, I knew I would love this goal of selflessly supporting the and I just did not get it. Yet in the almost unbidden when one is pre - missed. Man, we used to go back to stuff! Patrick Berrogain has a har - music. The artists that come to mind spirit of being objective, I forged sented with music by a singer-song - her parents’ house after hanging out monic sensibility that really gives this as I listen are Suzy Boggus, Gretchen onward and was immediately reward - writer whose voice is accompanied with my metalhead friends and music wings. As I have said before in Wilson, Emmylou Harris, and Shawn ed by the second tune “Make Us by an acoustic guitar. The scene is they’d be sitting around playing gui - earlier reviews of Gypsy jazz record - Colvin. The opening title track hits Proud.” This very engaging song abundantly populated with people tars, sipping on straight whiskey, and ings, I tend to lose interest rather you between the eyes and let’s you could very well find a home on a who arrange their music in this tried passing around some homegrown. quickly because often the emphasis know what you’re in for. The lead Tom Petty album with its bouncy and true fashion. So it is incumbent I’d grab my old guitar out of the seems to be on musicianship rather and harmony vocals are so powerful, mid-tempo rhythm and deliberate upon such artists to make their back seat of my Volkswagen and her than on the music itself. pristine, and alive that you might guitar parts. The occasional electronic songs intriguing, be it through emo - dad would feed me shots of Evan You won’t find that Gypsy curse at start looking around the room to see effects actually sound pretty good tional vocals, insightful lyrics, innova - Williams like it was Kool Aid and we work here. Many of the tunes if Nesbitt herself and her band have here. In fact, this one song immedi - tive song structures, or instrumental had some good, clean, family fun. (including the opener) are original somehow beamed themselves into ately had me re-evaluate the first skill — preferably an artful combina - Egan sounds like he would have compositions by Berrogain himself your personal space. The drums and one. Armed with more of a context tion of them all. fit right in. One thing I noticed and I actually like those the most. In the bass (played by San Diego over- to place it in, it was easier for me to On his latest release, loneliness about this 13-song collection is that particular, “Material for Tears” is a achievers Marcia Claire and Billy understand how it fits into the grand and freedom waltz together through not a harsh word is sung along the melancholy swing ballad that truly Coomes) provide a thundering bot - scheme of Writer’s sound. When it the night , Nashville expatriate and way. Like that old girlfriend’s family, conveys the emotional thread run - tom end to anchor it all and Mike reprises later as “Title Track Part 2,” current North Park resident Beston they might have been having a really ning through the heart of this style Spurgat peppers the musical land - this becomes more apparent. Barnett has crafted a sound that is good time, but they were always of jazz. For me, that emotional scape with guitar work that can only Certain songs that stand out unique and interesting. A long-time honest, respectful, and wholesome thread is the idea that this joyful be described as, well…perfect. immediately. “Friend“ sounds simple practitioner of genres as varied as enough for the entire family to get music actually comes from a place of “Many Miles” is a perky, ear pleas - but actually develops into something world music and hip hop, he creates in on the fun. heartbreak and struggle. The guitar ing country/pop joint that started my more interesting. A repeating synthe - an atmosphere that is warm and sin - The songs are easy to listen to solo on the piece instantly became toes happily tapping, but then the sizer riff complements the melody. As cere. And he does it with his just his and each one begins to take on a life one of my all-time favorite jazz gui - track turned around and sucker the song fades, it‘s the only thing left voice and a guitar. of its own as the disc plays out. tar solos (and I have heard many!), punched me with a bridge that goes standing, making for a very dramatic This CD is more of an EP than an “Lonely Boy” and “How Far Your especially because of the way full throttle with syncopated harmo - coda. “The Pollution,” an up-tempo album, clocking in as it does at a lit - Love Will Go” move along soft and Berrogain departs from the more ny vocals so amazing that I literally song with big hooks, reminds me of tle under half an hour. However, it is slow, like a walk through dreams straight ahead phrasing of the found my jaw open when it was all vintage Jackson Browne with its instantly appealing from the first almost forgotten. I enjoyed the slow - melody and swings his solo some - over. Speaking of notching up the melody, arrangement, and even the song “the only way to go is alone.” er songs a little more, but “Small thing wicked. intensity