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December 2010 THE WOMEN’S ISSUE Vol. 10, No. 3

what’s inside

Welcome Mat ………3 Mission Contributors Holiday Greetings Full Circle.. …………4 Ingrid Croce Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………6 San Diego Nation: Women Nickelodeon Record Store Parlor Showcase …8 Claudia Russell Ramblin’... …………10 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Stages Highway’s Song. …12 Wilson Phillips Of Note. ……………13 Simeon Flick Michael Tiernan Folding Mr. Lincoln Shrewd Lucy ‘Round About ...... …14 December Music Calendar The Local Seen ……15 Photo Page

DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news Tis the Season MISSION CONTRIBUTORS To promote, encourage, and provide an FOUNDERS appy Holidays! I have to admit, this is my favorite time of year. I love the vibe of good cheer and alternative voice for the great local music that Ellen and Lyle Duplessie celebration. I love the parties and the music. Everybody’s happy. It’s fun to dress up and go out. is generally overlooked by the mass media; Liz Abbott namely the genres of alternative country, Kent Johnson Maybe those feelings come from growing up in the Midwest — the crispness in the air, the anticipa - Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and PUBLISHERS H tion of the first snow, coming in from the cold to a warm house. From October until Christmas, it’s bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring Liz Abbott together players, writers, and lovers of these one holiday after the other, culminating in a frenzy of activity until New Year’s Eve when poof! it’s all over. Kent Johnson forms; to explore their foundations; and to expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS And although it is the end of the year, it is also the anticipation of another year and a significant year for the San Diego Liz Abbott Troubadour . As we enter into our 10th year of publication (since September, actually), we’ll be celebrating our SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for Chuck Schiele alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, ADVERTISING anniversary throughout year by way of new features and expanded offerings for our readers. We’re also planning a blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, Kent Johnson is published monthly and is free of charge. special music event to cap off our tenth year in the fall. Letters to the editor must be signed and may be BUSINESS CONSULTANT edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed Joanna Schiele This month, the Troubadour celebrates women in music, local women — famous women, behind-the-scenes women, that they will appear. DISTRIBUTION women business owners, women who have made a difference in our musical community here in San Diego. And let’s All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Kent Johnson not forget the women who support their husbands or partners who want to pursue their dreams of a career in music. TROUBADOUR are solely the opinion of the Dave Sawyer writer and do not represent the opinions of the Indian Joe Stewart Ellen Duplessie was the one who had the vision of a newspaper devoted to music. It was she who got it going and was staff or management. All rights reserved. Dan Long Paul Cruz the driving force behind the San Diego Troubadour . Kent and I helped her realized the vision with the practical skills ADVERTISING INFORMATION For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488, e-mail STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER we had experience in, while Lyle Duplessie did most of the writing. When Ellen and Lyle passed away in 2004, we [email protected], or visit www.sandiegotrou - Steve Covault became the guardian of the vision and have kept it going over the years. In this issue, we are only able to cover a few badour.com WEB MASTER of the many women who have made significant contributions to the local music scene, but we know the rest of you SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. Will Edwards Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: are out there. San Diego Troubadour WRITERS P.O. Box 164 Mike Alvarez For the first time in our history, we are featuring a Holiday Gift Guide for our readers. We’re excited about it and hope La Jolla, CA 92038 Peter Bolland Lou Curtiss it can be a regular feature in this paper. Not only does it contain ads for a variety of small community businesses and WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the San Diego Troubadour? Go to Paul Hormick individuals, it also looks great in color! www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click Frank Kocher on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of Jim McInnes The San Diego Troubadour has always been the best and only pure-music publication in town! Within its pages you locations we deliver to. Bart Mendoza can read educated CD reviews of a wide variety of local artists. Now, with the re-launch of sandiegotroubadour.com , SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW Terry Roland If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for Raul Sandelin we’ll be showing you exclusive video interviews and retrospectives. Our monthly podcast, with the help of Berkley review, please send two copies to: San Diego Sven-Erik Seaholm Sound, features artists and personalities based right here in San Diego, who have influenced how music is written and Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92037. José Sinatra played around the world. (This month Ingrid Croce is the focus of a fascinating interview to supplement the article SUBMITTING A CALENDAR LISTING Steve Thorn Email your gig date, including location, address, D. Dwight Worden about her on page 4.) New search and social media features will help you find out more about the local artists you and time to [email protected] by Cover photo: Dennis Andersen love! Take a few minutes to see what’s new on the new sandiegotroubadour.com and you’ll find there’s more to learn the 22rd of the month prior to publication. Cover design: Chuck Schiele ©2010 San Diego Troubadour and more to hear! Many thanks to Will Edwards and Jeff Berkley for making this happen. Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported us over the years as well as our The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , writers, columnists, photographers, delivery helpers, and team members who have donated their time and talents to whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper. make the San Diego Troubadour the publication that it is. We wish all of you a very happy and safe holiday season!

Liz Abbott and Kent Johnson, Publishers San Diego Troubadour

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle

by Bart Mendoza with Sandra Castillo

oday, downtown San Diego is a bustling, visitor friendly locale, both IngrId CroCe Tscenic and with a thriving nightlife, but go back to the early 1980s and the view is decidedly different. The catalyst for AWomAn of mAny TAlenTs change? Ingrid Croce, who brought dining and music to the area in a big way, opening her namesake restaurant in 1985, at a time when the downtown area was avoided by most. It’s been said before, but the Croce’s name is now synonymous with downtown San Diego. Last month, the San Diego Troubadour was fortunate enough to sit down for a con - versation with Ingrid Croce, civic leader, restaurateur, and musician at Berkley Sound studios. Among many other projects, she is currently working on a biography with her husband, Jim Rock. The topics of discussion on this day were many and varied, touching on the music business and her late husband Jim Croce, her restaurant, and much more. Jim and Ingrid Croce in the early days Jim and Ingrid in the Gaslamp Below are excerpts from that interview, fur - ther excerpts can be seen and heard on the tion to sing. And I thought to myself, ‘What Jim and I thought about doing it, we’d go Troubadour website’s home page can I do?’ [I] invited a friend to visit, and ‘how could we possibly have the quality of (www.sandiegotroubadour.com). said, ‘okay, here’s my resume, what can I what we have at Croce’s, how could we do? I’m an artist, I’m a singer, I don’t know oversee it?’ You know, it’s just meant to be a anything about other things, I’ve just been mom and pop business, that’s all I can say. v through twelve years of litigation, what do I To do it right, you’ve got to do it this way.” he Croces first arrived in San Diego do?’ We sat down and I made her some She cites a long standing relationship with in 1973. “There were a lot of oppor - blintzes. And she said, ‘this is what you Martin guitars, who help provide a scholar - Ttunities in Los Angeles, but we just should do.’” The very next day she got a ship for the annual Jim Croce Award. “We’re didn’t fit in LA. I think I had a pair of jeans business license, soon opening her first very lucky to have met some terrific people and a t-shirt and Jim had maybe a pair of restaurant at 5th and University. Croce’s at at Martin guitar,” she said. “The reason I jeans and maybe a work shirt that he used the 5th and F location opened in 1985. bring that in is that we honestly thought for performing in, I mean literally we had Has she ever considered expanding about, and we still may, doing a business nothing. So, we thought, ‘we’re not going to Croce’s outside of San Diego? “You know, with Martin guitars, we thought about make it here [LA].’ He had played at Funky it’s funny you say that,” she smiled. doing the Croce’s restaurant and Martin Quarters [club] in the Gaslamp, which was “Because everybody comes to Croce’s and Signature Guitar Bar. It’s not out of the Ingrid Croce an opportunity, he thought, to see [San says, ‘oh we could use one in New York or question; we’re still considering it. But once Diego]. Of course, we’d spent some time in would you please come to Chicago. [But] we started to think about doing that, the back to the original size we were, where we doing that. It’s exciting.” Ocean Beach that weekend and we thought this is such a homegrown business that if I economy changed, and it was just one thing could actually do food at a level that we feel She also takes pride in the venue, having Ocean Beach might be a place we could be. wasn’t there it wouldn’t be Croce’s. So, I’m after another that just kept pushing us back is as quality as possible. We’ve always done nurtured the local artists’ community. “The So we ended up in San Diego and liked it. It not saying we’d never do it, but every time to not only not getting bigger, but getting everything to order, but we really wanted to building of Croce’s, for me – [it’s] having AJ felt like it was the right place to be. Like offer food that was at the level of excellence having start his career there, in a sense, at a kind people.” that the music is, and I feel that we’re there very young age.” She mentions local musi - The tragic story of Jim Croce’s passing is now. You can’t really do things at mass level cians who have performed there. “Having well known, much less so the events that and offer the kind of options that we offer. watched a whole generation grow up in that followed, some of which would go on to And offer the kind of music that we offer.” community and now watching new people, I have positive legal implications for all Looking back, what is she proudest of? mean just people who work at our front door recording artists to follow. “I spent my last “It’s kind of picking up where I left off,” she who play music on the side, because they weekend with Jim in the Gaslamp and I had said. “In going back and thinking about it, I can make a living at Croce’s. To be able to no idea, honestly, when I got that phone don’t know how it happened, but meeting help them to get through college, to be able call, where life would leave me,” she my husband [Jim Rock] on table 21 and to help them to pay for their careers, that is recalled. “I guess we could say that the next starting all over again and really picking up the best thing that has happened, “she stated. 12 years of our lives, we fought, I fought – all the pieces, because going back and doing “I’ve actually done what I’ve set out to do, A.J. was a baby [at the time] – for the music this biography right now. … I have a very which was to find community. To have rights [to Jim and my songs]. Because I had good memory.” She continued, “I’ve always music, to enjoy the food, and have the expe - not received any money and then all of a felt the need to document my life, I can’t rience of what we do. And I think if anyone sudden – this is the strange part – I received explain it to you but from the time I was lit - can do that, I mean if you can actually pur - a check for what seemed was an enormous tle I wrote diaries and I wrote everything sue something and then wake up one day amount of money,” Croce recalled. “It prob - down every single day of my life. I taped my and then say ‘oh! I’m doing exactly what I ably was two or three thousand dollars, but life, so in 1987, when I met my husband, set out to do, then you should be really it seemed like more money, … It was more for whatever reason, I stopped taping and thankful. And that’s what I’m thankful for.” money than we had ever had. And I started living. And, I think if I go back, to You can hear more at: thought, ‘wow! This is great,’ but Jim never that time and go forward, I think the thing www.sandiegotroubadour.com got this money while he was alive – why that I’m most proud of, is that I’m actually not? So I asked for what I thought was Jim, Ingrid, and A.J Croce, 1974 something typical, because I didn’t know much about the industry, the ‘A’ word. I asked for an audit.” The reaction from the music industry was less than positive. “It turned out [that] was the worst thing I could’ve said. Because of all of these people in the music industry had been in charge of our money, had been in charge of our estate, had been in charge of our lives, financially. So, I felt it was real - ly important to fight for artists’ rights. It just came to me that that was the most important thing I could do, so I kind of put everything else on hold and started fighting. I spent 12 years in court and I did change some laws for artists; people are no longer allowed to keep people in perpetuity on any contract. That was the most important thing, because we had signed our agree - ments in perpetuity. So that’s kind of how it all began.” Post courthouse, her next move wasn’t obvious. “Twelve years later, I walked out of there, not knowing what I was going to do after I finished the litigation and had not really receiving money to do much,” she noted. “But, I did start receiving my artist’s rights from my part of the publishing, I did get my insurance and A.J. started to receive money from a wrongful death suit. And finally, it was at a time when I had been on the road a little bit; I couldn’t sing any longer, my vocal chords were not in a posi -

4 www.facebook.com/sandiegotroubadour DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle t l

MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT u a v

TWICE 11. Junior’s a Jap Girl’s Christmas for His o C

Santa Claus : Willie Blackwell e v

Recordially, Lou Curtiss e t S

ell, every year in January I’ve 12. Santa, Bring Me a 10-Pound Box of : o t

been making a list of songs Money : Pearl Bailey o

30. I Want to Trim Your Tree : Jimmy Butler 65. Christmas Morning the Rum Had Me h P W(usually about a 102 or so) that 13. Your Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus and 31. Christmas Balls : Larry Vincent with Ben Yawning : Lord Beginner you should spend the next year listening to. Your Mama Ain’t No Christmas Tree : Light and the Surf Boys 66. Sherburne : Alabama Sacred Harp This time I decided to give you a Christmas Butterbeans and Susie 32. Santa’s Secret (Santa Claus Is Smoking Singers list and remind you that on the Sunday 14. Put the Loot in the Boot, Santa : Mae Reefers) : Johnny Guarnieri 67. Tanec Pid Werbamy (Dance Under the before Christmas you can hear the jazzier West 33. Santa at the Schoolhouse for the PTA : Willows): Pawlo Humeniuk and blusier of these tunes on my “Jazz 15. Christmas and No Santa Claus : Bumble Yogi Yorgesson 68. Lady Gay : Buell Kaze Roots Christmas Show (KSDS 88.3FM and Bee Slim 34. Santa Claus Got Stuck in my Chimney : 69. Decimas De Nacimiento : Los Jibaros Jazz88.org on the net). That’s from 8-10pm. 16. I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas : Yogi Ella Fitzgerald 70. Holy Babe : Cummins State Farm Vocal It’s up to you to find the rest of them. Good Yorgesson 35. Cool Yule: Louis Armstrong Quintet hunting and sweet listening. 17. I Want You for Christmas : Mae Questel 36. Santa Claus Bring My Man Back : Ozie 71. My Christmas Baby : Smokey Hogg Here they are. I should point out that if (Betty Boop) also a version by Dick Ware with the Duke Ellington Trio the same title shows up in more than one Robertson 72. Christmas Eve Blues : Blind Lemon 37. Merry Christmas : Lightnin’ Hopkins Jefferson version, that’s because they are so different. 18. Christmas Date Boogie : Big Joe Turner 38. Santa Claus Came in the Spring : 73. No Room at the Hotel : Lucy Smith 1. The Santa Claus Blues : Clarence with Pete Johnson Putney Dandridge Jubilee Singers Lou Curtiss Williams Blue Five with Eva Tayor and 19. Santa Claus’ll Come Down your Louis Armstrong Chimney Tonight : Bo Carter 39. ’Zat You Santa Claus? : Louis Armstrong 74. Lonesome Christmas Blues : Blind Blake 40. I Ain’t Gonna Let You See My Santa 75. Christmas Is a Joyful Day : Lord 2. Christmas Night in Harlem : Paul 20. Christmas in Jail : Leroy Carr 94. Christmas Is a Hep Cat’s Holiday : The Claus : Victoria Spivey Executor Whiteman Orchestra with Jack 21. The Wrong Way to Celebrate Cats & the Fiddle Teagarden and Johnny Mercer 41. Hey, Santa Claus : The Moonglows 76. Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over : Christmas : Rev. Edward Clayborn 95. Christmas Man Blues : Bertha “Chippie” Fiddlin’ John Carson 3. Christmas Carols by the Old Corral : 22. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas : 42. A Surfer’s Christmas List : The Surfaris Hill Tex Ritter 77. Christmas Celebration : Jesse “Baby Gayla Peevy (Mary McCaslin also did a 43. I Saw Mommy Do the Mambo with You 96. How I Hate to see Christmas Come Face” Thomas 4. Yingle Bells : Yogi Yorgesson version of this one) Know Who : Jimmy Boyd Around : Jimmie Witherspoon 78. Christmas Time in New Orleans : Louis 5. What Will Santa Claus Say (when he 23. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe : Dick 44. I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas : Stan 97. Christmas Boogie : Sugar Chile Robinson finds everybody swingin’) : Louis Robertson and his Orchestra Freberg Armstrong (also versions by Billie 98. I’d like to Have an elephant for Prima’s New Orleans Gang Holiday, Lee Wiley, others) 24. Christmas Morning Blues : Victoria 45. Yulesville : Edd Byrnes Christmas : Hank Thompson 6. All I want for Christmas is a Doodley Spivey 79. Christmas in Pumpkin Center : Cal 46. Santa Claus Goes Straight to the 99. Sweet Little Jesus Boy : Wings Over Boop : Baby Lee (also a version by Art Stewart and Ada Jones 25. Be Bop Santa Claus : Babs Gonzalez Ghetto : James Brown Jordan Carney) 80. Go Where I Send Thee : Alphabetical 26. Fairy on a Christmas Tree : Gracie 49. Will Santy Come to Shanty Town : Eddy Four 100. Santa Claus Baby : The Voices 7. Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells : Fats Waller Fields Arnold 101. Hey Santa Clause (sic): The 8. Blue Christmas Lights : Buck Owens 81. Christmas Party Shuffle : Lowell Fulson 27. Merry Texas Christmas, You All : Ernest 50. Sock It to Me Santa : Bud Logan Moonglows 9. Mr. Santa Boogie : The Marshall Tubb 82. Christmas Time Blues : Slim Seward and 51. Hello Santa Claus : Cecil Gant 102. Begin a New Life on Christmas Day : Brothers Fat Boy Hayes 28. Faraway Christmas Blues : Little Esther 52. Christmas Spirit : Julia Lee and her Rev. A.W. Nix 83. Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues : Sonny 10. Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn : Phillips with the Johnny Otis Orchestra Boyfriends Frankie “Half Pint” Jaxon with Punch Boy Williamson II with his Harmonica 29. I Want to Spend Christmas with Elvis : 53. At the Christmas Ball : Bessie Smith And that’s it. Have a terrific and musical Miller and the Cotton Top Mountain Debby Dabney and Houserockers Singers 54. Jingle Bells : Leo Watson 84. Christmas Morning Blues : Sonny Boy holiday in the year to come. 55. Christmas Time’s a-Comin’ : Bill Monroe Williamson I Recordially, and the Bluegrass Boys 85. To Heck with Ole Santy Claus : Loretta Lou Curtiss 56. On a Christmas Day : Leadbelly Lynn 57. Death Might Be Your Santa Claus : Rev. 86. Christmas at the Station : Slim Dusty J.M. Gates 87. Randolph the Flat-Nosed Reindeer : 58. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus : Mabel Homer & Jethro Scott (also versions by Lionel Hampton 88. Mr. and Mrs. Snowman : Hank and Patti Page) Thompson 59. Empty Stocking Blues : Floyd Dixon 89. Santa Claus Is Comin’ in a Whirlybird : 60. Christmas in Paradise : Mike Morgan Gene Autry and the Crawl 90. I’ll be Walkin’ the Floor This 61. Young Girls Drive Me Wild at Christmas : Ernest Tubb Christmas : Anson Funderburgh 91. Christmas Time Is Near : The Stanley 62. Last Month of the Year : Vera Hall Ward Brothers 63. Jingle Bells : The Maddox Brothers & 92. Here Comes Santa Claus Again : Buck Rose Owens 64. Breaking Up Christmas : Norman 93. I’m Trimming my Christmas Tree with Edmonds Teardrops : Ernest Tubb

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 5 DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch San Diego Nation San Diego Nation is an on-going series dedicated to spotlighting San Diego’s influence on the greater national and international music scenes.

devastating toll. She has also performed Where the Southwest Rosie Flores Sara Watkins Eve Selis Candy Kane with other British royals including Rosie Hamlin Meets Venus: San Diego’s Marianne Faithfull and members of Top Female Musicians Depeche Mode. And, her music has been featured in such films as Francis Ford “…send my love to Rosie, Coppola’s Dracula and Oliver Stone’s wherever she may be…” Natural Born Killers . In between these two extremes – the – John Lennon simple innocence of Rosie Hamlin and the haunting sound-shock of Diamanda by Raul Sandelin Galas – one finds the broad palette that is San Diego’s contribution to the female ith the above statement, John voice and touch in popular music. Diamanda Galas Kevyn Lettau Tristan Prettyman Jeannie Cheatham Jewel Lennon launches into his It is inevitable that many deserving concept of the singer-songwriter into the graduated from Oceanside High School, Born in cover of the Rosie and the W names will be left off any list. But, where 21st century. Utilizing Ani DiFranco as and her family ran a music store in the Germany, Originals’ hit “Angel Baby,” which was would the King of Pop be without San her starting point, Prettyman uses her North County for many years. She started Alaska, Texas, featured in a collection of songs released Diegan Jennifer Batten, who took her voice and guitar introspectively to survey playing professionally at the age of six, and other parts posthumously in 1986 as Menlove Ave . two-handed tapping technique out on the the landscape of Love in a fragile and oft- attracting the attention of such legends as far and wide, Lennon also once claimed “Angel Baby” road as Michael Jackson’s touring guitarist unloving world. Kane, of course, has been Chet Atkins, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, these singers to be one of his favorite songs. The song in the ’80s and ’90s? Then, there’s Jeannie a mainstay of the San Diego scene since and George Jones. While in her teens, she underscore the was written and released in 1960 by 15- Cheatham, musician and author, who, the 1980s. Developing out of the same toured nationally with her family in the idea of San year old San Diegan Rosie Hamlin, who with husband Jimmy kept traditional milieu that gave us the blues and alt- Mandrell Family Band while performing Diego as a stop had only recently made her stage debut at gospel, jazz, and blues alive for six country bands of that era, Kane’s career often in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las at the cross - El Cajon’s Bostonia Ballroom. Recorded in decades. grew along with her friends in the Vegas. Soon after turning 21, she moved roads. As new a San Marcos airplane hanger-cum-studio, Of course, there are those occasional Blasters, Los Lobos, and especially the to Nashville to devote herself completely influences the song was first played over the loud Barbara Mandrell times when a San Diego artist not only Paladins. (She was formerly married to to country music. Between 1969 and enter, these speaker at Kresge’s department store in makes it big but drags the entire local Paladin bassist Thomas Yearsley.) Yet, 1997, she released over 25 albums and women stop for San Diego before getting national airplay scene into the limelight with her. This whereas the scene waned here in the nearly 70 singles, seven of which went to a spell, then leave to pollinate somewhere and vaulting to #5 on the U.S. pop charts. happened in the mid-1990s when Jewel early-’90s, Kane’s career continued to #1 on the country charts. She continues else. This is not exclusive of this list. Just It’s probably safe to say that Lennon first Kilcher, also known as just plain Jewel, peak through to this day. For her efforts, to perform, often with the Mandrell look at bands like Crosby, Stills, and Nash heard the song over Radio Luxembourg, went multi-platinum with her debut she is mentioned in several published Sisters, and make public appearances. She or the Eagles. How many members actu - which he listened to diligently at a time album Pieces of You . As the album went books on the blues, including the Rolling has been awarded top female performer ally came from Southern California even when the BBC refused to play rock n’ roll. on to sell nearly 30 million units, fellow Stone Guide to Jazz and Blues . and vocalist several times by both the though both those groups are thought of It’s somewhat eerie to think that a voice San Diegan Steve Poltz was adorned with In addition, we have Kevyn Lettau and Academy of Country Music and the as cornerstones to the Southern recorded here in San Diego County accolades for his songwriting on the Barbara Mandrell. Jazz artist Kevyn Lettau People’s Choice Awards. She has also California sound? What really is surpris - reached out all the way to Liverpool to album. And, San Diego’s café and open moved to San Diego as a child with her been inducted into both the Country ing is how diverse the music is that touch the still-struggling, future Beatle. mic circuit found itself in the national father, the late German writer and UCSD Music Hall of Fame and the Country- comes from this list. From bubblegum to Certainly, the common bond of teenage spotlight as everybody rushed in to fill professor Reinhardt Lettau. (Lettau the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In addition, avant garde, from country to smooth jazz rock ‘n’ roll angst and heartbreak some - Jewel’s empty spot at Java Joe’s in Ocean elder was a good friend of New Left she has acted on TV and on stage. to gutsy blues, San Diego proves itself yet how bridged the 7,000-mile gap that sep - Beach. leader Herbert Marcuse, who was also again as a platform for everything the arated the two musicians. “Angel Baby” One area in which San Diego has long teaching at UCSD in the ’60s.) Lettau the world (and Venus) has to offer. also projected the innocence of San been known to shine is in roots music younger started singing in her teens with Diego. It was and still is as sweet as a ~ and Americana. Certainly, many of the a group of musicians around La Jolla and What is interesting about this list of Raul Sandelin also teaches writing and cul - Southern California prom or a summer guys, including the cow punks, have Del Mar, most notably with guitarist Peter San Diego’s female musicians is that so tural theory at Grossmont College and drive up old Highway 101. found national and international follow - Sprague in his late-’70s project: The Dance many of them have traveled extensive SDSU. Although “Angel Baby” was a one-hit ings by exploring, updating, and juicing of the Universe Orchestra . In the ’80s, she journeys before making it to our fair city. wonder, a one-hit wonder that continues up the sounds of yesteryear’s back roads. and Sprague formed Braziljazz as their to garner a cult following, Rosie Hamlin But, the women have done it too! Rosie love of Brazilian music grew. During this was able to enjoy a spirited career, shar - Flores, Eve Selis, and Nickel Creek’s Sara time, she was also a member of Sergio ing a stage with the likes of Big Mama Watkins are all examples of San Diego’s Mendes’ group and toured with him for Thornton, Chuck Berry, and Little never-ending journey into the bayous, eight years. In 1991, Lettau released her Richard. In fact, a revamped Rosie and hollers, and honkytonks of the American first solo album, simply titled Kevyn the Originals continues making music to dreamscape. Lettau . She has released 10 albums since this day. Of course, no list would be complete then and continues to tour. But, not every woman from San Diego without mentioning Tristan Prettyman Barbara Mandrell is probably the least sings like Rosie Hamlin or reinforces San and Candye Kane. Prettyman is the probable to be on a list of San Diego Diego’s balmy image. Avant-garde pianist youngest member of all the names men - musicians, since many would assume she and vocalist Diamanda Galas is another tioned here. The Torrey Pines graduate came from some red dirt road in the Deep favorite of British rock royalty, a favorite and Virgin recording artist has taken the South. But, the truth is that Mandrell of Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones to be exact. Galas, who was raised in San Diego, is known for her opera of the macabre. Sometimes she sounds like fel - low San Diegan Tom Waits although her five-octave range allows her to shriek her way into new orbits of terror; growl like a mangled animal; sample classical operetta; ponder melodies in Spanish, French, and her ancestral Greek; or belt out standard blues and jazz tunes. Galas began performing around San Diego and Los Angeles in the late 1970s. As visual as she was sonic, she performed both as a musician and in improvisational and theatrical settings. Soon afterward, she moved to London where she recorded her first album The Litanies of Satan in 1982. Since then, she has produced some 20 albums including Do You Take This Man? and A Sporting Life, with John Paul Jones, in the mid-’90s. Contrary to San Diego’s “politics lite” image, Galas has always been deeply involved in various causes, always cham - pioning the oppressed and forgotten, a theme that underpins much of her music. She has sung for the victims of govern - ment and ethnic oppression in Turkey, Greece, El Salvador, and Armenia. When her brother became HIV positive and ulti - mately died from AIDS, Galas became a crusader against the disease and recorded her album Plague Mass about the disease’s

