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

March 2008 www.sandiegotroubadour.com Vol. 7, No. 6

what’s inside bblliinn uuttttaa DDuu Welcome Mat ………3 tt OO Mission iigghh Contributors SSttrraa Full Circle.. …………5 Tommy Sands Recordially, Lou Curtiss Front Porch... ………7 Traditional Irish Sessions Skelpin History of Irish Music Heloise Love Parlor Showcase …10 Gerard Nolan, Brian Baynes, David Page Ramblin’... …………12 Bluegrass Corner Zen of Recording Hosing Down Radio Daze Stages Highway’s Song. …15 Beoga Tour of Ireland Of Note. ……………16 Terence Blanchard East West Jorge Espinoza ee Zen Boy & Karma Girl PPaagg aavviidd Dayna Carroll •• DD nneess ‘Round About ...... …18 BBaayy BBrriiaann iego March Music Calendar •• an D oollaann e to S The Local Seen ……19 rrdd NN cam hs GGeerraa men l pat Photo Page Irish sica three ent mu ...how differ llowed and fo

MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR welcome mat

RSAN ODUIEGBO ADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, Tblues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news

MISSION CONTRIBUTORS To promote, encourage, and provide an FOUNDERS lternative voice for the great local music that a Ellen and Lyle Duplessie is generally overlooked by the mass media; Liz Abbott namely the genres of alternative country, Kent Johnson Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass. To entertain, educate, and bring PUBLISHERS together players, writers, and lovers of these Liz Abbott Father Phil O’Harmonic Sez: forms; to explore their foundations; and to Kent Johnson expand the audience for these types of music. EDITORIAL/GRAPHICS Liz Abbott SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local source for Chuck Schiele alternative country, Americana, roots, folk, blues, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass music news, ADVERTISING is published monthly and is free of charge. Kent Johnson When Erin first rose from the Letters to the editor must be signed and may be BUSINESS CONSULTANT edited for content. It is not, however, guaranteed Joanna Schiele that they will appear. DISTRIBUTION dark-swelling flood. All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Kent Johnson TROUBADOUR are solely the opinion of the Dave Sawyer writer and do not represent the opinions of the Mark Jackson staff or management. All rights reserved. God blessed the green island, Indian Joe Stewart ADVERTISING INFORMATION Dan Long For advertising rates, call 619/298-8488 Peter Bolland he saw it was good. or e-mail [email protected]. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER SUBSCRIPTIONS are available for $30/yr. Steve Covault Send check payable to S.D. Troubadour to: WEB MASTER The Emerald of Europe, it San Diego Troubadour Will Edwards P.O. Box 164 WRITERS La Jolla, CA 92038 sparkled and shone Michael Alvarez E-mail: [email protected]. Peter Bolland WHERE TO FIND US Can’t find a copy of the Lou Curtiss In the ring of this world, the San Diego Troubadour? Go to Annie Dru www.sandiegotroubadour.com and click Michael Eskin on FIND AN ISSUE for a complete list of Paul Hormick locations we deliver to. Jim McInnes most precious stone. SUBMITTING YOUR CD FOR REVIEW Bart Mendoza If you have a CD you’d like to be considered for Tim Mudd review, send two copies to: San Diego Chuck Schiele Troubadour, P.O. Box 164, La Jolla, CA 92038. Sven-Erik Seaholm — William Drennen José Sinatra SUBMITTING A CALENDAR LISTING Allen Singer Email your gig date, including location, address, Steve Thorn and time to [email protected] by D. Dwight Worden the 23rd of the month prior to publication. Craig Yerkes ©2008 San Diego Troubadour. Cover design: Liz Abbott The San Diego Troubadour is dedicated to the memory of Ellen and Lyle Duplessie , whose vision inspired the creation of this newspaper.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 3 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR full circle First Steps on Sands by Tim Mudd five siblings that became one of Ireland’s It also appears that his influence spreads most influential folk groups of the ’60s and into a political arena. During the historic s my wee years advance, I’ve started to ’70s. Although the group has limited its Good Friday Agreement Talks, Sands’ notice that the popular music press is a touring in the past decade to an annual tour impromptu performance with a group of Adouble-edged sword; on the one hand of Germany and Ireland, in their heyday children and Lambeg drummers was it feeds me to near-capacity with the latest they helped to expose Irish music on an described by Northern Ireland Deputy First (and not always greatest) artists