with mind blowing harmo - lead vocal. “My Thoughts on the Barnett’s voice is warm and inviting, Girl” rounds out the album with a On all of the original composi - ny vocals, “Three Between Us” deliv - Subject” has a big Springsteen-esque expressing a sincerity that is hard to full rock band sound that would tions, there is a wonderful playful - ers the same brand of shock and awe intro and then turns into a quirky resist. His guitar playing is interest - probably wake a few people up and ness where the melodies dance just when this cleverly catchy break up alternative pop number that takes ing, in that he makes unusual choic - maybe get them on the dance floor. between being pleasingly straight song (“two reasons to be alone, some unexpected twists and turns. es of chords and techniques that Egan’s picking and vocal melodies ahead and devilishly “outside” (think that’s all this is”) changes key toward “Title Track Part 2” is an extended lend an exotic quality to the songs. paint a pretty picture, while the dissonant for those unfamiliar with the end and the already biblical take on the opening number, which More often than not, he opts for an accompanying guitar and harmonica jazz vernacular). This marriage of vocals shoot straight into outer dispenses with Sputnik effects. It intricate finger picking style instead float just below, warming the sound dual harmonic approaches really space. “Flicker” struck me as the starts simple and builds into a dense of merely strumming the chords, up a bit. Egan didn’t do it all alone shines on “Swing for Dexter” where track that probably has the widest, mix of multi-layered guitars and which adds texture and complexity though. He had some help from the melody is so sly that you can dare I say, commercial appeal, and I rhythm section. The album closer, “I to his music. John Katchur, Pat Brady, and Richard almost picture the band smiling like love the way that the fluffy pop for - Think She Died,” is a melancholy The title song is notable for its Egan. Cheshire cats while playing this mat adds the perfect punctuation waltz with a calliope feel. It is here straightforward presentation and Egan cites James Taylor, Eric sneaky stuff. Of course, no disc in mark to the comically tragic subject that the group’s signature mix of the unusual lyrical imagery. Its protago - Clapton, Steve Winwood, Jim Croce, this genre would be complete with - matter. Speaking of subject matter, acoustic and technological realms nist is seemingly going through the and the Eagles among his influences. out a couple of Django tunes and on the lyrics that Nesbitt spins are fan - comes to its logical fruition. routine motions of living, yet he I think he might have accidentally “Black and White” (and on two tastic and not to be missed. Here is a Interestingly enough, as one lis - manages to find deep meaning in left John Denver off the list. He defi - other tunes elsewhere on the disc), woman who sees life and love tens to more of this CD, one fre - the most mundane of observations. nitely knows what he’s talking about. Gypsy master Angelo Debarre adds through a very balanced set of eyes, quently hears points of artistic refer - The music twists and turns through You can hear the softness of James his stunning guitar wizardry to the understanding the fine lines between ence. A little Tom Petty here, a bit of some unexpected chord changes, at Taylor and Jim Croce coming mix. One nice surprise is a lovely ver - drama and silliness, between youthful Jackson Browne there, some U2 vibe times evoking the late Michael through in his delivery. This album sion of “La Vie En Rose,” sung beau - hope and the limitations brought by in a few guitar and drum licks…but it Hedges at his best. The follow-up definitely rides on the softer side of tifully by Rosemary Berrogain and human frailty. The good news is that doesn’t “feel” like any of them. They track, “in a beautiful place with high country, and there are no signs of a arranged by Patrick Berrogain. I have the stellar lyrics are matched up with have taken their influences and used mountain air,” might also be a more outlaw style, which I prefer to heard many versions of this tune and wonderfully effective melodic hooks them to create a sound original strong contender for the title, as its hear. I almost could see my mom lis - I have to say that this is my new throughout the entire disc. enough to be unique. Their songwrit - lovely melody and lyrics are perfectly tening to this on the way to church favorite because of the way the slow “Broken Girl,” the beautiful closing ing is very clever and their produc - suited to the pristine and sparse or with Grandma in the car. Like I tempo and simplicity in the arrange - ballad, takes producer Jeff Berkley tion style makes every note count. arrangements that define this record - said before, it’s definitely suitable for ment allows the melody to breathe from behind the control board to the Writer plays and sings with a ing. In fact, all of the tunes have a the whole family. so completely. “Fantasy on a