6 www.facebook.com/sandiegotroubadour DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

by Steve Thorn Music! Music!” That song’s opening line served on a popular black t-shirt, available was “Put another nickel in//in the nick - for purchase at Nickelodeon. Oscar’s was he invention of polyvinyl chloride elodeon.” For further inspiration behind the created by San Diego native and restaurant has made a significant contribution to store’s name, the wandering soul needs to pioneer Robert Oscar Peterson. Pretty car Tthe quality of life. One of most easily visit the Left Bank. Rue de l’Odeon is a For These Record Store Owners hops greeted patrons at Peterson’s first recognizable and enjoyable forms of PVC Parisian street that is home to the famous drive-in, Topsy’s, in 1941. Topsy’s eventually came to forefront when the vinyl phono - Shakespeare and Company, an English lan - evolved into Oscar’s and post-World War II graph record was available to the public guage bookstore established by ex-pat Sylvia San Diego saw the expansion of Oscar’s all through assembly line manufacturing. Beach. “What we were going to do for a over Southern California. It became a teen Although the death knell for records was very short minute was, we were thinking hang out and a place for mom and dad to felt in the 1980s, the general public was about opening a bookstore,” said Platters Still Matter treat the kids if they behaved. Peterson, like allowed little say whether to save or scrap Scarborough. “ We thought about that very McDonald’s guru Ray Kroc, was a wizard at vinyl discs. In an almost overnight coup, briefly, because I was going to name it after time management and efficiency and created the major record store chains replaced the Sylvia Beach and the Rue de l’Odeon. But one of the first automated drive-ins (the 13 x 13" record album covers with the then we said, ‘No, [let’s make it] music.’ clown and the speaker) with Jack-in-the- smaller jewel cases containing compact And we started with a milk crate of records. Box. Jack and Oscar’s peacefully co-existed discs. Much printed space at the time was Then I got a business license. That’s what as part of Peterson’s Foodmaker devoted to articles extolling the “superiori - we started with, and we rented a place.” Incorporated empire, but by the end of the ty” of CDs. But in the real world, there were From the lone milk crate, the record pop - ’60s, the curtain was being drawn on the era many audiophiles reluctant to discard their ulation of the store grew with the wild of Oscar’s and the pretty car hops. The T- albums or the turntables on which the discs abandonment of fertile bunnies. Although shirts Bible and Scarborough sell feature a were played. Jazz fans held on to their treas - the record store has always been in Normal nighttime photograph of Oscar’s Pacific ured copy of Kind of Blue while the original Heights, its first location back in 1984 was Highway location. Gen Lai Sen, a popular progenitors of long-haired music – classical at 3916 Adams Avenue, next to a famous Chinese eatery across the street from San music aficionados – kept their Deutsche house constructed from rocks. A few years Diego City College, is the site of the old Grammophon discs in safe storage. later, Nickelodeon moved to its present Oscar’s at Park Boulevard and C Street. Vinyl records may have been on the location at 3335 Adams. In addition to Bible Although the double-decker burger has ropes, but the industry never delivered the and Scarborough’s stacks of wax, the walls been replaced by roast duck, the exterior of fatal TKO. Those record labels, which main - of Nickelodeon are filled with memorabilia, the restaurant retains much of Oscar’s archi - tained the philosophy of quality before prof - much of it linked to the adolescent time tectural design. it, released limited edition discs on 180- frames of the store’s two proprietors. Nickelodeon follows a fairly typical for - degree vinyl. The Beatles’ Anthology series Bible was born in Waukegan, Illinois, but Betsy Scarborough & Ruthie Bible, owners of Nickelodeon mat in the categorization of musical genres. was offered in both LP and CD formats, and her family’s reasons for relocating to San There are large sections devoted to rock, landmark Beach Boys albums Pet Sounds Diego were fairly typical for the times: her father were [musically] involved.” Growing of students were enrolled in a Betsy folk, jazz, and soundtracks. But it’s in the and Sunflower were reissued on quality dad was in the navy. She grew up in up during the golden age of doo-wop, Bible Scarborough class over the span of more quirkier selections where the vinyl junkie vinyl with the original album cover artwork. Southeast San Diego and attended Ocean said the first record she remembers buying than three decades, and many were able to will find discs that often seem to originate Records – and the people who love View (now Kennedy) Elementary School. was “Gee” by the Crows. I bought 45s all see the bigger picture through her instruc - from another time, and, in some instances, them – have a sanctuary in this city. Long- Bible was a student at Lincoln High when the time.” tion. “It was just a great experience,” said another galaxy. time San Diegans Ruthie Bible and Betsy was it a combined junior and senior high Scarborough also was born in the Lone Scarborough. “The nice thing about Morse The “Spoken Word” section features some Scarborough were smitten by the record col - school and graduated as a “Hornet” in 1958. Star State – in Corsicana, Texas, which she at the time was that most of the teachers – interesting discs. Most prominent among lecting craze in their youth. Twenty-six At 17, she was hired as a messenger for the described as having “the biggest oil field the good teachers – stayed. So, toward the the selection are the recordings of Welsh years ago they joined forces to open Union Title Company downtown. The busi - west of the Mississippi. It’s the home of end, I was teaching the children of my for - poet Dylan Thomas and poet-historian Carl Nickelodeon Records. The store’s title isn’t ness was noted for its collection of archival DeLuxe Fruit Cake, the only business in mer students. A lot of them had stayed in Sandburg. A “San Diego” section offers a named after the kid-friendly cable network photographs and the devoted efforts of town.” Scarborough’s grandmother was the the neighborhood, which of course was fun. potpourri of subject matter. You won’t find where famous adults occasionally get cov - Larry and Jane Booth, a couple that super - secretary to Texas Governor Beauford Jester. But you also had some leverage – all you the usual local suspects in this category – ered in green slime. It was partially derived vised the categorizing of the collection. In 1959, Betsy’s family also moved to had to do was pick up the phone and make Tom Waits and the Iron Butterfly records from the 1950 Teresa Brewer hit “Music! These priceless photographs eventually California for an industry that was just as a call.” Her English classes were doing more are found in other parts of the store. But found a permanent home at the San Diego well known as the San Diego’s Pacific Fleet. than diagramming sentences. “I still believe what is featured will cause the customer to Historical Society. “Sometimes, I’d go in and “All of the aerospace [contracts] moved out firmly that history and music and art and do a double take. The Sea World Water help them file negatives,” said Bible. Upper to California,” said Scarborough. “My father literature all go together, and that if people Fantasy is a record that celebrates a long- management at Union Title was impressed was an engineer for Rohr and Solar would quit separating them, you could get defunct attraction at the Mission Bay aquat - by the work ethic of the messenger. “Tony Turbines.” Scarborough attended Horace kids to understand that it all goes together. ic park. Perhaps the most interesting aspect Bachman, the president of Union Title, left Mann Junior High in East San Diego and When you look at an 18th century painting, of the album is the arranger on board mak - to take over La Jolla Federal, and I was one was a member of the “Colt” class of 1963 at you need to look at the history [of the time] ing a “splash”: Nelson Riddle, who was of the lucky ones that he took with him. I nearby Crawford High. She attended SDSU and how it all fits together.” Scarborough Frank Sinatra’s most important collaborator. was a corporate officer, so I came up from when it was a much smaller campus called retired from teaching in 2007. Dr. Michael Dean, a hypnotist who per - being a messenger to becoming a corporate San Diego State College, earning master’s While the walls of the store feature old formed before SRO audiences in local night - The “transgender” section at Nickelodeon officer until the time they merged. That’s degrees in English and education. During records from San Diego groups like the clubs during the ’60s and ’70s, found time when I quit and we started the store.” . her college years, Scarborough had what she Accents (“You Better Watch Out Boy”) and to make an album when he wasn’t putting Opening up a record store and surround - described as “a really nice gig” at the Lion Rosie and the Originals (“Angel Baby”), willing volunteers under a restful sleep. ing herself with melodies was a natural pro - Clothing Company, which was located in an there are other relics equally captivating: Another San Diego nightclub act of the gression for Bible. “ I had a very active impressive edifice at the corner of Sixth old sock-hop posters (“Marsha and the same era were Fred and Mickey Finn. They musical family. I am a singer – I was a Avenue and Broadway in downtown. “I was Esquires!”), high school football programs recorded several albums that captured the mezzo soprano, but now I sing torch a PBX [switchboard] operator and a model (“Now, there’s a lost art form,” Scarborough Dixieland atmosphere of their Hillcrest songs – I like the PAINFUL ones,” she said, there. It was a really fancy high-end store sighs), and photographs of drive-in diners. “Speakeasy, “ a venue that served as a rite of raising her eyes with a combination of dead - with a personal clothing line. It was in a San Diego’s closest drive-in to match the fic - passage center for anyone who turned 21 pan humor and mock despair. “ My mother beautiful building.” tional Arnold’s on “Happy Days” was during the ’60s. San Diego After Dark is a was a church organist at a Japanese church After college, Scarborough joined the Oscar’s. Fondly remembered for its “double- romantic “mood music” recording that for more than 30 years. I sang in church teaching profession, her most rewarding decker” burger and chocolate shakes (in a sported a cover of a smaller downtown sky - The store’s San Diego section and at weddings and my brothers and my assignment was at Morse High. Thousands glass, thank you!), Oscar’s has been pre - line. Country legend Smokey Rogers (whose enormous contribution to the West Coast

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www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

by Paul Hormick

disk jockey’s radio shows exclamation marks would predominate. They are the radio equiva - “I love being on the radio,” lent of folks who send emails in ALL CAPS. Then says Claudia Russell there are the ultra-low key DJs, the ones who as she steps into her studio. “It means that I get came to prominence in the 1970s, when FM sta - to spend time with music!” tions made the transition from playing Andy Monday through Friday Russell hosts the Williams and Montovani to playing album cuts KSDS afternoon radio show, “The Jazz Ride of Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Home.” For two hours, from four until six, she Their tone is subdued, knowing, and with a plays a mix of new jazz releases and old classic slight conspiratorial edge. Perhaps the best jazz, everything from Duke Ellington to example of this is San Diego’s own Art Good, Bonarama, from Sonny Rollins to the Bad Plus. who combined a raspy whisper and speaking Russell occupies a prime time for broadcast mostly in sentence fragments into the ultimate radio, when most San Diegans have finished a jacuzzi jazz persona. [I don’t believe anyone can full day of work, have picked up the kids, and forget the relish with which he would say his are driving back to the suburbs. That’s why she favorite word: bashia .] calls her program The Jazz Ride Home. The afternoon time slot sets the mood for the show’s playlist. She says, “I shoot for tunes that “Radio is an intimate are medium up-tempo. You know, you’ve put in a long day, you’re tired. Maybe you’ve had a experience. … So when rough time with your boss. But there is still a lot I’m on the air, I’m only remaining to the day, so you’re not quite ready to be mellow. I try to pick it up a bit with the talking to one person. selection that I play.” The first tune is usually from a well-known musician or band; it’s usually I’m talking to you.” up-tempo but not super fast. “I want the first tune to be something that would appeal to someone who has just tuned into the station for Russell fits none of these molds. She says, the first time, a high quality tune, but one that “I’ve never gone for that routine of being some - would still be accessible to a more general body else, that I needed to be a character when audience.” I’m on the radio.” Perhaps it’s her upbringing in She broadcasts from a three sided wedge of the Midwest, an area of the country known to a studio. One small wall is dominated by the produce folks with a straightforward common doorway, the other is carpeted, with office sensical approach to life, but she never seems to memos and a pronunciation guide pinned to the be harried, excited, or in any hurry. “Maybe if fibers, and the third holds the studio control there’s some emergency in which I’ve had to run panel, VU meters, and a microphone that looks down the hall, you’ll hear that I might be a little to be about the size of a coffee can. As she out of breath, but I will always be relaxed and at starts her show, Russell updates her Facebook ease.” She recognizes that most of her listeners page with a note about her program. She says are alone in their cars or settling in to cook din - that good number of fans follow her on ner for family, which for most people the radio is Facebook and appreciate the reminder to tune companionship. “Radio is an intimate experi - in. As the show progresses, she also updates ence,” she says. “So when I’m on the air, I’m only the section of the station’s website that chroni - talking to one person. I’m talking to you.” cles their playlist. If you can’t remember the The voice that comes across the radio is name of the musician or band that you heard informal, without being too casual or chummy, earlier in the day on KSDS, you can go to authoritative yet relaxed. Most certainly, it’s a jazz88.org and find out. There is also a pur - bit sexy, not as deep as Patricia Neal’s when chase link that lets you buy, right then and she said Klaatu barada nicto , but certainly in there on the internet, whatever song or tune the alto range. Russell grew up in South Bend, that you like. Indiana, north of a southern drawl, and west of For Russell, there isn’t a time when she is the Appalachian twang. You’d have to travel a not programming her afternoon show. When she fair distance north from her hometown to get wakes up or while she’s having breakfast she the Wisconsin/Minnesota accent that Garrison might think of a tune and consider whether it Keillor likes to poke fun at on his “Prairie Home might be a good pick for her show that day. She Companion” radio show. She naturally has that says that in radio less really is more, that, para - general American accent, the one that predomi - doxically, the shorter the radio show, the more nates in the midsection of the 48 states, which people like to hear coming out of their radios. Claudia with Jeannie Cheatham Claudia with Leon Redbone and Troubadour publisher effort it takes to program. With a show of only Liz Abbott For those of you who are not in the know two hours, she has to be very particular when it dedicated enough to find that certain spot in including the NAB Marconi Award. about KSDS, go find a radio and tune it into comes to pairing down the list of selections she the house for their radios or antennas that The studios for KSDS are on the campus of 88.3 on the FM dial. You will make a rare find: a plays. That being said, there are some days allowed for some sort of reception. In the car, City College, and the radio station is part of City full-time, commercial-free jazz radio station. when she does not have a specific playlist, but reception would drop in and out as you drove College’s Foundation, although the broadcast Some public radio stations feature jazz, but she does keep to a formula, usually two record - into a valley or around large buildings. The sta - antenna is up on the Mesa College campus. It only for a portion of the day or only for a por - ings per hour of singers and about a half dozen tion now broadcasts with 22,000 watts, ensur - started broadcasting in 1951 and is a non-profit tion of the week. Putting “jazz radio station” new recordings throughout her whole show. “I ing that good reception is available even in east organization supported by listener contribu - into Google will get you a lot of stations and also like to have really good classic tunes in and north county. The station actually reaches tions. Listeners are thus spared from the 15 min - programs, but a great number of them contain there, too. And a classic could be from 20 years the entire world now with streaming audio on its utes of ads every hour normally heard on a com - the word “smooth” in their titles, the musical ago or even 70 years ago,” she says. website. Although it has not been a powerhouse mercial station. code word for contemporary funk and pop Since the time that records and radio came station, KSDS has been recognized for its out - Besides her afternoon show, Russell also music that many jazz aficionados dismiss as not together about 100 years ago, there have been standing programming. In 1992 the station was serves as the program director for KSDS. It’s her really jazz at all. disc jockeys. Their on-air personalities can run a nominated for “Jazz Station of the Year” by the job to keep a cohesive format for the station, KSDS might be thought of as the little sta - full gamut of styles. There is the Alan Freed/ radio industry trade publication The Gavin determining what it will and will not broadcast. tion that could. Years ago it was more of a stu - Wolfman Jack school of radio personality, in Report. The following year the National When she started at the station in the spring of dent project than a station, churning out all of which the disc jockeys try to maintain an atmos - Association of Broadcasters (NAB) gave KSDS 2001, it was a student lab, an all-volunteer 800 watts – about as much electricity as that phere that is as exciting as possible. In other the honor of “Jazz Station of the Year.” Over the workforce that pretty much played anything used by a toaster or coffee maker – to deliver words, they YELL. In a transcript of one of these years the station has received other awards, they wanted any time they wanted. Under her music to the jazz lovers in San Diego who were 8 www.facebook.com/sandiegotroubadour DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

