FREE SAN DIEGO ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news March 2003 Vol. 2, No. 6 Lis Proves a what’s t Sa ha nders inside t Ar t is Go Welcome Mat………3 od Mail Box Mission Statement Contributors Full Circle..…………4 Jan Tonnesen Lou Curtiss Front Porch…………6 Kenny Edwards Skelpin’ Carlos Olmeda Truckee Brothers Parlor Showcase...…8 Lisa Sanders Highway’s Song... …10 Jim McInnes’ Radio Daze Bluegrass Corner Ramblin’...…………11 José Sinatra Paul Abbott Of Note.……………12 Lisa Sanders Randy Phillips Blues Anthology Taylor Guitar’s new Expression System ‘Round About .......…13 Local Yokels March Music Calendar The Local Seen……15 Photo Page The PRESENTS Darlin’ and Rose Newest Release! TomorrowTomorrow YesterdayYesterday See them live at InCahoots! March 13, 9 p.m. Come see what the buzz is all about! COMING IN APRIL! AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT THE LONG-AWAITED REUNION OF THE on line at www.darlinandrose.com Scottsville Squirrel Barkers o Chris Hillman, Bernie Leadon, Kenny Wertz, Ed Douglas, and Larry Murray appearing in concert with Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen Friday, April 25 • 8pm Carlsbad Village Theater 2822 State Street, Carlsbad Tickets: $15 $18 at the door available at Buffalo Brothers Guitars 760/431-9542 Carlbad Theater 760/729-0089 or by email: [email protected] Phil Harmonic Sez: Take the train! The Amtrak station is right across the street from the theater! “There is no religion higher than the truth.” ᵮᵙᵗᵙᵗᵙᵗᵙᵗᵚ —Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Watch for details in the April issue of the San Diego Troubadour Author and Founder, Theosophical Movement San Diego Troubadour • March 2003 welcomewelcome matmat SAN DIEGO MAILBOX ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news Dear Troubadour instruments whose ranges Celebrating music and the would not collide were people that make it is our paired onto the different slogan at Shadowlight tracks: tenor sax and piano MISSION CONTRIBUTORS Studios. The Troubadour on track one, bass and trum- To promote, encourage, and does a great job at doing just pet on two, and alto sax and provide an alternative voice for PUBLISHERS that. Thanks for showcasing drums on the third. Although the great local music that is Lyle Duplessie such a wealth of local talent. two mics were used on the generally overlooked by the Thom Vollenweider With love and music, drums (one on the snare and I appreciate Sven’s cross-ref- mass media; namely the genres an overhead for the cym- erencing. I was obviously mis- of folk, country, roots, EDITOR Jamie and John Paul bals), they were not mixed in informed about the exact tech- Americana, gospel, and blue- Ellen Duplessie shadowlightstudios.com grass. To entertain, educate, and stereo. However, due to the niques for the Kind of Blue GRAPHIC DESIGN Hi there! fact that there was consider- session. However I still would bring together players, writers, and lovers of these forms; to Liz Abbott First off, let me say thanks able “leakage” between all consider a seven-mic/three- explore their foundations; and to the mics and the large space channel recording to be mini- for all the kind words pub- expand the audience for these PHOTOGRAPHY in which they were recorded, malist, especially by modern lished in the Troubadour types of music. Mildred Moreno regarding some of my the stereo mix of the result- standards. recordings (Darlin’ and Rose, ing three tracks does have Regarding the technical fea- To receive advertising rates and DISTRIBUTION Bruce Dale Betz, Dead Rock quite a bit of dimension. Also sibility of a stereo mic: I use information, call 619/298-8488 or Kent Johnson providing some added depth the term “stereo mic” fairly e-mail [email protected]. West, etc.). I really appreciate ADVERTISING it, and I know the artists do is subtle usage of an echo generically to refer to either a San Diego Troubadour Ellen Duplessie too. chamber on some of the true stereo mic or a pair of P.O. Box 164 solos, most apparently on mono mics wired for stereo. La Jolla, CA 92038 Kent Johnson I noticed several errors in E-mail: [email protected]. Paul Abbott’s column entitled Coltrane’s. Due to the fact However, for historical accura- E WRITERS that stereo recordings were cy, Neumann introduced its “Recommended Listening” Paul Abbott still inching their way into SM2 in 1957. SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the wherein he lists three record- Lou Curtiss ings he feels best represent the marketplace and stereo Regarding the 5.1 surround local source for alternative Pam Diehl minimal mic-ing techniques, mic-ing techniques were in sound version of Kind of Blue, country, Americana, roots, folk, Ellen Duplessie specifically with regard to their infancy at best, I doubt no recording (to date) is a gospel, and bluegrass music Miles Davis’ remarkable