role of harmonizer and backup musi - remarkable restraint that places the real tendency to get under your skin Egan made the recording at John Norwegian Dance” is a haunting bal - cian with predictably amazing songs first. The arrangements are spa - after a while. And that’s a good Katchur Studios in 2007 and he has lad featuring both Berrogain and results. Nesbitt and Berkley effortless - cious, leaving room for the songs to thing! four songs posted on his Myspace Debarre dishing out some of the ly blend their voices together like breathe, which has the added benefit Barnett has a curious penchant for page. most tasteful guitar work you’re like - tequila and lime juice with Berkley’s long song titles, but he crafts songs of letting the listener hear how all of ly to hear anywhere. Lou Fanucchi, resonator guitar work slowly pouring that are succinct and to the point. the instrumental and vocal parts work Tripp Sprague, John Leftwich, and some Grand Marnier over the mix. While this collection’s short running together. While this is a strength, I Kevin Hennessy (on accordion, sax, What an exquisite way to end this A+ time might be considered a negative sometimes got the impression that and bass) fall right in line with effort from a remarkable artist and by some, it serves one of show busi - they could have turned up the inten - Berrogain’s musicality and add their her top notch cast of supporting ness’s most cherished tenets: always sity a few notches. Nevertheless, they own flair to help complete this satis - players. leave ‘em wanting more! have meticulously crafted a sonic fying musical landscape. I loved A Million Stories will be released on vision that is at once catchy, idiosyn - eee pulling up a chair at this Hot Club July 19 at the Belly Up Tavern . More cratic, and ultimately quite satisfying. and my guess is that you will too. info at www.barbaranesbitt.com. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 JULY 2007 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about NTON HI FO N thursday • 19 M LK TIO Robin Henkel , Terra Restaurant, 3900 block of WEEKLY CEL RA JULY CALENDAR Vermont St., Hillcrest, 6pm. EB Stepping Feet , Whiskey Girl, 600 5th Ave., A 145th Street , Trolley Square, 9884 Mission 8:30pm. Gorge Rd., Santee, 6:30pm. every sunday Open Mic , Dublin Square, 544 4th Ave., 9pm. S Old Time Fiddlers Jam , Old Time Music, 2852 Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, sunday • 1 wednesday • 11 University Ave., 7pm. DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Ronnie Baker Brooks , Anthology, 1337 India Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg every thursday Paul Hourn , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. Steve White , Le Papagayo, 1002 N. Coast Hwy. St., 7pm. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. 101, Solana Beach, 11am. 101, Leucadia, 7pm. Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, Mary Froemke , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. Sunday Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. Big Time Operator , Scripps Park, La Jolla Cove, Royal Crown Revue , Anthology, 1337 India St., 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. Main, El Cajon, 3pm. 2pm. 7pm. Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Steve Wilson Quartet , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., San Diego Guitar Society Mtg. , Old Time Ani DiFranco/Anais Mitchell , Humphrey’s, 2241 St., La Jolla, 7:30pm. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. Music, 2852 University Ave., 4pm. Shelter Island Dr., 7:30pm. 4pm. New Acoustic Generation: Barbara Nesbitt CD Open Mic , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 El Eve Selis , Torrey Hills Community Park, Del Anna Troy/The Shambles , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Tokeli , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Cajon Blvd., 7pm. Release/Michael Tiernan/Chris Torres/Astra Solana Beach, 6:30pm. (from July 8) Mar, 5pm. Ave., 9pm. Kelly , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, Zydeco Night , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 7pm. Peter Sprague & Pass the Drum , Anthology, 8pm. Open Mic , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. 1337 India St., 7pm. Rd., 7:30pm. Joe Rathburn’s Folkey Monkey , Milano Nathan Hubbard Ensemble , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Jamie & Matt Commerce/Wendy Bailey/ thursday • 12 Park Blvd., 8pm. Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star Melissa Vaughan , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., Grandpadrew/Jaime Robb/Jesse Bowen/Tiff (88.3 FM). 