direction, Monday through Friday, six in the cal dipoles, from big band, world beat jazz, to television tuned into the urban funkified version morning until six in the evening, KSDS plays swing. A couple of the shows feature nothing of Dick Clark’s “Bandstand, Soul Train,” which straight ahead jazz. So what is straight ahead but blues. Being the program director for a sta - gave her the ability to appreciate just about any jazz? Even certain lifelong jazz fans have a hard tion with a premium on variety and freedom kind of music. time with that question. The term “straight could be a huge headache for Russell, but she Having catholic musical tastes is a badge of ahead” is one more of negation, defining what it says that her relationship with the other disk honor for Russell. She proudly proclaims that is not more than what it is. Straight ahead jazz is jockeys is based on a great deal of trust and not only does she still have her original copy of not fusion music with loud electric guitars or respect for their professionalism. Ted Nugent’s Double Live Gonzo , but she still loud electric anything for that matter, nor is it plays it from time to time. It’s almost a calling the free jazz from the iconoclasts of the fifties for her to open up new musical horizons for oth - and sixties, such as Ornette Coleman’s micro - ers. “If you came to my house, I would force you tonal work or the performances of John Coltrane “… this station needs to to listen to something that you’ve never heard in his later life when he made his saxophone before,” she says. And she shrugs off the criti - sound like Godzilla destroying Tokyo in the key be accessible to all … cism that she receives from the directors of of Bb. More than anything, jazz lovers will quick - We have Duke Ellington other jazz radio stations that, because of her ly tell you that straight ahead is not, in any way Claudia (center) with her twin siblings in South Bend, 1970 love of all types of music, she is not a “real” jazz shape or form, smooth jazz. Mention smooth and Miles Davis. But person. jazz to a jazz lover, and you’ve just ended the never been out of work,” Russell says about her Although she enjoys a lot of different music, conversation. Tell your conservative friends that there is so much else career in an industry in which long-term steady Russell is nonetheless a total jazz fan and likes you just enjoyed seeing the latest Michael employment is an anomaly. Radio stations rou - that she is involved in music that has devoted Moore movie. That’s the reaction you’ll get from out there” tinely fire, rehire, and then refire disc jockeys fans, die-hard committed jazz lovers who really a jazz lover when the topic of smooth jazz comes about as fast as Charlie Sheen goes in and out care about the music and who are knowledge - up. Straight ahead jazz might then be thought of of rehab. Within the first years of working in able about the minutia of the music, who are as the main body of jazz after World War II, nei - For Russell there was no grand career plan broadcasting it became apparent to Russell able to name all the sidemen or even the ther too experimental and extreme nor too that brought her to KSDS. She simply left herself that she had found her life’s work, that she recording engineers on recording dates. “People sweet, milquetoast, or designed for mass com - open to possibilities of life and career as they loved radio and wanted it as her lifelong career. will call and let us know if we’ve gone off the mercial appeal. came along. She says, “I was the operations In her first decade of working in broadcasting deep end or goofed,” she says. “As a member- As jazz has such a rich heritage, it would be manager at WVPE. This was northern Indiana. she held a number of positions, and she credits sponsored station, we are accountable to our easy, and possibly a safe programming move, to Somehow – I still don’t know how this wound up her ability to be flexible and taking on different listeners. We have a very interactive relationship only play old vinyl platters from the jazz halcyon in my email inbox – I got an email that there was challenges with keeping her out of the unem - with our listeners, and we want them to be days of the forties, fifties, and sixties. These an opening here at KSDS, so I applied.” ployment line. “I was always willing to do what engaged. We are really what public radio was classics are of course part of the music of KSDS, Although the director gig was fulfilling, Russell needed to be done. And no matter where I was intended to be. When people call in, they will but Russell believes that her station needs to felt that her career had taken her about as far as working, I always wanted to make sure that we let us know if they’re a member. We take that be more than a musical museum, that new music it could at that particular station. Additionally, were doing all that we could do, giving all that very seriously. and musicians need to be heard as well. “We the promise of living and working in sunny San we could give,” she says. “Above all this station tries to be authentic. have to keep in mind that this station needs to Diego had a particular appeal, as she received Russell has always been a music lover. The And more people would like us if they just gave be accessible to all, that we need to present a the email in the dead of winter when ice and youngest of seven children, most of her brothers us a chance. You don’t have to give up your rock full spectrum of jazz. We have a rich history, yes. snow blanketed the midwest landscape. and sisters played musical instruments, and she and roll. You can still listen to that and listen to We have Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. But Russell has light green eyes and wears herself sang in a number of choirs. Besides the us. There is no reason why you can’t listen to there is so much else out there,” she says. “We square framed glasses. She parts her brown, music that came from her siblings practicing and Lady Gaga and Dizzy Gillespie.” also have to keep in mind that we have a young shoulder length hair in the middle. Katherine performing, wide musical tastes abounded in Find Claudia Russell on Facebook: audience. They want to hear new things. And Hepburn might be a relative; Russell and the her household, where folk songs were sung and www.facebook.com/#!/jazzkitty our relationship with the community is constant - actress have the same nose. Her pantry sized classical recordings were played on the phono - Claudia Russell is handing over the wheel to ly evolving. It has to evolve. You can’t stay static office once served as a photographic darkroom, graph. Reminiscing about her childhood and student drivers on the “Jazz Ride Home” for the with anything dealing with radio. People grow and she jokes that remnants of developer and formative years, she waxes over cherished expe - next couple of weeks. She’ll be back at the out of the audience, people grow in. You have other noxious fluids still reside within the nooks riences: listening to a relative’s copy of Pink station on December 13. people moving here from other places. So the and crannies of her workspace. Perhaps to fend Floyd’s The Wall , spending afternoons with the audience is always changing.” It is also her off any residual darkness left over from the belief that KSDS, as a public radio station, has a times when Kodachrome images came to life mandate to educate and inform, that the station here, she has painted the room a bright yellow. should expose its listeners to music that might A few music or concert posters hang on the pass them by if they are tuned into another sta - walls. As though she consulted third graders for tion, or even if it’s another jazz station. advice on interior design, a handful of smiley Although its weekday format is straight faces, the kind that plastered this country in the ahead jazz, each disk jockey is allowed to play 1970s, beam from the walls here and there, and whatever he or she may choose within that little toy action figures pose in their action fig - framework. This is unusual in broadcasting. At ure way across the top of her desk’s hutch. almost every other station, jazz or otherwise, A touch of serendipity led Russell along her the disk jockeys simply make the announce - career path. She had not originally planned to ments between recordings, while each tune is go into radio. When she went off to college, she specifically chosen by the station program direc - started out as a psychology major, which did tor. For the time that lies outside the straight not last long. She quickly realized that she had ahead jazz format on KSDS – from six in the two ways to go if she were to stay in the field: evening until six in the morning and during the becoming a researcher, a scientist, which did weekend – the disk jockeys have more freedom not interest her, or working as a therapist, to choose formats besides the straight ahead, something for which she felt she did not have and they range widely within the jazz framework. the disposition. She dropped the psych courses KSDS has about 30 announcers, including and spent a couple of semesters as a journalism Troubadour columnist Jim McInnes, an army major. compared to a commercial station’s count of Taking a hiatus from college, she wound up about a half dozen, so there are almost as many waitressing at a restaurant in her hometown. differing programs. The jazz shows range all the During one of her shifts a vice principal from her way from the “Jazz Roots” show, which features high school spotted her and called her over to Lou Curtiss playing 78 rpm recordings of jug his table. He told her of a job opening at WROI, bands and other ensembles from the early days a station in nearby Rochester. The station need - of jazz, to a show called “Free Time,” in which ed an intern for their news director. Russell some of jazz’s most experimental and “out applied, got the gig, and has been in radio ever there” recordings are played. Other jockeys fea - since. “I was lucky to be offered jobs early on. ture just about everything between these musi - Also, I started radio in 1989, 1990, and I’ve www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’ Bluegrass CORNER by Sven-Erik Seaholm by Dwight Worden COVER UP wouldn’t come so close to jabbing me in STANDOUT WOMEN IN BLUEGRASS Likewise, we find female standouts on the eye. virtually every instrument. Sven-Erik Seaholm In keeping with this month’s theme of tepping from the evening’s dusk Fearing the wrath of 30-40 musically women in music, let’s take a look at some If you think that all the best guitar into the burnished entry of Casa de disappointed ruffians, I decide to open of the standout women in the bluegrass pickers are men, you haven’t listened to Oro’s Club 94, I pause for a with three of my strongest original songs, Nina Gerber rip it up with a flat pick – S so as to ensure a contented (if not all that “Dead skunk in the middle of the world, but both past and present. moment. Though the light outside is road!” I sang with all my heart, as if I’d Any discussion of Tony Rice take note. Have you heard slowly fading, it’s already shadowy and attentive) audience. This, of course, does not go well…at all. done it for years… women in bluegrass Alison Krauss or Laurie Lewis play the foreboding within these darkly paneled About halfway through my opening It certainly wouldn’t be the last time should start with the fiddle? Both are decorated champions walls. As my eyes adjust to the new sur - song (which should be noted was a ballad someone else’s song would be of consider - Carter Family and its and masters of the instrument. They can roundings, I recognize the lovely but in ¾ time) I began to perceive a broad able help to me. “Mother hold their own with anyone. hardened features of the woman who has matriarch sense of, oh…let’s call it unease. Add to it As artists, many of us are very protec - Maybelle” Carter. On banjo Kristin Scott Benson has recently invited me to perform here. tive of what we feel is unique to us; what “Hey, hon. Just set up over in that the thick, musky atmosphere born from a Mother Maybelle won “banjo player of the year” the last sets us apart from everyone else. Some two years running, and Sally Van Meter corner there,” she says distractedly as she combination of sweat, stale beer, and my and her Carter own insecurities (which were blooming (like myself for many years) try to avoid and Cindy Cashdollar can handle the pours a draught for one of the bar’s regu - Mother Maybelle Carter Family Act wrote ever larger with each passing nanosec - covers altogether, hoping to explore dobro with the best of them. If bass is lars. “This young man’s gonna play some and performed some ond), and the whole world whirled and fresher avenues as a result. your passion, I’m sure you’re aware that music here tonight for you boys.” of the very earliest “mountain” music, blended into a gradual crescendo of dis - It was in studying recording tech - Missy Raines has won bass player of the Trying to ignore the fact that her niques that I first found covers to be of which greatly influenced Bill Monroe, the announcement sounded suspiciously like trust, disgruntlement, and general dissat - man who later “invented” bluegrass in year more than any other bass player. isfaction. great assistance. Working on a song that an experiment with a prison’s activity ros - was not my own allowed me to free the 1940s. And, Sierra Hull is one of the young and It all went silent at the exact instant ter, I look to the spot her head has ges - myself of the fear and judgment that For those of upcoming stars displaying an uncanny the following words were bellowed in my tured toward and see a jukebox, a rack of would accompany the making of a per - you who mastery of the mandolin. So, the modern direction: pool cues that appear to be in various manent record of my original art. With think that Bill bluegrass world is truly open to female states of disrepair, and an orphaned black “PLAY ‘DEAD SKUNK IN THE MID - players and it is a great pleasure to see DLE OF THE ROAD!’” these out of the way, I could concentrate Monroe and vinyl bar stool with a rip across the top of more fully on the technical issues in a the other so many doing so well. it. What few expectations I had were now I froze like a novice burglar caught in Taking a look at the local scene, we the act. I knew of the Louden Wainright more objective and less pressured fashion. early blue - swiftly sinking to the floor, which was Some years later, I began a year-long are blessed with a number of local song to which he was referring, a catchy grass bands already strewn with crumpled napkins, residency at Bondi, a very popular bar standout female bluegrassers. Yvonne but forgettable novelty tune that was a that followed peanut shells, cigarette butts, and spilled and restaurant in the middle of “Vonnie” Tatar has been doing a great hit some years earlier, but I certainly did - the Carter Budweiser. However, I am all of 18 years Downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp District job holding down bass player duties and old and this is only the second time I’ve n’t know how to play it. But this guy was family were really, really big and he looked a little as part of an acoustic duo with my friend all male, singing with San Diego’s Virtual even been inside a bar. I’m not about to Jesse LaMonaca. The vibe was intense, the make any waves at my first gig ever. drunk and a little mad and… think again. Strangers, while Mary Birkett has done crowd was transitory, and expectations Sally Anne Forrester the same with Shirthouse Band and the I set up. This involves all of plugging “PLAY ‘DEAD SKUNK IN THE MID - Sally Anne DLE OF THE GODDAMNED ROAD!’” were high. Full Deck. Ramona Ault has done a great a microphone into a small amp for both Forrester was an important member of My mind raced as my thoughts spun Audience feedback: instantaneous. job as lead singer and guitar player for my voice and my acoustic guitar to share. the earliest of Bill Monroe’s “Bluegrass round my head like frenzied hornets. We immediately put ourselves on a San Diego’s Second Delivery and now for Eventually (after what seemed to be an Boy” bands. And, Hazel Dickens was a Suddenly they all stopped like wheels on grinding pace of learning two to four new Prairie Sky. Likewise, Rosie Selwitz is a eternity of feedback, apologies, and the songs a week. These included requests powerful force writing and performing words “check. 1…2…”), it looked as if I a slot machine: cherry…cherry…cherry. music generally associated with the key part of the bluegrass sound of the Just play it cool, Sven. collected from the previous gig and from was finally ready to perform for what was Bondi’s management. bluegrass genre in the early days. band Driftwood. “Oh hey, sorry man…I don’t do now a room full of leather clad and We began to notice that we were Another early woman of note in the Becky Green played outstanding bass requests, but I…” intimidating looking motorcycle enthusi - learning a lot more about songwriting bluegrass world was Louise Scruggs, in San Diego’s award-winning Down the His massive, tattooed hands twirled asts. structure and musical dynamics, and how recently deceased. Louise Scruggs was Road band, where she also did some I don’t recall being all that nervous, his pool cue around like Chuck Norris singing, and more recently she per - instructing an Aikido class as he took a certain recurring techniques were com - the longtime spouse of banjo pioneer Earl but I do remember thinking that if the mon amongst the most popular covers. Scruggs who was part of the seminal formed with 117º West and now with Old end of the pool table was just 18 inches menacing step towards me. Town Road. Paula Pearson was an “PLAY ‘DEAD SK… We were also able to really give our origi - bluegrass band Flatt and Scruggs. What farther away from me, the pool cue butts nal songs a tough and strenuous litmus important contributor to the vocal sound many do not know, however, is that test that allowed us to judge how strong a of the Bluegrass Ramblers, and Tanya Louise took care of all the business man - song really was. Rose has a golden voice that has graced agement and booking for the band. Plus, any time you’re playing, you’re Flatt and Scruggs is generally recog - many local bands. getting better at it. nized as the most influential bluegrass Janet Cover songs may seem like a diver - band of all time, reaching even greater Beazley, sion from the path of your songwriting heights of popularity than Bill Monroe, standout destiny, but as I’ve hopefully illustrated, and much of that success is attributable banjo player they are also excellent tutors, manikins to Louise Scruggs. Louise was inducted and teacher, and um…bodyguards. into the International Bluegrass Music has record - And yes, the next week I opened with Hall of Fame in 2010, thereby conferring ed her own ‘Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road’. solo CD and on her bluegrass’ highest honor. Sven-Erik Seaholm is an award-winning has been an In the early days of bluegrass women Janet Beazley independent record producer (kaspro.com) were often found playing the stand-up important and performing artist (www.svensongs.com) . bass and singing but were less common - part of the nationally recognized Chris He also provides private instruction for ly found playing the other instruments or Stuart and recording and songwriting: 619-287-1955. stepping out as lead instrumentalists. Backcountry band He will perform songs about deceased skunks only for the mean and/or generous. Beginning in the 1960s, concurrently with for many years. the rise of the women’s movement, the And, let’s not for - role of women in bluegrass blossomed get that Sara and expanded. Watkins (fiddle), Among the standout women pioneers of Nickel Creek of this era are Laurie Lewis who has led fame, is a San many bluegrass bands over the years Diegan as is and who has played lead fiddle, guitar, Alison Brown Alison Brown and bass while carrying lead vocal duties (banjo and guitar), as well. Laurie is still going strong with both of whom are her new band, Laurie Lewis and the Right have gone on to prominent national star - Hands. Lynn Morris has also been a very dom and acclaim on their instruments. influential woman bluegrass band leader Beyond these standouts (my apolo - fronting the Lynn Morris Band. Until a gies if I forgot someone) there are a stroke sidelined her about 10 years ago number of competent women jamming, she fronted her band on guitar and lead performing, and playing in a variety of vocals and was extremely popular. formats. Among this cast of females are As we a number of youngsters who, no doubt, move into will go on to be stars in their own right the mod - one day. Bluegrass has, and always will ern era have, a strong female presence con - we find tributing in positive ways to the music women and leaving us all better off for that pres - excelling ence. We salute all the women pioneers, in all and tip our hat in appreciation to the women currently engaged in producing Sara Watkins in the studio aspects of bluegrass and presenting bluegrass music at the music. Today, there are too many blue - national and local level. grass bands led by or featuring women to count, and there are a number of all female bands performing at top quality. 10 www.facebook.com/sandiegotroubadour DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Radio Daze Hosing Down Philosophy, Art, Culture, & Music by José Sinatra StAgeS WHEREFORE MY LADY’S MUSICK? Nothing – absolutely nothing in the world is as capable of making my senses so profoundly ecstatic as is the Right by Peter Bolland to the service of our humanity, not the Woman. Touch, taste, sight, smell, and other way around. With each change, the sound are gratefully enslaved as soon as THE BRIDGE GENERATION underlying constant remained – us. It is the remaining one, common sense, has the indomitable human spirit that springs he low sun of December casts a been tossed away to flail about in its own forth forever new from the dissolving long shadow. There’s more dark - usual state of delirium. Once it is barred forms of the past. ness than light. But the darkness from the equation, one can quickly adapt by Jim McInnes T And here we are ten years into the new holds a promise. Something is waiting to to the handicap; indeed, the other senses century, on the verge of the teenage years. be born. seem to sharpen instinctively. If women I believe we have a choice. I believe that 2010: The Year That I’ve been thinking about the twentieth aren’t magic, I’m Harry Houdini. each of us has the power within the pri - Was(n’t) and twenty first centuries, how we are the A visiting beauty, after stealing my Nut roasting: Open fire! Ho ho Hose. vacy of our own conscience, our own bridge generation between the two – born heart and promising to return some of it n this year’s January column I made 13 decisions, our own actions, to co-create in one, living and dying in the next, one when she comes back on January 5th, told cence. My lips still throb. predictions about the coming year. with those around us the world we hold foot in the old world, one foot in the new. me that the most obvious difference Troubling have been the songstresses I Now it’s time to revisit some of those in our visions. We know that our inten - It was only ten years ago that the great between San Diegans and cucumbers is of my alleged manhood, and shamefully predictions… tions have creative power. We know that twentieth century – the most violent cen - that cucumbers probably know how to use numerous as well. Concerning this latter The Chargers defeat New Orleans, 35-34, evolution isn’t over. We know that some - tury, the most inspiring century – came to their turn signals. That started me thinking group: is the fact that I would accept one in Super Bowl XLIV. Phillip Rivers is named thing is emerging, and we get to decide a close. A time of unprecedented brutality about women vis-à-vis popular music and night of playing doctor with any of them in MVP. what that is. and catastrophic environmental degrada - where they took the wrong turn. I fell into exchange for never being allowed to hear Well, I wasn’t too far off on this one. Evolution has been going on for a long tion, the twentieth century stands forever such deep concentration that, having suc - any of her songs again an indictment of New Orleans won the Super Bowl, but the time. It’s absurd to think it has stagnated as a cautionary tale about what can go cessfully seen Michelle off on her flight her artistic ability or my own candor? The Chargers lost their first playoff game. Can or that we have reached the end. If any - wrong when we put a narrow sense of back to Paris, I forgot to surprise her with answer, of course, is for me to know and you say Nate Kaeding? thing, we are in a period of accelerated tribe and short-term profits before the her fondest wish, which rested in an enve - each of them to find out. One at a time, I An El Niño will drop so much rain on change. This is not the final stage. As we needs of the earth and the human family. lope under her seat. It was an 8 x 10 guess, but I’m willing to entertain multiple Southern California, the San Diego river will continue to fall forward into the ever-new Yet the twentieth century was also a time glossy of Cher, personally autographed to suggestions. become an actual river. world, we carry with us the values and of hard-won gains in basic human rights, her. Yes, it’ll be at least as thrilling for her Inarguably, the greatest modern super - Unfortunately, the El Niño was more like convictions that serve our deepest sense a time when entire categories of people after New Year’s, but it’s a shame whenev - talent among women – the female Orson a La Niña, but we sure got a lot of rain, did - of the good. We let the old ways fall by began to emerge from centuries of er I’m forced to delay the release of even Welles, if you will – has been the superb n’t we? And there was flooding in Mission the wayside. We take what we need and oppression, a time when the sciences and the simplest of my heartfelt forgeries. Cheryl Ladd. Too often we are guilty of Beach, Mission Valley, and Fashion Valley! leave the rest. We buy less and give more. the humanities joined forces to envision Women can be hypnotic and disorienting, overlooking the musical evolution/revolu - The city of San Diego will end mandatory We move into smaller houses. We drive and manifest a world that works for but will never inspire patience in a man. tion she nearly pulled off some time ago water conservation and urge homeowners to smaller cars. We consume fewer everyone – in short, a time of awakening. Are men pushovers? Slaves to a pretty when she fronted the legendary Josie and water their lawns continuously and shower resources. We finally believe that there’s What will the twenty-first century face and voice? Or do we primarily fall for the Pussycats. The timing was just a tiny bit four times a day, seven or eight days a week. nothing more we really need, and that bring? We’re ten years in, and it’s still too the insight, the strength and meaning of a too early, when the public was a tiny bit It never happened, but we still haven’t our wants are often born from the wound soon to tell. If we’ve learned anything, it’s song’s expertly executed emotions? short of the wisdom needed to understand had to water our lawn in weeks! of spiritual dissatisfaction, and so we the complete unpredictability of the The answers are yes, yes, and you’ve the significance of Saturday morning car - The Children’s Pool in La Jolla will become learn to feed ourselves not at the mall but future. got to be kidding. toon series (or graphic alternative univers - a mecca for nude sunbathers. at the well that springs from the sacred Yet here, in the early morning of the Women figured all this out a long time es, as idiots are probably calling them The rope went back up, but there are source deep within us and all things. twenty-first century, I can’t shake the feel - ago and men refuse to accept it. Women now). The Pussycats offerings were thus many nude sunbathers there. They just hap - Maybe you’re discouraged. Maybe ing that we’re awakening from a long possess the greatest tangible power in the buried by the earth of indifference, to dry pen to be seals! you’re moved to despair by the endless dream, and in the gradual dawning of our universe: hell, they should have been run - up and become forgotten. Everything com - California will legalize marijuana posses - bad news streaming into our awareness. new awareness, we are re-imagining our ning this world for at least the last few ing after them could only unknowlingly sion for everyone 21 or older. Make sure you’re looking in a balanced core values and the social structures and thousand years. But something happened. draw nourishment from the warm freshness Oops! Missed it by a bong length! way at the information you use to reach institutions that emerge from those val - One moment, perhaps, their attentions of what the Pussycats were able to squeeze The Padres will amaze the baseball world your assessments. Yes, there is abundant ues. We are redefining success. We are were elsewhere while men stumbled upon out with such admirable regularlity. by winning the NL West with a 92-70 record, evidence of brutality and misery. But redefining peace. We are redefining pros - a way to fake strength and authority. The pervasive sexuality of so many of despite trading Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin there is also ample evidence that we live perity. We are learning how to let our Women are simply too kind to see all our our modern chanteuses , from Madonna to Kouzmanoff to the Red Sox for a handful of in a time of great transformation where vision lead and our practicality follow. We macho posturing for the pathetic b.s. it Britney, to L’il Kim and Shakira, is strange, magic beans. change-agents famous and obscure are know that a small group of people can really is. kinky, and often perilously close to per - I am proudest of this prophecy. The Pads working tirelessly around the world and change the course of history – we’ve seen But the idea to emulate a bunch of b.s. verse. Even though I would gladly volun - DID amaze the baseball world! They fin - making real progress. Find a place to lean it happen too many times to ignore. And wasn’t a terribly wise one. teer to personally and privately do any of ished 90-72, Bud Black was named National in and help us push away the debris of we know that no matter how dire the sit - I blame the American press for planting their laundry as my way of giving back, I League Manager of the Year, and only the old forms that no longer serve us. uation, no matter how dark the night, the bizarre seeds of the Musical Option in sometimes feel that they all just might be Kouzmanoff got traded…to Oakland. Make a decision: stay caught in the dis - there is within every human heart enough women with their original assessment of promulgating some sort of moral degener - A new neon-lit “Kensington” sign will go ease or be a part of the healing. light to illuminate the whole world. the Beatles as a bunch of zany musicians acy. In dreams I often see some of them all up over Adams Avenue, east of the 15 free - “Never doubt that a small group of We don’t trust government as much as who looked like chicks. trussed up and about to be burned at the way, only it will be misspelled, “Kengton,” thoughtful, committed people can change we used to. We know that we cannot wait In the hundred or so years since stake. The townsfolk have branded them because they want to keep the “sin” out of the world,” wrote Margaret Mead. for others to solve our problems. We Woman’s great awakening, the females witches and have demanded the penalty. the area. “Indeed, it is the only thing that ever know that within each of our homes, our have been systematically testing the Suddenly, I come charging in on my mas - I almost nailed this one, too. The new has.” families, our neighborhoods, and our waters of society’s many ponds. They sive steed just in time to start the fire, sign is up but there’s “sin” in Kensington! We won’t always agree about how to spiritual communities, it is we who lead, knew they could never totally conquer the thus saving them from themselves. I want I will buy a new pair of pants and, maybe change the world. But we share the con - it is we who set priorities, it is we who choppy waters of popular music, which only the best for them, but they must real - a pair of shoes (or not.) viction that it is our sacred duty to do so. articulate values, it is we who vote with tasted far too sweet to abandon. It’s been ize that their misadventures have the Thanks to Christmas, I won’t/didn’t have If not us, who? If not now, when? our dollars to support businesses that a joy to watch and listen to them splash power to turn some people (and I’m not to! We are the people born in a time of uphold our vision of the good. about for these many decades. Even if naming names) into slathering imbeciles Survivor: Tijuana! great pain and promise. We are the people It is our growing conviction that each they’ve created their own consequential whose impure thoughts don’t do no one no That may be just a little scary for the born in an age of unprecedented change. of us has wisdom within us, wisdom that share of pollution, I, for one, have always good, no way, no how. Do I hear an Amen? producers. I’d sure watch! We are the people who remember where emerges as insight, intuition, and com - welcomed any effort on their part to make Forgive me. I didn’t really mean some Finally, there was this one: we came from and hold a vision of where passionate action each time we are faced me feel dirty. If they might secretly seethe of that. By November, I’ll be as eloquent (and eru - we are going. We are the people who with injustice and needless suffering. It is over their inability to match the dudes in No, this isn’t so much about how dite) a writer as my idol, Jose Sinatra. know in our bones that it is possible to drawn out by our increasing awareness of the cumulative quality of their music, their women have taken a wrong turn with Nah, I don’t think that’ll ever happen. give birth to a world that is environmen - the tremendous need around the world. patience, talent, sense of adventure, and music as it is about how they have used There’s only room for one hose in this rag! tally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and We no longer think of ourselves as just the novelty of their genetalia will keep their considerable drive to continue to These are some of my predictions that socially just. We have been given all the Americans or just Mexicans or just them forever in the race. Within a greater drive men nuts. It’s a moderately sincere weren’t printed back in January: tools we need. We have each other. We Canadians, but as citizens of the world understanding of life, this single important appreciation of their musical exploits, even I knew Jerry Brown would be elected have trust, faith, hope, love and wisdom. proud of our local affiliations, but not deficiency is less than trivial, when bal - if the greatest chick record of all time governor because Meg Whitman slimed all We can span the distance between the bound by them. Old institutions are anced against men’s pathetic track record remains the Beatles’ Please Mr. Postman . her opponents. Calling Steve Poizner a for - world we imagine and the world we crumbling and new institutions are taking when it comes to giving birth. All true Still, I’ll never lose my worshipful affection mer Nazi death camp guard? Boo! behold. We are the connection between their place. New technologies are shatter - artists are destined to suffer for their most for several sets of gams yet unmentioned I predicted a Carnival cruise ship would what was and what will be. We are the ing barriers that used to keep us apart. exquisite gifts, and in this regard men among the estrogen-fueled greats: lose power off the coast of Mexico. bridge generation. We are no longer beholden to powerful remain comparative pussies. Michelle Phillips, Mama Cass, Sandy I knew for certain that the DSC show Peter Bolland is a professor at Southwestern information distribution systems however It was a girl’s voice – Darlene Shaw, Kate Bush, Whitney Houston, Rita would go to 100.7 JACK-FM. College where he teaches eastern and west - well-meaning they may have been. Just as Gillespie’s in Once Upon a Dream in Coolidge, both vowels in Abba, and yes, No one but I prophesied General ern philosophy, ethics, world religions, and in the twentieth century the train, then mythology. After work he is a poet, singer- 1959 – that did much to make me love the early Wayne Newton. Motors’ stunning comeback from the automobile, and then the airplane songwriter, author, and speaker. He also both music and women. Then Lesley Gore Merry Christmas, you sweet things. bankruptcy. closed great distances, today the internet leads an occasional satsang and knows his and Dusty Springfield crashed into my Mistress, play us out, if you please. A new And I knew that I would use my January (and whatever’s next) has destroyed the way around a kitchen. You can find him on heart’s boudoir a bit later, making me feel year awaits us all, and may the ladies rock article to write my December article. That very concept of distance itself. With each Facebook at: www.facebook.com/peterbol - for the first time in my life like a Real Boy. it well. way, I wouldn’t have to think. Next month, cataclysmic change much was lost, and land.page or write to him at Then two Marys – Travers and Hopkin – I’ll write my visions for 2011. Ooooh. [email protected]. much was gained. We have had to learn nursed me through my thirstly adoles - Happy holidays, my friends! to let go, over and over again. And we have struggled to adapt new technologies www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song

