August Troubadour
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FREE SAN DIEGO ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news June 2004 Vol. 3, No. 9 what’s inside Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Statement SAM Contributors Spring Harp Fest Full Circle.. …………4 Rose Maddox, Part 2 HINTON Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch …………6 A Lifetime of Fred Gerlach, Part 2 Aisling Twiggs Summer BBQ Series Achievement Old Home Week at Roots Fest Parlor Showcase... …8 Sam Hinton Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Highway’s Song... … 12 Brave Combo Of Note. ……………13 Anna Troy The Cat Mary Michael Tiernan Robert Spencer Simeon Flick ‘Round About ....... … 14 June Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page Phil Harmonic Sez Q “I love music, and I love the humanity of music and the fact that it shows that we’re all basically the same.” — Sam Hinton San Diego Troubadour • June 2004 wweellccoommee mmaatt including KPRI, La Mesa Guitar Center, Spring Harp Fest: The Best and Henry’s SAN DIEGO Marketplace, the ROUBADOUR group has been able Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news Harmonica Party in Town! to meet its initial goal of purchasing 12 key - Story and photography by Millie Moreno boards and offering begin - ning piano lessons for MISSION CONTRIBUTORS ast month I decided to attend the Fifth kids in the Girls Club Summer Program. They To promote, encourage, and FOUNDERS Annual Spring Harp Fest, also known provide an alternative voice for the Las the Harmonica Festival. Located in are now working toward Lyle Duplessie (Publisher Emeritus) great local music that is generally Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa, the festival was purchasing 200 harmoni - overlooked by the mass media; namely Ellen Duplessie more than I expected. What an incredible event! cas and offering harmonica the genres of folk, country, roots, Liz Abbott I love harmonicas and the way they sound, workshops at the Girls Americana, gospel, and bluegrass. To Kent Johnson which is what prompted me to attend. However, Club’s 30th Street location. entertain, educate, and bring together I must admit that as a stranger to the event and The group hopes to offer each players, writers, and lovers of these PUBLISHERS not knowing what to expect, I thought, “Okay, child an opportunity for forms; to explore their foundations; and Kent Johnson I’ll get a few shots for the S.D. Troubadour , and musical expression to expand the audience for these types Liz Abbott then I’ll get the heck out of here so I can have and perhaps gener - of music. some real fun elsewhere and enjoy my week - ate an interest in the EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS end!” Two hours later I found myself on stage music we adults For advertising rates, call 619/298- with a harmonica in my mouth, taking part in know as the blues. 8488 or e-mail [email protected]. Liz Abbott the long-awaited event of the day: The Concurrently the ADVERTISING/DISTRIBUTION San Diego Troubadour Unknown Players Jam ... group hopes to help P.O. Box 164 Kent Johnson Although the park was very crowded, I phone, which, when disassem - promote local harmoni - ca musicians by increas - La Jolla, CA 92038 PHOTOGRAPHY found a parking spot and slowly made my way, bled, revealed a harmonica E-mail: [email protected]. camera in hand, to the festival. As I strolled within its depths. I had such a ing visibility and provid - Millie Moreno toward the event, just a five-minute skip good time while I was there. I ing a venue. SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local Paul Grupp through the park, I was happy to see families played with the dogs, got hit in the When it was time for and pets frolicking nearby. Everyone was so the event’s finale, the source for alternative country, WRITERS head by a frisbee, and had bubbles blown all Americana, roots, folk, gospel, and friendly, smiling, and happy; they seemed con - over my camera and lens. That’s right, mutt- World Famous Unknown bluegrass music news, is published Lou Curtiss tent just to be present. Players Jam contest called all amateur harmoni - ca players in the audience to take the stage. monthly and is free of charge. Letters Lyle Duplessie I finally arrived and was surprised to find a little outdoor community Accompanied by one of the bands featured dur - to the editor must be signed and may Phil Harmonic amphitheater and a very large stage, ing the show that represented an eclectic mix of be edited for content. It is not, howev - Paul Hormick not to mention quite an ample sound blues musicians, all from other bands, I watched er, guaranteed that they will appear. John Hyatt system. As soon as I heard the music, I people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, including