9pm. Married by Elvis , Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Gorge Rd., Santee, 6:30pm. Jimber , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 9:30pm. Open Mic , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. Willie Nelson , Open Air Theatre, SDSU cam - Rd., 7:30pm. monday • 2 pus, 7pm. The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , friday • 20 10pm-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s, 3015 Luca Ellis , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Juniper St., 8pm. Joan Armatrading , 4th & B, 345 B St., 7pm. Solana Beach, 7pm. Len Rainey & Midnight Players , Trolley Barn Chet & the Committee , Patricks II, 428 F St., 9pm. Michael Tiernan Trio , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Park, Adams Ave. & Florida St., 6pm. Tokeli , Manhattan Restaurant, 7766 Fay Ave., every monday La Jolla, 8:30pm. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7pm. Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga , The Retrofits/Jesee Bowen , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Poinsettia Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Rd., Open Mic , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 7:30pm. Jazz Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern tuesday • 3 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Carlsbad, 6pm. Tango Dancing , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 St., 9:30pm. Robin Henkel & Ben Hernandez , Beachfire, 204 Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , El Cajon Blvd., 8pm. Steely Damned , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. Avenida del Mar, San Clemente, 8:30pm. Point Loma Park, Catalina Blvd., 6pm. Pro-Invitational Blues Jam , O’Connell’s Pub, every friday Joanie Mendenhall , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., Steve White , Friar’s Folly, 1032 W. San Marcos 1310 Morena Blvd., 8pm. 9pm. Blvd., 7pm. Sam Johnson Jazz Quartet , Cosmos, 8278 La wednesday • 4 Mesa Blvd., 3pm. Phil Villeza/John Compton/Chris Swann , Hot Coastal Communities Concert Band , Concerts Java, 11738 Carmel Mountain Rd., 7pm. every tuesday California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, 4:30-9pm. on the Green, Rancho Santa Fe, 1pm. friday • 13 Sezio Records Night , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Park Open Mic , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La Cowboy Jack , Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Blvd., 8:30pm. Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, Rick Robledo & Working Cowboy Band , Trolley 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. Rd., 2pm. Barn Park, Adams Ave. & Florida St., 6pm. Greg Laswell/Pawnshop Kings , Lestat’s, 3343 Open Mic (poetry & music) , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Adams Ave., 9pm. Amelia Browning , South Park Bar & Grill, Sue Palmer Quintet w/ Johnny Viau , Croce’s, Plena Libre , Stagecoach Park, 3420 Camino de Park Blvd., 7:30pm. (1st & 3rd Tuesday) 802 5th Ave., 8pm. los Coches, Carlsbad, 6pm. Blackened Days , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Mesa Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo , Prado 1946 Fern St., 7pm. Blvd., 9pm. Steve White , Friar’s Folly, 1032 W. San Marcos Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. thursday • 5 Blvd., 7pm. Shep Meyers , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. Basin Street Band , Lucky Star Restaurant, Sam Johnson Jazz Quartet , Parioli Bistro, 647 saturday • 21 3893 54th St., 7pm. Robin Henkel , Terra Restaurant, 3900 block of S. Coast Hwy. 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. John Katchur , Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio Vermont St., Hillcrest, 6pm. Life’s Only Lesson/Patrick Grant/MalGrace Listen Local Picnic , Boat & Ski Club, Mission every wednesday San Diego Dr., Ste. B, 7pm. Shoe String Strap , Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Tunes , Hot Java, 11738 Carmel Mountain Rd., Bay, noon. Music at Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , Open Mic , Egyptian Tea Room & Smoking Gorge Rd., Santee, 6:30pm. 7pm. Robin Henkel Blues Band , Miramontte Winery, Newport Ave., 4-7pm. Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Old Time Fiddlers Jam , Old Time Music, 2852 Trace Bundy , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 33410 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, 5:30pm. Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, Mansfield, 7:30pm. University Ave., 7pm. Michael Burks , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. every saturday Ruby Blue , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. Larry Coryell , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & Matt Haeck & Friends , Hot Java, 11738 Carmel Old Timey Night , Folk Arts Rare Records, 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. 9:30pm. Mountain Rd., 7pm. 2881 Adams Ave., 7pm. Connie Allen , Old Town Trolley Stage, Twigg Sam Johnson Quartet , Escondido Library, 239 Band in Black , Cask & Cleaver, 3757 S. Mission Ruby Blue , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. St. & San Diego Ave., 12:30-4:30pm. Rd., Fallbrook, 8pm. High Society Jazz Band , Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa S. Kalmia, 7pm. 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. St., 7pm. Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, Derek Evans/Tim Mudd/Angela Patua , Lestat’s, Simeon Flick , Borders, 1072 Camino del Rio N., Band in Black , Robbie’s Roadhouse, 530 N. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. 8pm. Open Mic , Vinbladh’s Swedish Cafe, 4651 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, 7pm. Park Blvd., 7:30pm. Bushwalla & Friends , Hot Monkey Love, 6875 Jon Kruger , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Tom Baird & Friends , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper Open Mic , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Mesa Blvd., El Cajon Blvd., 8:30pm. friday • 6 Jell/Rockin’ Rebels , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La St., 7:30pm. 8pm. (no open mic July 4) Tokeli , Manhattan Restaurant, 7766 Fay Ave., Mesa Blvd., 9pm. Robin Adler/Dave Blackburn , Hilltop Ctr., 331 E. La Jolla, 8:30pm. Anya Marina/Kyle Phelan/Steph Johnson , Decca Tree/Ryanhood/Slater Sisters , Lestat’s, Elder, Fallbrook, 7:30pm. Prescott Promenade, Main St., El Cajon, 6pm. 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Edison & the Oldstars , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Dave Matthews Experience , Canes, 3105 Mesa Blvd., 9pm. Ruby & the Red Hots , Stagecoach Park, 3420 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach, 9pm. Camino de los Coches, Carlsbad, 6pm. Gregory Page (Allison Lonsdale 6-8pm) , Bob Weir/Keller Williams , Humphrey’s, 2241 145th St. , Trolley Barn Park, Adams Ave. & Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Shelter Island Dr., 6pm. sunday • 29 Florida St., 6pm. saturday • 14 Markowski/Rusty Jones/ZenBoy & Karma Girl , Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , Steve White , Nautical Bean, 240 Harbor Dr. S., sunday • 22 Hot Java, 11738 Carmel Mountain Rd., 7pm. Scripps Park, La Jolla Cove, 2pm. Oceanside, 7pm. Eve Selis , Barndance Concerts, 30027 Wilkes Jazz Fusion Superstars , Anthology, 1337 India The Brombies w/ Dennis Caplinger , Acoustic Roundtable , Hot Java, 11738 Carmel Rd., Valley Center, 6pm. Yavaz , Scripps Park, La Jolla Cove, 2pm. St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. Barndance Concerts, 30027 Wilkes Rd., Valley Mountain Rd., 7pm. CBH Trio/Russell Stafford/Chris Merrill , Hot Sue Palmer Quintet w/ Johnny Viau , Old Postal Appreciation Party , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 Center, 6pm. Sean Martin , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. Java, 11738 Carmel Mountain Rd., 7pm. Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd., 5:30pm. La Mesa Blvd., 9pm. Chuchito Valdes , Anthology, 1337 India St., 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. Grunion Run , Templar’s Hall, Old Poway Park, Sam Johnson Quartet , South Park Bar & Grill, Darla’s B-Day/Molly Jenson , Lestat’s, 3343 7:30pm. Sue Palmer Trio , L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Del 14134 Midland Rd., 7pm. 1946 Fern St., 6pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Jack Conte/The Airlines/The F3W , Lestat’s, Mar, 7:30pm. Johnson, Bosley & Morin , Borders, 159 Robin Henkel , La Jolla Brewhouse, 7536 Fay 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Roberta Donnay , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 Fletcher Pkwy., El Cajon, 7pm. Ave., La Jolla, 6pm. & 9:30pm. Sam Johnson Quartet , Parioli’s Bistro, 647 S. No-Pals , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. saturday • 28 Tom Boyer , Borders, 1072 Camino del Rio N., 8pm. Coast Hwy. 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. monday • 30 String Summit , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Rico Jazz Trio , La Tapatia, 340 W. Grand, Joyce Rooks & Timo , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Park Maria McKee , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield, 7:30pm. Mansfield, 7:30pm. Escondido, 6pm. Upstream , Lake Poway, 14644 Lake Poway Rd., Blvd., 8:30pm. Dickie Betts/Shooter Jennings , Humphrey’s, 5:30pm. Larry Coryell , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & Jimmy Mulidore & Tom Scott , Anthology, 1337 Blackened Heart , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Mesa 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7:30pm. India St., 7pm. Deejha Marie Quartet w/ Sue Palmer , Wild Blvd., 9pm. 9:30pm. Brenda Xu/Alex Esther/Jordan Reimer/ The Bangles , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., Animal Park, Escondido, 5:45pm. The Flimz/Patty Blee , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Stephen Stills , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., Thompson , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 7:30pm. Ave., 9pm. 8pm. Mike McGill , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Carlos Olmeda , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Park Blvd., tuesday • 31 Dr., 8pm. monday • 23 8:30pm. saturday • 7 Nathan Welden/Ivan Cheong , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Super Unloader/Travis Larson Band , Lestat’s, Deejha Marie Quartet w/ Sue Palmer , Wild Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Deejha Marie Quartet w/ Sue Palmer , Wild 