who fuel international level from New York’s Minister Seamus Mallon as “a defining my secretly egotistical need for one-upman - Carnegie Hall to Moscow’s Olympic moment in the Peace Process.” The presi - ship in the shallow game of progressive Stadium. Solo Sands has continued to pave dent of the Irish Republic, Mary McAleese, taste. More recently though, it appears that new ground as a singer-songwriter and is periodically calls upon Sands for advice on this obsession and my means of obtaining said to have developed into one of the most cultural matters and in December 2002, this coveted information are revealing their powerful and enchanting songwriters and although the Northern Ireland Assembly flaws in the guise of the truly great artists performers in Ireland today. He is also the had been stood down, Sands managed to I’ve begun to discover under the radar of host of a popular radio show, “Country persuade the members to return for a spe - these traditional channels. As a marginally Ceili,” broadcast weekly via Belfast’s cial Christmas musical party together. As successful public artist for over a decade, Downtown Radio since 1976. one politician after another joined him on you’d think I’d know better. His songwriting has drawn the admira - stage for a song, Loyalist leader David The subject of this article is a good case tion of Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney Ervine remarked, “Tommy Sands is the only in point; I received a phone call from the and the father of folk music himself, Pete man, without a private army, who can Tommy Sands editor asking if I’d mind writing an article Seeger. Sing Out! magazine regards him as intimidate me.” on Tommy Sands for this Celtic issue of the “the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if Outside of his musical and political his doorstep, as his family’s farm was one of San Diego Troubadour . “Who?” I responded, not the rest of the world,” and his work has endeavors, Sands has somehow found the the few places in the region that hosted to which she told me (and rightly so) to do been recorded by Joan Baez, Kathy Matthea, time to author The Songman, an autobiogra - both Protestants and Catholics to join some research and let her know if I needed and Dolores Keane among many others. A phy that serves the dual purpose of docu - together in appreciation of music and danc - anything. “Well,” I thought to myself, “I fact I found almost more impressive than menting the recent history of his homeland, ing. Many of his songs would come to guess this is my job.” these was that his songs have been translat - which has drawn praise from teacher and reflect this early exposure to the instability Typically, I let the personal dramatiza - ed into multiple languages and are currently Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank of his homeland, the symptoms of which tion of the rest of my life get in the way for included in the English language syllabus in McCourt. would also explain his fierce crusade for a couple of weeks and procrastinated over German secondary schools. At this point of my research, I’m more unity. the exploration of an artist I’d never heard Believe it or not, this is just the begin - than just a little impressed and maybe even Although Sands attended college to of – nor necessarily cared to know – until ning. When he’s not performing across the – like Ervine – a little intimidated; none of study theology and philosophy, music was the day of my deadline. Now I’m sitting stages of the world, Tommy Sands is writing the above achievements are trivial matters, in his blood and proved too great a lure. The Sands Family in 1976: Ben, Ann, here wishing I hadn’t. As I dip my feet into a different story on the vitally deeper and especially when you’re attempting to main - Legend has it that having dropped out of Colum, and Tommy the fascinating world of Tommy Sands for far more intimate level of social activism. tain the fine balancing act, which is a suc - school he began the 120 mile trip back the first time, I’m wondering how the hell One notable project he endeavored cessful career in music. These are not things home on foot. He hadn’t got very far when I’m going to do this incredible man and his upon was teaching underprivileged prison - you simply do , these are things you do if his siblings pulled up in a car and picked vibrant history any justice – quite honestly ers in Reno, Nevada, to write their own you’re driven . Next, I decided it was only him up to perform a gig. Inspired by the I’m feeling pretty stupid. If you’re familiar songs with which to defend themselves in appropriate to