lenge was “Our Prayer.” We had the idea, but I thought, how are going to break down Wilson Phillips Bring Family these harmonies? Fortunately, my husband, Rob, is just brilliant. Of course, first we called my dad, but he was on tour. It took Gifts to Their New Album Rob like ten minutes. He went in and came back with a CD and said, ‘Here ya go.’ He did all the parts, all five broken down mim - by Terry Roland including the appealing opening original icking exactly the Beach Boys’ version. We contribution to our American Christmas went in to the studio and, you know, he had the conductor’s stick. … f Christmas is ultimately about giving cannon, “I Wish Everyday Was Christmas,” then it’s greatest gift may be found in with the much-expected, sweetly layered SDT: It sounds like his ear is similar to your dad’s for harmonic parts. the music of the season – especially in harmonies. But it’s the closing track, “Our I CW: Yes. He is so talented and he’s also a the music found within the family. In the Prayer,” that brings the family Christmas wonderful songwriter and musician. It case of Wilson Phillips and their new spirit into focus. Try this: sit down between showed a lot that Glen let him into his cir - two speakers, and listen. You’ll hear how release, Christmas in Harmony , this seems cle and believed in him enough to let him certainly true. While this new release, their their gift for vocal harmony was handed produce and engineer tracks on the album. down from father to daughter as the song first in six years as a group, is a holiday SDT: So did you play “Our Prayer” for your delight and one that shines like its own sil - melts away into your heart. It’s one minute dad? and 30 seconds of musical bliss. This is a ver musical ornament, the albums heart- CW: Oh my God. A few weeks ago, on a center is found on their interpretation of classic Beach Boys song that belongs on a Sunday, I played him the record. I have Carnie and Wendy’s legendary father, Brian Christmas collection and Wilson Philips never seen his face like that before. He was Wilson’s song recorded by the Beach Boys have done it justice. Wendy Wilson, Carnie Wilson, and Chynna Phillips so flipped. He listened to each interval. 44 years ago, “Our Prayer.” Recorded in Artistically, the past has been good to the With each section he was more flipped out. trio with a follow-up platinum selling 1992 He couldn’t believe we got those parts. He 1966 for Brian’s visionary, but lost master - and Sony Masterworks offered us a record we drew from those rock harmonies – the said, ‘It’s better than the Beach Boys.’ I said, piece (completed in 2004 by Brian minus release, Shadows and Light . Even though deal to do a Christmas album. It was too Eagles, Little River Band. ‘Dad, come on!’ Then, he asked me what the Beach Boys), Smile , “Our Prayer” was to they disbanded after this album to pursue good to be true. We could get Glen to do a SDT: How did you get started singing inspired him to write the song. He said it open the album with wordless layered har - solo projects, their reunion in 2004 yielded real fast recording and to get it out. My together? was inspired by Bach. I’m not kidding. First an excellent concept album of influential God, it’s my favorite of the Christmas music monies distinctly Beach Boys but a step CW: Wendy and I had been singing forever. I’m covering my dad and now Bach! I’ve done. I couldn’t wait to get the three of beyond anything they had ever recorded. past songs with California themes, includ - Our Mom taught us to sing harmony on us to together for it and figure out which SDT: How is your relationship with your dad? Really, in 1966, it was a step beyond any - ing Joni Mitchell’s “California,” John everything from Elton John to Streisand. We songs to record. Glen set the pace for the CW: Being his daughter is incredibly com - thing anyone in pop music had recorded at Phillips’ California Dreamin’, Brian Wilson’s started innocently getting together one day tone of the record. There are some great plex for me. You know, it’s not the kind of the time with a spiritual Bach influence. “In My Room”(with Brian included on to sing harmony on the floor. We taught songs on it. I had recorded the track “Warm father-daughter relationship you’d think a vocals) and even an acoustic version of the Chynna how to sing harmony. I’d get kids In my hour-long conversation with Carnie Lovin’ Christmas Time,” already. Then, we girl deserves. But, I’m so appreciative of the together to do Eagles songs. It was like we Wilson references to the “gift” given to her Eagle’s/Jack Tempchin song “Already Gone” did my father’s song, “Our Prayer,” which music he has given me. And he gave me all were always meant to be singing. At times it by her father came up. But, the gift she refers and Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.” was really special and important. It was that he could. And that’s enough. I’m so didn’t matter how or with whom. But, when to wasn’t easily found. Like many of the chil - 2004 also saw the release of Carnie’s A done really fast. Glen is the best – a magnif - proud of him. You know, he has this life the three of us started singing together as Mother’s Gift: Lullabies for My Children , icent producer and so tasteful. inside his head, that’s sometimes real and dren of legendary ’60s pop innovators, teens, it all came together. It was magic. We sometimes not so real. He struggles constant - Carnie, Wendy Wilson, and Chynna Phillips which served to enrich the artistic story of SDT: So you’re doing some Christmas shows then met Richard Perry and Glen Ballard ly with his demons. But, all of his family and grew up with the mixed blessings of famous father-daughter reconciliation. While there here in California behind the album? who taught us how to strengthen our song - friends understand that music is his outlet, parents. Pop icons like Brian Wilson and were favorite pop songs turned lullaby like CW: Yes. We’re doing a lot of Christmas writing. his love, his purpose. I’ve accepted that and I John Phillips are once-in-a-generation kinds “Wonderful World” and “Somewhere Over songs – it’s a Christmas show, but also we’ll SDT: Yes. You write your own material. Did can celebrate who he is. I mean, he’s not just be doing the hits and special favorite songs of talents. But, personally and professionally, the Rainbow,” it’s the gift of the Beach Boys that start at the same time? an artist who did a one-hit wonder. He actu - of ours. We’ve been doing about eight to ten in 1990,the girls sang their way out of the influence that sings with the soul of inno - CW: Yes. A song like “Hold On” became ally changed the music of his time and I’m so shows a year for the last three years … our shadows and images of the excess and some - cence alongside the irony of loss and like Chynna’s outpouring of her personal proud of him. And I’m proud that I can carry vocals are tighter than ever. My husband, times tragic lives of their parents (fathers). tragedy when she covers her two late uncle’s struggle. Wendy’s always been poetic. But, on anything he’s given me. And you know Rob, is playing with us and producing. We songs: Carl Wilson’s rarely heard, “Heaven” we met Glen who really encouraged us to he’s proud of me. He’s not the kind of man Growing up together, there was a certain have a great band. We do a lot of cover write … The first song we wrote, “Release who’s open with his feelings, but he does tell sensibility to Carnie, Wendy, and Chynna and Dennis Wilson’s classic “Forever” are songs, the hits and personal favorites. The Me,” was just heartbreaking honesty. It was me that today. We have a love now that we coming together musically. After all, they sweetly and lovingly rendered. And, perhaps audience has been really receptive. It shows like a raw nerve. We loved the track. We didn’t have for many years. He appreciates were children of the melodies and harmonies the song on this record that rings the truest the songs are still alive. did it with live instruments, some great what we do. And I still feel like a young girl found in their fathers’ music. And ultimately, is her duet with Brian on Billy Preston’s SDT: How has the touring and pop music players. It was a real collaborative effort. It who comes to him when we finish music and it was clear, they shared the gift of the music. classic “You Are So Beautiful.” changed since you first started? really came together and the best part was I want his approval. With their debut album, Wilson Phillips cre - So, it seems, as I’m listening to Wilson CW: Well, you know it’s been 20 years. This putting the vocals on down. When we came Wilson Phillips will perform in the ated a melodic and harmonic soundscape in Phillips new Christmas album, there is a is really a 20th anniversary reunion. It’s together for the Christmas album, we knew Dreamcatcher Lounge at Viejas on Thursday, natural quality of grace, peace, and reconcil - the over-produced, often overwrought music mind blowing. It’s a special year for us. I it was going to be magical. Wendy and I had December 18, 8pm, at 5000 Willows Road in of the late ’80s and early ’90s. With the help iation that has been found through both the feel like much of the record business has done “Hey Santa” and everyone really loved Alpine. Tickets are available at: viejas.front - of producers Richard Perry and Glen Ballard, music and the personal stories embodied in gone to shit. Artists don’t sell as many that album. For this one, the biggest chal - gatetickets.com/ they recorded two platinum selling albums, the lives of these three unique artists. And records as years before. It’s been hard and three #1 hits and extended the California as they raise their own young children and sad for the record companies. But music is forever. It will never go away. There will legacy of melody and harmony well into the bring them through this Christmas season, always be a way to buy the record. It may next century. it seems that the legacy will continue. not be on the radio, but the connection It’s been 20 years since they first record - San Diego Troubadour: tell me about the between the performer and the artists is ed. They are still well-remembered and new release? always there. You know, with computers, it’s regarded among fans and insiders in the Carnie Wilson: We never made a Christmas nice to have that accessibility. But, my head music industry. So much so that when Sony album as a group. We were thinking about is really stuck in the ’70s when I was grow - Masterworks called and offered a deal for a doing an album of original material, but to ing up. Right now, I could not tell you Wilson Philips Christmas album and the bring Glen Ballard on board, who is really who’s on the top 20 on the pop charts. But, chance arose to work with their much in- like our fourth member – and we love col - we still want to be in touch with what’s hap - laborating with him – we needed to wait a pening, we are still a group that is out there demand producer, Glen Ballard, they few months. I started the album at my and wants to produce today. jumped. The result is a gem of an album house with my husband [Rob Bonfiglio] SDT: Do you think a new album from you provides a kind of influence to what’s out there today? CW: I always kind of thought of us as a Carnie Wilson, Chynna Phillips, and Wendy Wilson in 1974 female Crosby, Stills and Nash. You know,