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Animal Park, Escondido, 5:45pm. Blues & Brews , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main A Fork in Time CD Release , Lestat’s, 3343 Animal Park, Escondido, 5:45pm. Kindle to Ember , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Mesa Larry Carlton/Robben Ford , Humphrey’s, 2241 St., El Cajon, 6:30pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Blvd., 9pm. Shelter Island Dr., 7:30pm. Jordan Smith/J Turtle , Hot Java, 11738 Carmel Ombligo , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Mesa Blvd., 9pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Young Dubliners/Mario Escovedo Experience , Sara Gazarek , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Mountain Rd., 7pm. Steve White , Nautical Bean, 240 Harbor Dr. S., Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Allen Singer/Dane Terry , San Dieguito United Oceanside, 7pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. sunday • 15 Roberta Donnay , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 Money for Nothing , Scripps Park, La Jolla tuesday • 24 & 9:30pm. Cove, 2pm. Terry Matsuoka , Borders, 668 6th Ave., 8pm. Chet & the Committee , Viejas Concerts in the Deejha Marie Quartet w/ Sue Palmer , Wild Animal Park, Escondido, 5:45pm. Jim Earp , Borders, 11160 Rancho Carmel Dr., 8pm. Park, 5000 Willows Rd., Alpine, 4pm. Mose Allison , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. Steve Moss , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Park Blvd., Sttepping Feet , Dreamcatcher Showroom, 8:30pm. Viejas, 500 Willows Rd., Alpine, 6pm. John Hiatt/Shawn Colvin , Humphrey’s, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Shameful as It Seems , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La NovaMenco , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. Mesa Blvd., 9pm. Willie Nelson , Palomar Starlight Theater, Pala, Charlie Orlando/Ed Balduzzi/Tim Mudd , Vinbladh’s, 4651 Park Blvd., 8pm. Tom Freund/Trevor Davis , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams 7:30pm. Ave., 9pm. Amber Rubarth/Joey Ryan , Lestat’s, 3343 Cash’d Out/Palominos , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Adams Ave., 9pm. wednesday • 25 Solana Beach, 9pm. monday • 16 Lyle Lovett/k.d. lang , Humphrey’s, 2241 Shelter sunday • 8 Island Dr., 7pm. Highland Way , Lake Poway, 14644 Lake Poway Mose Allison , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. Sue Palmer & Friends , Hop in the Hood Rd., 5:30pm. Sue Palmer/The Hayriders , Riley’s, 2901 Nimitz Festival, 7th Ave., & Robinson, Hillcrest, noon. Blvd., 8pm. S.D. Folk Song Society Mtg. , Old Time Music, Citizen Band/Imulse/Jason Bayles & the 2852 University Ave., 2pm. tuesday • 17 Revival , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Working Cowboy Band , Scripps Park, La Jolla Cowboy Junkies/Joan Osborne , Humphrey’s, Cove, 2pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. thursday • 26 Judy Taylor & the Wild Oats , Old Poway Park, Kenny Rankin , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. 14134 Midland Rd., 5:30pm. Eve Selis , Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Gorge Sam Johnson Quartet , South Park Bar & Grill, Rd., Santee, 6:30pm. 1946 Fern St., 6pm. wednesday • 18 Luca Ellis , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Blues Traveler , Humphrey’s, 2241 Shelter Solana Beach, 7pm. Island Dr., 7:30pm. Kenny Rankin , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7pm. Lee Konitz , Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla, Squirrel Nut Zippers , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Ruby Blue , Parioli Bistro, 647 S. Coast Hwy. 7 & 9pm. Solana Beach, 8pm. 101, Solana Beach, 7pm. Joe Rathburn/James Lee Stanley , Milano Jazz Night w/ Robin Henkel/Lynn Willard/ Robin Henkel Band , Tio Leo’s, 10787 Camino Coffee, 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Kevin Koch , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Ruiz, Mira Mesa, 7:30pm. Robin Henkel & Ben Hernandez , Beachfire, 204 Boz Scaggs , Humphrey’s, 2241 Shelter Island Avenida del Mar, San Clemente, 8:30pm. Dr., 7:30pm. Chad Farran/John West , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams monday • 9 George Kahumoku & Keoki Kahumoku , Ave., 9pm. Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield, 7:30pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Sue Palmer Quintet w/ April West , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. friday • 27 Bert Lams Ca. Guitar Trio/Tom Griesgraber , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Peter Pavone Quartet , Trolley Barn Park, tuesday • 10 Adams Ave. & Florida St., 6pm. Chet & the Committee , Patricks II, 428 F St., 9pm. Big Time Operator , Poinsettia Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Rd., Carlsbad, 6pm. Bill Magee Blues Band , Prescott Promenade, Main St., El Cajon, 6pm. 14 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour Photo: Liz Abbott Photo: Liz Abbott ”

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