investigate the formative Clancy Brothers, the Sands Family (Tommy, with Tommy Sands, feel free to extend a court. In May 2002, he received an hon - years that would suggest influence over who Eugene, Ben, Colum, and Ann) would metaphorical hand to pat me on the head as orary Doctorate of Letters from the he became. become leaders of the Irish folk revival. a nod of understanding toward my youthful University of Nevada for this outstanding Tommy Sands was born into a musical The Sands Family made their first arrogance; I hope you’ll find a new tidbit or work as an ambassador for peace and family whose farm stood in the foothills of transatlantic trip to the United States in two herein. If, however, you are, as I, a new - understanding. Nevada’s gratitude was the Mourne Mountains. His father and six 1970 after winning a concert trip to New comer to Sands and his work, I hope you extended so far as to declare May 18 uncles played the fiddle, while his mother York in a national ballad contest. Having Tommy Sands with daughter Moya and enjoy our first steps together. Tommy Sands Day in Reno. Back home he played accordion – Sands began writing performing at Carnegie Hall, the group met son Fionán Singer-songwriter Tommy Sands appears completed a CD written with both songs shortly after he himself began learn - with a manager in Boston and remained in array of artists. His sophomore effort, Down to have achieved something akin to leg - Protestant and Catholic school children that ing to play the fiddle in the tradition of his America for over six months. With the by Bendy’s Lane: Irish Songs and Stories for endary status in his own lifetime. Hailing documents their lives in the towns and vil - male role models. Although this childhood States under their belts, they returned to Children , followed three years later. Not one from County Down, Northern Ireland, lages around Northern Ireland. It would may initially sound rather idyllic, the politi - Europe in 1971 only to find they had year had passed when his third album, Sands was the prime songwriter with the seem that Tommy Sands is a humanitarian cal turmoil and sociological struggles of acquired an enthusiastic following in Hedges of County Down , focused on tradi - Sands Family, a group he formed with his in the purest sense of the word. Northern Ireland were never too far from Germany. Unfortunately, the Sands Family’s tional Irish material before returning to string of success ended in 1975, when original songs in 1990 for his fourth effort, youngest brother Eugene was killed in a car Beyond the Shadows . In 1995 Sands’ fifth accident. In the aftermath of this tragedy, album, The Heart’s a Wonder , included a Ann Sands announced her retirement from tune, “The Music of Healing,” which he co- the group, which has limited subsequent wrote with Pete Seeger. The song was used tours to the three remaining brothers. Now as an anthem for a “Citizen’s Assembly” that was Tommy Sands’ time to step into the Sands organized in Belfast, in August 1996, solo arena. which included many of Ulster County’s top His solo debut Singing of the Times was artists and literary figures. The Heart’s a released in 1985 and included his now-clas - Wonder also marked the first time that sic tunes “There Were Roses” and Sands collaborated with Sarajevo cellist “Daughters and Sons,” which – as previous - Vedran Smailovic. Sands and Smailovic in ly mentioned – have been covered by a wide turn joined forces with Irish songstress Dolores Keane on the 1997 title track of the multi-artist album Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger . One of his most ambitious projects reaches into the world of theatre with the stage musical, The Shadow of O’Casey , which he co-wrote with playwright Sean O’Casey’s daughter, Shivaun. In closing, I wish I had something more meaningful to say, some great finale that perfectly captures the essence of this man and his life, but his life has not ended and his story is still being written, which may be the most fitting final statement I could make. If you haven’t already, I urge you to wander out and try a few of his records on for size, because they are all excellent. My personal recommendation would be The Heart’s a Wonder as it is thus far my favorite. I should also probably mention that the man himself will be gracing our fair county in a performance for a San Diego Folk Heritage-sponsored concert at the San Dieguito Methodist Church in Encinitas with Moya and Fionan Sands on March 8. You may also find me there in a pew some - where, enjoying an invaluable piece of musical history and hoping he didn’t read this piece.