12 www.facebook.com/sandiegotroubadour DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Nickelodeon, continued from page 7. sound have been described by Lou Curtiss in this publication) is shown beaming on the cover of an album called The Complete Entertainer . Rogers was certainly that. True-life “Mad Men” of high profile advertising agencies in the ’50s and ’60s looked for every possible source to promote a client’s product. Why not deliver the mes - sage through a record? Bible and Scarborough have been able to collect many of these “pitch” albums and filed them in the “Advertising” section. Capitalizing on the “Mariachi Jazz” of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and the Baja Marimba Band, a Simeon Flick Michael Folding Mr. Shrewd Lucy popular Mexican fast food chain in California released Taco Bell Presents the Piquant Tijuana Taxi . No doubt, the “suits” spent Tiernan Lincoln An Outrage many a long night in a smoke-filled confer - ence room coming up with that idea. by Frank Kocher L.A. Can Wait Folding Mr. Lincoln by Frank Kocher Speaking of smoking (which they do a great deal of on “Mad Men”), there were On his 2006 release, Reactive Soul , Readers who are long-time fans of many album covers devoted to the act of San Diego’s Simeon Flick played all of by Frank Kocher Live rock music will fondly remember the nicotine inhaling. In the ’50s and ’60s, the instruments on music that varied flannel days of the Seattle sound. The smoking was associated with s-e-x, and the from heavy, ’70s-style guitar rock to Drawing on life experiences that by Mike Alvarez genre developed in the mid-’80s, and “Smoking” section of Nickelodeon’s record sophisticated R&B. Since then, he has include teenage cancer and a stint in the took off in 1991 as the commercial suc - Folding Mr. Lincoln has become one library is devoted to album photos of played live in acoustic and electric trios, Vatican seminary, Michael Tiernan has cess of high profile bands Nirvana and of San Diego’s leading purveyors of blonde, brunette, and redhead femme worked with an instrumental group been winning awards for his songwriting Pearl Jam led the way for others. The for - acoustic music. By fusing folk, country, fatales seductively lighting up. For tobacco (Followers), appeared on these pages and keeping very busy on the local mula was the same for most of the and rock they create an appealing enthusiasts seeking a more domesticated and elsewhere as a music journalist, and singer/songwriter scene. Since his 2007 music – a hard-rocking hybrid of serious Americana sound that is comfortingly setting, there is an album depicting smok - worked on his new disc, Piquant . On the solo release, Spaces , he has been lyrics and fuzzed guitars without pop familiar while also being original and ing in the family circle. Mom is shown hap - new one, like on Reactive Soul , multi- involved (with Sven-Erik Seaholm and hooks, funk, or metal hysterics, centered unique. Their debut CD Within My Reach pily puffing away as she prepares dinner instrumentalist Flick plays virtually all the Peter Bolland) in the side project Allied on a charismatic lead singer. gave them an opportunity to craft their and dad rewards himself with a drag after instruments on his 12 originals, and his Gardens, added two children to his fami - Flash forward nearly two decades, original songs into full-blown arrange - surviving another day in the rat powerful voice complements the imagi - ly, and lost his brother Joe to cancer. L.A. and Oceanside’s Shrewd Lucy is here ments. Fronted by husband and wife race.Whether it was a intimate setting for native songwriting for a surprising and Can Wait , his new disc, expands on the with their disc An Outrage , a dose of musicians Harry and Nancy Mestyanek, love or the depiction of a happy home life, soulful experience. acoustic guitar-based, folky sound of nineties nostalgia and rock adrenaline. the band lineup includes fiddler Alicia album covers showing people smoking Nearly everything in music sounds at Spaces with more filled-out, keyboard- Singer/songwriter/guitarist Collyn Previn, bassist David Ybarra, drummer Bill quickly vanished after the Surgeon General’s least a bit like something that has come dominated alternative rock. Pankratz penned the dozen songs, and Ray, and guitarist Charlie Loach. While 1965 warning put a damper on the party. before, and Flick and some of his songs Producer/engineer Andre de Santanna the overall sound blends a two-guitar the Mestyaneks frequently perform as an Another wall of the store has albums are no exception. As a vocalist, he is a has a connection with singer/songwriter attack that recalls, depending on the acoustic duo, it’s when the whole band depicting glamorous women who are not chameleon who can believably pull off Jason Mraz, and on some of the tracks track, the listener’s favorite old Seattle takes the stage that they fully conjure the smoking. But a closer look at one of the mod - anything from smooth Motown-style here it shows. band. Pankratz has just the voice to do magic of their studio release. This is pre - els shows the making of a five o’clock shad - soul tunes to a saucy falsetto, to straight- On the opener, “Write Me a Love this kind of thing, a ringer for cisely what was captured on disc when ow under all the Max Factor. Apparently, ahead Steve Winwood style R&B/rock. Song,” Tiernan is surrounded by a big Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell with a hint they performed at Old Time Music in there was a demand more than 50 years ago On this disc, the songs are strong buildup, Coldplay style, as he sings of Alice in Chains’ late Layne Staley’s North Park earlier this year. for recordings of drag queens. One of the enough to stand on their own, as Flick about his need for musical rescue from swagger. Their approach is straightforward and records has the title She’s a He and features – blends influences with his unique muse. alienation – “I hear the music play/And As for subject matter, Pankratz hasn’t direct. Harry utters a brief introduction for your dining and dancing pleasure – the “Rock the Boat” opens strongly, these four walls melt away.” His tenor strayed too far from 1991, either, at least before they launch into “Missing Her vocals of a Mr. (?) Lynn Carter. recalling some of the best of Winwood’s has the upper range and authority to fit on the opener, “Suicide in Disguise,” a Pretty Green Eyes,” an uptempo love In addition to foot traffic, Nickelodeon ‘80s hits – with no keyboards, as Flick well in many settings, like the autobio - nod to Nirvana that lacks the dynamics song that showcases all of their musical has long drawn customers from the inter - smartly conveys their sound with guitar graphical “Let Go.” To choppy blues- of some of the later tracks. “Take” stays trademarks. A sinuous fiddle melody net. Bible and Scarborough were early com - harmonics. Here, like in several of his rock and wah-wah guitar licks, he tells with the brood mood, but changes snakes its way over a solid backdrop of muters aboard the information highway. other songs, Flick has a message about about his days with the monks and his things up between pounding power- rhythm guitar, bass, drums and percus - “One of my students designed the website,” improving the world through change in changing philosophy since – and it works chord choruses and floating, guitar effect sion. Immaculate vocal harmonies per - Scarborough revealed. his lyrics. The stutter-step time signature fine. The title track is a fully realized bridges. Even better, “It Is What It Is” fectly counterpoint Harry’s warm and “You know, it’s not exciting, but it works of “Miracle for the Cynical” propels a opus, a reality check about his grand nails a haunting bass riff, adds acoustic unforced voice. Loach finds just the right for us,” said Bible. People see it, and they rocket-fueled Flick guitar solo. A high - ambitions and appreciation for what is guitar, then full band – dialing things place in the mix for some tasty electric call.” light is “High on You,” about how he here and now. The memorable harmony down overall for an ear-catching, musi - guitar licks. One of the real treats on the Nickelodeon occasionally engages in spir - “Don’t need no ecstasy/Cause that’s choruses float in on strings; this is one of cally different highlight. Social commen - album is an as-yet unrecorded song ited bidding wars on Ebay. Bible said, “I what I feel with you next to me,” and those “made for radio” tracks. tary is a critical ingredient of traditional called “Sunday Morning,” which brings found two San Diego records that had a similar references; it’s a catchy delight There are echoes of Mraz and Jack grunge, and Pankratz uses “Politician” to Nancy’s vocals to the forefront as she Logan Heights address [on the label]. No with great wordplay – and yes, the lyrics Johnson in “You With Me” and “Easy,” sing “Tell me what I want to hear/Make takes lead on a number of passages. one had ever heard [of these records]. Betsy are included in the artwork. both light, stripped down tunes with a me think I need to fear,” as lead guitarist Alternating solo spots by Loach and and I put them on Ebay, and a guy from Many talented guitarist-keyboard trop feel, and both are good songs. Derek Dossey takes a few bars for a slick Previn give them a chance to stretch Belgium paid $900 for the two. People players end up having studio drummers Recent father Tiernan has something to solo. “The Devil in Tow” shoots for an their musical legs. Nancy gets to spend wanted them, there were so many bids. One and percussionists sit in for such projects, say in “Father and Child” to his new “unplugged” groove, but falls short of more time fronting the band as she sings of the records was in terrible shape, so we but not Flick, and the result doesn’t suf - baby. The emotions are genuine, the tune “What It Is,” though the introspective, lead on “The Cuckoo,” a bluegrass song said we’d take $900 for the two.” Bible and fer – his drumming is fine. His bass play - catchy as he sings about the world being dirge-like words are helped by harmonies that has been “Linkun-ized,” as Harry Scarborough researched the records and ing is also rock solid, and his few guitar crazy, but promising to be there. “Small and a good arrangement. humorously declares. He plucks a man - found no information; they were never able solos possess neo-Hendrix fluidity. Not Things” is a soft love song that overuses Shrewd Lucy has released two previ - dolin during this tune, giving it an to ascertain why the records were consid - bad, all together. strings and lacks a hook. ous discs, both actually solo projects by appropriately rustic atmosphere. The ered valuable by collectors. But the bidders Flick is in peak vocal form on the Not all of the songs have ringing reso - Pankratz. The new lineup also includes band puts its formidable skills to good knew what they were looking for, and smooth soul of “Wild Is the Heart,” a nance of the title track or the warmth of Jason Kowalskie on bass and Steve Wilkes use as they alternate between tight Scarborough called the online auction swift and memorable love song that has “Father and Child.” “Dying Tree” is a on drums. ensemble playing and impressive instru - “pretty exciting.” a classic R&B feel. At three minutes, it is breakup ballad that uses an overly busy The rather typical soft verse/power mental solos. The owners have no idea when they will over too soon. “Druthers” seems a nod arrangement and metaphor-loaded lyrics chorus structure of most of the material This is an superbly recorded and be closing the door and turning the key at to Stevie Wonder and pulls in perhaps without the impact of other tracks. On here comes through on “It Goes Without mixed live album, with every player and Nickelodeon for the last time. They love the one chord change too many from an old “Here,” Tiernan goes for “meaning of Saying,” as acoustic guitar and vocals vocalist placed perfectly in the audio location, and have no goal of expanding into Huey Lewis song, “If This Is It.” For “I life” words about the makeup of the uni - shift into crescendos with everything in spectrum. Each part can be heard dis - the world of collectible eight-track tapes, Got Love,” Flick hits the bulleye again, verse with a romantic twist, but the the studio thrown in; this tune actually tinctly as it interacts comfortably with cassettes, or compact discs. Just what is it singing “I got love no doubt about melody isn’t very strong. uses harmonies, guitar feedback, and the rest of the mix. The songs convey about records that’s so much fun? “Well, for it/And I need a mountain from which to “Strong” is an arresting first-person drum accents to pull off a catchy sur - their own distinctive feel and are one thing, with vinyl you can judge the con - shout it”; the beat and rhythm guitar account of a terminal cancer patient, prise. “Poor Mr. Fall Down King” has the sequenced to create an emotional arc dition of the album cover and you can look drive the message right to listener the inspired by his late brother’s battle with opening lick from 10 other hard rockers, that runs the gamut from exuberance to at the condition of the vinyl,” said way the old Stax records did. “Little By the disease. The gut-wrenching initial then gets down to business with the best melancholy, with just the right amount Scarborough. “Tapes or CDs? I was never Little” is listed as a bonus track, and the news, impact on relatives, quest for inner of the riff-rock tunes on the disc as of whimsy where needed. As the album really into CDs. They’re just not exciting. arrangement is different and winning –a strength, and moment of passing are all Dossey pours on fluid lines and backing approaches its conclusion, the band They’re not sexy like vinyl is.” piano, 12-string, and finally strings join laid out in stark lyrical clarity, a brave vocals give the chorus added depth. By tones down the mood with its wistful “If there’s something I haven’t seen after Flick on a ballad that shows another statement about a topic rarely written of the last few bars of “The End” and its “Trucker Medley” before ending on a tri - 26 years, I want it,” Bible adds. “And if dimension of a talented singer. Good call in song. lyrics about “Sell yourself to death,” the umphant note with a high-energy per - somebody’s on the front cover, and I have to put it on the disc. L.A. Can Wait clearly shows why listener may feel a touch of relief at the formance of their original song “On never seen them and they have an especially Piquant is a disc that, if the listener Michael Tiernan has collected accolades letup of the angst. Wings.” Folding Mr. Lincoln is truly one funny-looking nose or something, I want it. didn’t know that one guy played just for his songwriting. His lyrics paint touch - An Outrage rocks hard and is clearly of San Diego’s premiere original music My mother was a quilter, and I feel like these about every instrument, they never ing portraits of life and relationships, and the work of a band committed to a cer - acts. They have a strong set of original records are like my material blocks. I’m real - would guess; it is too expertly performed his melodies are engaging. This new disc tain sound and audience. Shrewd Lucy’s songs, the interpretive power to put their ly into it and I get passionate about it. It just and recorded. Simeon Flick is a great essentially frames him as the centerpiece music isn’t light, or quiet, and requires own stamp on an impeccably chosen set depicts so many times in our lives.” singer, and his songwriting is at a high of an adult-alternative rock outfit more listening and involvement, but for fans of enough level to match it. than his past persona as an acoustic/folk of covers, and the musical chops to fully straight-ahead rock and the Seattle performer, and it is rousing and enjoy - realize them on the concert stage. Theirs sound in particular, it’s quite enjoyable. able. is a sound that will appeal to a wide vari - ety of listeners. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