All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Frederick Leonard thought, “Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ men, women, and children from three to 70+ years old, take a crack at winning. TROUBADOUR, unless otherwise stated, Jim McInnes ’bout!” Some good old-fashioned blues are solely the opinion of the writer and do music! No mainstream music, no con - After each contender had a chance Millie Moreno not represent the opinions of the staff trived marketing, no music that oozes to strut his or her stuff, they all or management. All rights reserved. Tim Mudd commercialism. took center stage during the vot - Cameron (that’s ing process. The audience served ©2004 San Diego Troubadour. Sven-Erik Seaholm as both judge and jury. This year what I call my cam - Founders John Frazier, Budd José Sinatra winner Dan McDowell was pre - era) started clicking Willis, and Chet Cannon D. Dwight Worden away and I got sented with a gold and green John Philip Wyllie some great shots of engraved trophy. the musicians I’m grateful to everyone at the Cover photography: Peter Figen there, festival for their kind - including ness and hospitality. It San Diego Troubadour Billy was such a blast, I can’t Watson, wait for next year’s Harp Johnny Fest! The San WRITE TO US! Mastro of DiegoTroubadour and I the would like to sincerely We’d love to hear from you! Send your Mama’s thank, Chet, John, and comments, feedback, and suggestions by The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated Boys, Budd, not only for help - email to: [email protected] to the memory of Ellen Duplessie , whose Display of antique instruments Harmonica Billy Watson ing local music and local or by snail mail to: San Diego vision inspired the creation of this Jack, Ted Staak, and many others. musicians but also for Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, newspaper. lovers! Harry Griffen Park Amateur and professional blues and har - their support and dedi - La Jolla, CA 92038-0164. allows dogs! monica musicians came from far and near Founded by Chet Cannon, cation to the children to watch and perform. I got the feeling I John Frazier, and Budd and the community. It is was in the company of musicians who Willis, the Spring Harp Fest the teamwork of gra - loved to play simply because they love the began as a private support cious individuals such as you who keep things music. For them, this was not just another group for the Blues in the vital by reminding people and organizations of humdrum gig they went to just to get a Schools Program. Since 2002 the importance of music in the community and paycheck, but rather these musicians really Winner Dan McDowell the event has been a fundrais - in the schools. Musicians who support their fel - felt the music. It moved them. It moved others, er for the Girls Club Music Program, which is low musicians give the local music community and before I knew it, the music moved me ... aimed at teaching girls to be responsible indi - the strength it needs to survive. out into the parking lot because I had one too viduals and productive members of society in For more information about the Spring Harp many. Just kidding. I couldn’t help but notice addition to increasing the visibility of some very Fest, to get on the mailing list, or to become a that the musicians were cared for by a booth of talented blues harmonica musicians. Over the sponsor or performer at next year’s event, email women who provided home-made cookies and last five years, their activities have morphed into Chet Cannon at [email protected]. Spring brownies, sodas, and bottled water — all free of an annual event, featuring talent from all over Fest is a Big Blue World Production. charge. The Harmonical Festival is an alcohol- the U.S. Thanks to more than 60 sponsors, free event, sponsored by local businesses. Admission is free. From 11 a.m. until 6:30p.m., parents sat in the amphitheater under the warm California sun, while their children, visible and safe, played in the park behind the stage. While peo - ple sat in lawn chairs and had a picnic on the grass, they were entertained by some of the state’s best blues harmonica players. Everyone was clapping their hands and cuttin’ a rug! It was like a 1960’s love-in or a mini Roots Festival that everyone, from Harp Fest virgins to Harp Fest pros, automatically felt a part of. I found here a mutual admiration society that won over every individual within ear shot. In addition to the music, there were several booths present. One displayed and sold antique harmonicas, while another featured an old saxo - Spring Harp Fest’s Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa 3 June 2004 • San Diego Troubadour ffuullll cciirrccllee by Lyle Duplessie the spark was gone.