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THE CELTIC MUSIC SCENE o s d r a h

rish and Celtic music has meant different things c i R

Recordially, Lou Curtiss l

to me over the years. When I was a kid, my Dad l i B

had as part of his extensive 78 collection some : o t

I o

Bing Crosby Irish music (“Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra” and h “Did Your Mother Come from Ireland?”), some music. He recommended an LP recording titled The and appeared here in San Diego at the Sign of the hard to find in this country. P Dennis Day (“Clancy Lowered the Boom”), and Lark in the Morning on the Tradition record label, Sun bookstore in 1962 (listen to a track or two from which I later bought (exposing me for the first time that concert on FolkArtsRareRecords.com website). TWO OUTSTANDING OLD TIMEY DUOS Spike Jones’ version of “MacNamara’s Band.” I think AT ROOTS THIS YEAR! we also had a couple of Sir Harry Lauder records (“I to real traditional field recordings made in Ireland). The first place I remember featuring Irish music Kim and Jim Lansford from the Missouri Ozarks Love a Lassie”). I heard other Irish tenors on the With the 1960s marking the revival of things in San Diego was run by an Italian guy in National play a wide variety of traditional southern and mid - radio like Morton Downey and Donald Novis and folk, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem City named Mike Dini. Naturally, he called his place western traditional songs, fiddle tunes, vocal duets, every St Paddy’s Day Hollywood’s professional appeared at the 1960 Newport Folk Festival, but I McDini’s and served Irish coffee, corned beef sand - and songs learned from traditional sources and field Irishmen (Pat O’Brien, Barry Fitzgerald, etc.) would was already ahead of them, having discovered the wiches, and other Irish stock. He had Irish music in recordings. They have a website with songs from appear on the radio with a routine or an “Irish Eyes Uillean pipes and tin whistle of Seamus Ennis, an LP his places, ranging from the early stuff I talked about their CDs you can listen to. Check them out and Are Smiling” type song to cater to all our precon - of great old fiddle tunes by “the glory of Old Sligo” to fairly traditional. In 1961 I tried to put an Irish Lou Curtiss then come and see them at the Roots Festival. ceived notions of what the Irish, and to some less Michael Coleman (reissued from old 78s) and a group together to play at one of his places but we Fred and Cathay Zipp from Fort Collins, extent the Scots were supposedly all about. Movies whole bunch of good Irish (Margaret Barry, Paddy only lasted about half the night before Mike showed Bluegrass Band (in the Methodist Church at 2pm on Colorado, likewise play in the country duet style and added to all these notions, such as good Father Tunney, Tommy Peoples, the McPeake Family, Mrs. us the door ( I love to listen to the stuff, but I just Saturday. This paid ticket event can only accommo - have been mentored by long time San Diego Folk Flanagan of Boys Town down to the correct blend of Sarah Makem, etc.) and Scottish musicians (Jeannie can’t play it). Mike said, “That song about the cob - date 300, so get your reservations in early for this Festival favorites Ray and Ina Patterson, although innocence and sadism of Disney’s Darby O’Gill and Robertson, the Stewart Family, Lizzie Higgens, etc.) bler was okay, but that other stuff don’t make it.” He one! other country and bluegrass names such as the the Little People . During the 1950s, Ed Sullivan and on the Topic label. In 1963 at Newport I got to see was right. I know there’ll be some last minute additions. Stanleys, the Louvins, the Delmores, and the Bolicks the other TV variety shows added to the mix of what the McPeake Family and Seamus Ennis perform By the time we started doing our own series of There always are, but we’ve got a couple of come to mind, not to mention the Carter Family. I later heard called “pig-under-the-arm Irish” by peo - (who Sam Hinton put on in concert at Scripps in Folk Festivals, the traditional side of Celtic music Troubadours before Festival time to give you some They also have a CD and a website you can check ple who really knew something about Celtic music. 