Chase Morrin , The Book Works, Flower Hill DECEMBER CALENDAR Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. WEEKLY Zzymzzy Quartet , Claire de Lune, 2906 University Ave., 8:30pm. Freddy Francine/Nena Anderson , Lestat’s, 3343 Open Mic , Bad Ass Coffee, 9878 Carmel The Bad Plus , Anthology, 1337 India St., Adams Ave., 9pm. every Mountain Rd., 7pm. wednesday • 1 7:30pm. sunday Greyboy Allstars w/ Fitz & the Tantrums , Belly Joe Marillo , The Brickyard, 675 W. G St., Burnett’s Bliss , Cafe LaMaze, 1441 Highland Christopher Dean , California Center for the Dave Scott Jazz Ensemble , Humphrey’s Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. 9:30am. Ave., National City, 7pm. Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 4&7pm. Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Stoney B Blues Band , Pal Joey’s, 5147 Waring Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, Scandinavian Dance Class , Folk Dance Center, Joe Rathburn CD Release for Little Suns Rd., 9pm. DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Dancing Unlimited, 4569 30th St., 7:30pm. Demos , Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego A Night of Belly Dancers & Music , Lestat’s, Open Mic , Skybox Bar & Grill, 4809 Rd., Mission Valley, 7pm. 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Zzymzzy Quartet , OB People’s Food Co-op, 4765 Voltaire St., Ocean Beach, 11am. Clairemont Dr., 8:30pm. Billy Thompson CD Release , Anthology, 1337 saturday • 18 New Latin Jazz Quartet Jam Session w/ India St., 7:30pm. Bluegrass Brunch , Urban Solace, 3823 30th St., 10:30am. Gilbert Castellanos , El Camino, 2400 India St., Irish Christmas in America , AMSD Concerts, thursday • 9 Robin Henkel & Troy Sandow , Birdrock Coffee 9pm. Roasters, 5627 La Jolla Blvd., 10am. Daniel Jackson , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 11am. 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Cowboy Jack , John’s Neighborhood Bar & Stoney B Blues Band , Hennessey’s, 710 4th Clara C CD Release , The Loft, Price Center Grill, 1280 E. Vista Way, Vista, 7pm. Roxy Monoxide , Humphrey’s Backstage International Ethnic Folk Dancing , Balboa Ave., 9pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 5pm. Park Club Bldg., 12:30-4:30pm. East, UCSD Campus, La Jolla, 8pm. Zsuzsanna/Joe Gil/Keith Tutt , Lestat’s, 3343 Chi McLean , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Sara Petite , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy Open Blues Jam w/ Chet & the Committee , 78, Julian, 6pm. Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main St., El Cajon, every thursday Chris Duarte , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2:30pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 9:30pm. Jaime Valle Jazz Quartet , Harry’s Bar, 4370 La Baba’s Jam Night , The Lodge, 444 Country friday • 10 Jolla Village Dr., 6pm. Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., 4pm. Club Lane, Oceanside, 5pm. Lenny Morris , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La Elliott Lawrence , Avenue 5 Restaurant, 2760 Happy Hour Jam , Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., thursday • 2 Glenn & Jennifer Smith , Wynola Pizza Express, Mesa Blvd., 7pm. 5th Ave., 5:30pm. 5:30pm. 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Stoney B Blues Band/Tom Baird & David Jazz88 Sunday Night Jam , Spaghetteria, 1953 Joe Rathburn w/ Roger Friend , Blue Flame Peter Sprague , Roxy Restaurant, 517 S. Coast A Jazz Story w/ Patrizia, the Sultry Lady of Silva/the Pushpins , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper India St., 6pm. Lounge, La Costa Resort, 2100 Costa Del Mar Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7pm. Jazz , Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Rey St., 7:30pm. St., 7pm. Traditional Irish Session , The Field, 544 5th Rd., Carlsbad, 6pm. Lanee Battle CD Release , Humphrey’s Paul Seaforth & Mo’ Sax , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Feeding the Soul Benefit w/ Bushwalla/Dawn Ave., 7pm. Chet & the Committee Open Blues Jam , Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Mitschele/Alex Woodard/Raining Jane/ Downtown Cafe, 182 E. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. 7pm. Open Mic , Cafe Libertalia, 3834 5th Ave., Billy Watson , The Book Works, Flower Hill Gregory Page/Luc & the Lovingtons , 7:30pm. Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Friendly Grounds, Stoney B Blues Band , South Park Abbey, 1946 Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. Neurosciences Institute, 10640 Hopkins Dr., 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee, 6:30pm. Fern St., 8pm. San Diego, 7pm. Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Aaron Bown/Carl Durant/Esjay/Ian McFeron & (88.3 FM). Janice Edwards & Tommy Gannon , Park Sara Sample CD Release , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Alisa Milner , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Charles Johnson , Vine Theatre @ Bernardo Manor Suites, 525 Spruce St., 6:30pm. Ave., 9pm. Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Verano N., 7pm. José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 9:30pm. Sandy Chappel Quartet , Cafe LaMaze, 1441 Gregory Page/Berkley Hart/Veronica May/Lisa David Arkenstone & Friends , AMSD Concerts, Highland Ave., National City, 7pm. Sanders/Carlos Olmeda/Kelsea Rae Little , saturday • 11 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , Java Joe’s @ the Ideal Hotel, 546 3rd Ave., 10pm-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Elliott Lawrence , Avenue 5 Restaurant, 2760 Robin Henkel , Zel’s, 1247 Camino Del Mar, Del 5th Ave., 7pm. 9pm. Jim Earp & Nathan Welden , Cosmos Coffee Mar, 8pm. Cafe, 8278 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Mountain Dulcimer Jam (2nd & 4th Wayne Shorter Tribute w/ Jason Robinson/ every monday Thursday), Old Time Music, 2852 University Joe Rathburn , Old California Cafe, 1080 W. San Gilbert Castellanos/Joshua White/Rob Ave., 7pm. friday • 3 Marcos Blvd., 7pm. Thorsen/Brett Sanders , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Ukulele Jam , Old Time Music, 2852 University Mundell Lowe/Jaime Valle/Bob Boss , Dizzy’s Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Ave., 6:30pm. Old Tyme Fiddlers Jam (1st & 3rd Thursday), Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind , Rancho Santa El Cajon Music Masters , Central Old Time Music, 2852 University Ave., 7pm. Fe Library, 17040 Avenida De Acacias, 3pm. @ SD Wine & Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Dr., Wilson Phillips , Dreamcatcher Lounge, Viejas, 8pm. 5000 Willows Dr., Alpine, 8pm. Congregational Church, 8360 Lemon Ave., La Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star Hip Replacements , Humphrey’s Backstage Mesa, 7pm. Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 5pm. Robin Henkel , Zel’s, 1247 Camino Del Mar, Del Allison Lonsdale (6-8pm)/Isaac Cheong , Mar, 8pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. International Ethnic Folk Dancing (interme - Joseph Angelastro Trio , E St. Cafe, 128 W. E Jake’s Mountain , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 diate & advanced) , Balboa Park Club & War St., Encinitas, 7:30pm. Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Gregory Page , Rock Valley House Concert, Three Chord Justice , Rosie O’Grady’s, 3402 Memorial Bldg., 7:30pm. University City, 8pm. 858.452.1539 Adams Ave., 9pm. Traditional Irish Session , Thornton’s Irish The Smart Brothers , Museum of Making Music, Josh Damigo , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Open Mic , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 7:30pm. Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, 8pm. 5790 Armada Dr., Carlsbad, 7pm. Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s, 3015 George Svoboda , The Book Works, Flower Hill Three Chord Justice/The Evangenitals , sunday • 19 Juniper St., 8pm. Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. Gallagher’s, 5046 Newport Ave., 9pm. every tuesday Christmas in Ireland , California Center for the BadBlokes , Boar’s Cross w/ traditional Irish Lou Fanucchi , Paesano, 3647 30th St., 5:30pm. every Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 8pm. sunday • 12 breakfast, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad, 10am. Open Mic , Joey’s Smokin’ BBQ & Doc’s friday The Gregory Page Show , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Bayou Brothers Zydeco Matinee , Belly Up, 143 Saloon, 6955 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, 7pm. Open Mic , Lion Coffee, 101 Market St., 6pm. Ave., 9pm. Cowboy Jack , La Jolla Open Aire Market, 7300 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 2:15pm. Traditional Irish Session , The Ould Sod, 3373 Bruce Cameron & Full House , Turquoise Kim Wilson’s Blues All-Stars , Humphrey’s Girard Ave., La Jolla, 10am. Bushwalla & Friends Christmas Pageant , Adams Ave., 7pm. Cafe, 873 Turquoise St., 6:30pm. Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., S.D. Folk Song Society , Old Time Music, 2852 Mueller College, 4607 Park Blvd., 8pm. Call Open Mic , Beach Club Grille, 710 Seacoast Joe Mendoza , Uncle Duke’s Beach Cafe, 107 9:30pm. University Ave., 2pm. 619.507.7223 as space is limited. Dr., Imperial Beach, 7pm. Diana St., Leucadia, 6pm. Palomar College Jazz Ensemble w/ Gilbert Robin Henkel Band w/ Horns! , Lestat’s, 3343 Open Mic , E Street Cafe, 125 W. E St., Joe Marillo Trio , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., Castellanos , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Adams Ave., 9pm. Encinitas, 6pm. 7pm. (1st three Fridays of the month) saturday • 4 Center, 200 Harbor Dr., 4pm. Chet & the Committee All Pro Blues Jam , Elliott Lawrence , Shooters, Sheraton Hotel Paragon Jazz Band w/ Fran Hartshorn , World Music Festival w/ Sharon Hazel monday • 20 The Harp, 4935 Newport Ave., 7:30pm. La Jolla, Holiday Court Dr., 7pm. Coronado Library, 640 Orange Ave., 3pm. Township/Rob Deez/Jaylen Green/Dropjoy/Gill Open Mic , Second Wind, 8515 Navajo Rd., 8pm. Open Mic , Bella Roma Restaurant, 6830 La Sotu/Roxy Blue & the Handful/Sister Speak , Jolla Blvd. #103, 8pm. Cowboy Jack & the North County Cowboys , Claire de Lune, 2906 University Ave., Chet Cannon’s Blue Monday Pro Jam , Open Mic , The Royal Dive, 2949 San Luis Rey Hennessey’s, 224 Main St., Vista, 3pm. 6pm.Beyond the Pale hill , Wynola Pizza Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Rd., Oceanside, 8pm. Open Mic , L’Amour de Yogurt, 9975 Carmel Rock & Socks Benefit for Homeless Veterans Express, 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Island Dr., 7pm. Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo , Prado Mountain Rd., 8pm. w/ Sara Petite/the Farmers/Beyond Blue , The Jaime Valle & Rob Thorsen , Paper Moon Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. Open Mic , Egyptian Tea Room & Smoking Ould Sod, 3373 Adams Ave., 5pm. Music, 4051 Voltaire St., 7pm. Zapf Dingbats (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) El Dorado Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Folding Mr. Lincoln , Wynola Pizza Express, Raul Malo w/ Seth Walker , Anthology, 1337 tuesday • 21 Cocktail Lounge, 1030 Broadway, 8:30pm. 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. India St., 7:30pm. Adrienne Nims & Raggle Taggle , San Diego Open Mic , Portugalia, 4839 Newport Ave., 9pm. every saturday Robin Henkel & Allen Singer w/ Baja Blues Joey Ryan/Kenneth Pattengale/Sweet Talk Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Stoney B Blues Band , Hennessey’s, 710 4th Boys , Templar’s Hall, Old Poway Park, 14134 Radio , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Encinitas, 6pm. Ave., 9pm. Joe Marillo , The Brickyard, 675 W. G St., Midland Rd., Poway, 7pm. 9:30am. Stoney B Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Poway Folk Circle w/ Alan James , Templar’s Peter Sprague & Friends , Pacific Beach Surf 9pm. Hall, Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd., Elliott Lawrence , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., Shop, 4150 Mission Blvd. #161, 8pm. Poway, 6:30pm. every wednesday 11:30am. Charles McPherson Quintet , Dizzy’s @ SD Skelpin , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Lou Fanucchi , Romesco Restaurant, 4346 Open Mic (last Saturday of the month), Valley Wine & Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. monday • 13 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Bonita Rd., 6pm. Music, 1611 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon, 6pm. Frank Giampaolo/Lovers Drugs/Tony Scalzo , Joe Rathburn’s Folkey Monkey , Milano Gregory Page , Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Poway Bluegrass Jam , Templar’s Hall, Old Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Ave., 8pm. Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd., 6:30pm. wednesday • 22 Jerry Gontang , Desi & Friends, 2734 Lytton Robin Henkel Band w/ Horns! , Humphrey’s St., 7pm. sunday • 5 Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s Jazz Bar, 802 5th 7pm. Ave., 7:30pm. Harry & Nancy Mestyanek , Rebecca’s, 3015 Hiroshima , Anthology, 1337 India St., Soul Persuaders , Humphrey’s Backstage Juniper St., 10am. 7:30&9:30pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Dave Mason , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Golden Bough , Frogstop House Concert, San Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., A.J. Croce , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Jesse Davis , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, friday • 31 Marcos, 3pm. 760.295.0222/ 9pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. [email protected] Candye Kane , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Wrong Trousers Reunion Show , Lestat’s, 3343 Beach, 5:30pm. Tango Nuevo CD Release w/ Lou Fanucchi/ thursday • 23 Adams Ave., 9pm. Beth Ross-Buckley/David Buckley/Fred tuesday • 14 Joseph Angelastro , The Book Works, Flower Benedetti , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Adrienne Nims & Raggle Taggle , San Diego B-Side Players w/ Arise , Belly Up, 143 S. Hill Mall, Del Mar, 8pm. Center, 200 Harbor Dr., 5pm. Lou & Virginia Curtiss Song Circle , 1725 Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , Tommy Dahill , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy Granite Hills Dr., El Cajon, 6pm. Encinitas, 6pm. Stone Brewry, 1999 Citricado Blvd., Escondido, 78, Julian, 6pm. Concrete Blonde w/ Ravens Moreland , Belly Bill Magee , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 8pm. Craig of Suede/The Lumineers/Lee Coulter , Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 7pm. 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Tripp Sprague Jazz Quartet w/ Jaime Valle , Scott West , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Stoney B Blues Band , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Croce’s Jazz Bar, 802 5th Ave., 7:30pm. Cash’d Out w/ River City/Hell on Hells 9pm. Sue Palmer & the Blue Four/Jonny Viau/Allen Burlesque , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Ortiz , Saville Theatre, San Diego City College, C Beach, 9pm. & 13th St., 8pm. monday • 6 Folding Mr. Lincoln , House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 10pm. sunday • 26 Carlos Olmeda , Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton St., 6:30pm. Beyond the Pale , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Chet Cannon’s Blue Monday Pro Jam , wednesday • 15 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Danny Weller/Joshua White/Jeff Miles/Jason Island Dr., 7pm. Adrienne Nims & Raggle Taggle , Rancho Robinson/Duncan Moore , Dizzy’s @ Culy Jazz Project Big Band , Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Bernardo Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Dr., Warehouse, 338 7th Ave., 7pm. Rey St., 8pm. 6:30pm. Folding Mr. Lincoln/The Comforters , Lestat’s, Joe Rathburn & Berkley Hart , Milano Coffee 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Rd., Mission Valley, tuesday • 7 7pm. Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks w/ Jim Kweskin & monday • 27 Cowboy Jack , Robbie’s Roadhouse, 530 N. Geoff Muldaur , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 6:30pm. Beach, 8pm. Michele Lundeen , Humphrey’s Backstage Mesa College Big Band , Dizzy’s @ Culy Ari Herstand/Grant Lee Phillips , Lestat’s, 3343 Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Warehouse, 338 7th Ave., 7pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., Songwriters Showcase Competition , 9pm. Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. thursday • 16 Acoustic Jam , Fallbrook Community Center, 341 tuesday • 28 Heald Lane, 7pm. Los Fabulocos w/ Kid Ramos , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Tripp Sprague Jazz Quartet w/ Jaime Valle , Lou & Virginia Curtiss Song Circle , 1725 Croce’s Jazz Bar, 802 5th Ave., 7:30pm. Stoney B Blues Band , South Park Abbey, 1946 Granite Hills Dr., El Cajon, 6pm. Fern St., 8pm. Bumbershoot Band , Voodoo Stage, House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., 8pm. Ruby & the Red Hots , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. wednesday • 29 Lighthouse , NCBFC Mtg., Round Table Pizza, 1161 E. Washington, Escondido, 8pm. Jackson Price/Paulina , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Soul Persuaders , Humphrey’s Backstage Ave., 9pm. BadBlokes , Joey’s Smokin’ BBQ, 6955 El Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 8pm. Camino Real, Carlsbad, 8pm. In Motion Trio +2 , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., friday • 17 9pm. wednesday • 8 Mountain Tribal Gypsies , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy 78, Julian, 6pm. thursday • 30 Joe Rathburn & Peter Bolland , Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Rd., Mission Valley, Sue Palmer , Bing Crosby’s, 7007 Friar’s Rd., Stoney B Blues Band , House of Blues, 1055 5th 7pm. Fashion Valley Mall, 7pm. Ave., 7pm. Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s Jazz Bar, 802 5th Daniel Jackson/Marshall Hawkins/Gilbert Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s Jazz Bar, 802 5th Ave., 7:30pm. Castellanos , Dizzy’s @ SD Wine & Culinary Ave., 7:30pm. Center, 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm.