that a workable stereo mic completely accurate dimen- news, is published monthly and Lyle Duplessie album Kind of Blue. was even in existence at that sional representation of the is free of charge. Letters to the Phil Harmonic Abbott states that it is “a time. music performed, and listeners editor must be signed and may Jim McInnes classic example of how to Many of these facts were should not be content to be edited for content. It is not, Laura Preble capture a small ensemble culled from the book Kind of accept a recording’s limitations however, guaranteed that they Britta Lee Shain with just three mics — a Blue: The Making of the Miles “as is.” I believe this surround- will appear. José Sinatra stereo mic for the band and Davis Masterpiece by Ashley sound version to be a very All opinions expressed in SAN Steppin’ Eddy a spot mic for the soloist.” Kahn, an excellent compan- engaging, viable experience DIEGO TROUBADOUR, unless Jim Wakefield that’s worth experiencing. This is totally incorrect. ion guide to this wonderful otherwise stated, are solely the Gus Williker album. In fact, this is a three-track Paul Abbott opinion of the writer and do not D. Dwight Worden With regard to the sur- represent the opinions of the recording, which at the time John Philip Wyllie (early 1959) was the state of round sound version, I rec- staff or management. All rights the art. The sessions for the ommend caution when lis- reserved. tening to any album that was album were recorded using ©2003 San Diego Troubadour. Cover photography by Marshall seven microphones, one for not recorded with that as its Harrington each instrument and two for intended medium. Much like the drums. The mics used the Beatles’ “simulated were primarily Telefunken U- stereo” releases, some things WRITE TO US! 49-tube mics (which were a are better left as is. We’d love to hear from you! brand new item then, and Thanks again for all you do, Send your comments, feedback, still amongst the sweetest Sven-Erik Seaholm or suggestions to: sounding ever made) and Artist/Producer [email protected] subsequently mixed amongst Kitsch & Sync Production or to San Diego Troubadour, the three tracks so that www.kaspro.com P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038-0164. The Lou Curtiss Sound Library Presents Roots Music Video Showcase Rare Country Music • Blues • Jazz • Cajun & Zydeco • Latin • Other • Roots • Rare Music on Film XTREME COUNTRY RADIO SHOW hosted by Mike Vlack Americana, alternative country, and classics Sunday evenings, 7-10pm Stay tuned for the Wayne Rice The Lou Curtiss Sound Library LeStats Coffee house at Folk Arts Rare Records Bluegrass Special at 10pm 3343 Adams Avenue 3611 Adams Avenue third friday monthly San Diego, CA 92116-2213 KSON 97.3-FM 7-10 p.m. Phone: 619/282-7833 3 March 2003 • San Diego Troubadour fullfull circlecircle Memoirs of a Local Teen Rock Star by Lyle Duplessie by Axton that Tonnesen set out to other teenage job options like mowing become a folk troubadour (as long as he lawns or delivering newspapers. an Tonnesen, better known to could come home at night for a hot, Though each bandmate owned their some by his alter ego Troy Dante, home-cooked meal). Among his own equipment, Mr. Bolan would Jis not just a premier guitar slinger mementos is an autographed handbill arrange with local music stores to lend but a storehouse of knowledge on San from that memorable evening. the Contrasts amps and other sound Diego’s music heritage from the early Soon after, his parents bought him a apparatus. Having a hot young combo ‘60s to the present. His ranch-style Goya nylon-stringed guitar. In short to sport a music store’s wares was a spread in La Mesa is a virtual treasure order he was playing and performing savvy business move during the heyday trove of classic vinyl, CDs, books, maga- live at his father’s company picnics. Also of neighborhood garage-rock rock zine, photo- as a testimony to enlightened parenting, bands. After all, between ‘64 and ‘67 graphs, and his folks encouraged his record most red-blooded American male teens every other type collecting and had visions of becoming rock ‘n’ roll of artifact that even stars, and local music stores wanted a documents the pur- piece of that market. American con- chased During this time in the local spot- tribution to him light, the Contrasts played on the folk, jazz, mem- Saturday afternoon television show, TV blues, and bership 8 Dance Time with host Bob Howar. rock. But in the They also appeared a few times on the José Sinatra and the Troy Dante Inferno, l to r: Gregory Page (aka Justin Case), Jan more Colombia Channel 8 morning show Sun Up, with Tonnesen (Troy Dante), José Sinatra, Miff Laracy, and Owen Burke (aka Buddy Pastel Jr.) Records host Bob Mills and channel 39’s KAAR à important- Nevertheless, Tonnesen was there to see went to different high schools.