14 www.facebook.com/sandiegotroubadour DECEMBER 2010 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR the local seen P P P h h P h o o o h t t t o n o o o : e :

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Anna Troy @ Lestat’s Chad & Jeremy @ AMSD Concerts Dennis Caplinger @ Oasis P

Marc Cohn @ the Belly Up h P o P h t o h o Jamie Shadowlight @ Neilfest : t o

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Coco & Lafe @ Joe Rathburn’s Folkey Monkey

Local band Brawley plays in Brawley Joe Rathburn @ Dizzy’s P P h h o o P t t o h o : o :

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n n D Chuck Perrin @ Neilfest n n e i i n s s

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Craig Ingraham Group @ O’Connell’s P h o t o Cahill & Delene @ Dizzy’s :

Charlie Imes @ Lestat’s D e n n i s

Peter Bolland @ Oasis P

A Billy Bushwalla h n o d t o e : r

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The Criadillas @ Lestat’s Dawn Mitschele Sven-Erik Seaholm @ Neilfest Michael Tiernan CD Release Miff Laracy CD Release @ O’Connell’s P h o t o : P

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Kim Divine @ Lestat’s Jim Reeves @ Dizzy’s

Donovan Frankenreiter

Phil Harmonic Sez

“Things are moving too fast when we’re told we can microwave minute rice.”

—Robert Orben

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 15