1962 right here in our area. I missed that concert but was starting to become well established in this coun - startling new updates. There are lots of folks I’d like out, but be sure and see them at the Festival. It was in 1959 at the Newport Folk Festival that only recently came upon a tape of it while going try. Jean Redpath played the second and fourth to see out here but there ain’t lots of money to bring The Festival will be held on May 3 and 4 this I heard Tommy Makem and Paddy Clancy sing what through Sam’s tapes as part of our Grammy digitiza - Festivals. Kenny Hall started bringing his unique them. That’s the way it’s always been. was more or less real Irish music (not some Tin Pan tion project — a blast from the past). Irish music pipe tune medleys on the mandolin at the third festi - year and returning are Festival founders (along with Alley creation) and I remember being especially started to be recorded on labels in this country like val and lots more after that. Festival number six me back in 1967) Kathy Larisch and Carol McComb U UTAH PHILLIPS impressed with Tommy Makem to the extent that I Folkways, and Folk Legacy. Jean Redpath brought brought us our first Irish dance groups, the Graineog (you can hear them on the Folk Arts Rare Record As some of you may know, our friend Bruce “U bought a tin whistle and even attempted to play it her Scottish music to Newport as did Ewan MacColl. Ceilidhe Band and the All Oakland Ceili Band (I website), Trails and Rails (Walt Richards also played Utah” Phillips was forced this past fall to retire from for awhile. I was impressed with a couple of Tommy’s MacColl’s records had been coming out on the old remember there was some conflict over how Ceili or at the first Festival back in 67), Mimi Wright, Mary a 40-year career as a travelling musician (he first songs (notably “Dick Darby, the Cobbler,” which I Riverside label even going back into the 1950s; Ceilidhe was spelled and the Graineog’s younger McCaslin, the New Lost Melody Boys, Robin Henkel, appeared in San Diego at the fifth San Diego Folk still sing) and I talked to him a little about Irish Redpath started to record for Elektra around 1961 members assured is that Ceilidhe was the cool tradi - Tanya Rose and Her Buffalo Chip Kickers, Chris Festival in 1971). Recently, he has been in a San tional way. The old timers in Graineog, Kevin Clarke and his new group Plow, Sara Petite, Cindy Francisco hospital where he decided against a heart Keegan and Joe Murtagh, didn’t seem to care much Lee Berryhill, Ross Altman, Patty Hall, Anna Troy, transplant. He has been keeping in touch with and the all Oakland group just wanted to play music, Johnson, Bosley and Morin, the 7th Day Buskers, Los friends and fans via a series of podcasts that you can which they all did). Subsequent festivals included a Alacranes, San Diego Cajun Playboys, Curt Bouterse, receive at fair amount of Celtic music (from all parts of the Martin Henry, Yale Strom’s Klezmer group Hot http://www.utahphillips.org/podcast/index.html. Celtic world). The Boys of the Lough, Silly Wizard, Pstromi, the Hot Club Of San Diego, High Wide and Listen in and drop him a line if you can. Utah has Joe and Antoinette McKenna, Sandy McIntire and Handsome, Peter Bolland and the Coyote Problem, meant a hell of a lot to a whole bunch of people in Barbara McGone, and San Diego’s own Dave Page Allen Singer, Tomcat Courtney, Mark Foxworthy’s the music world. Both his songs and his thoughts and his Siamsa Gael Ceili (a band that Dave started new group Last Transit, the Brombies, Nathan James have inspired us, made us laugh, and pushed a lot of in Ireland and revived in this country with Judy and Ben Hernandez, and Jalopy. Plus we are doing a us to try to do some of the things he led the way on. special concert as part of the Festival this year with Lipnick, Ian and Wanda Law, and John Tuohy, and Recordially, pioneer mandolin picker David Grisman and his who still play the festivals as recently as last year). Lou Curtiss Celtic music in San Diego is no stranger any - more. Big names in the Celtic world, such as the Chieftains, have packed them in at the big venues and there are regular Celtic music concert series, house concerts, jam sessions, and a fair amount of Irish pubs that occasionally feature Irish music. If you come down to Kadan at Adams Ave. and 30th St. for our Folk Arts Rare Records Wednesday night wingding (or hootenanny, jam session, singers’ circle, or whatever you want to call it, starting at 6pm), I’ll sing you a song about a cobbler I learned from Tommy Makem back in 1959 when Celtic music was

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This particularly applies to backup players since the chord changes in the tunes aren’t always straightforward. Traditional Sessions 4. One backup player or bodhran (frame drum) at a time. As with mul - tiple backup players, multiple bodhran playing at the same can result in cacophony, and can often be louder Keep Irish Music Alive than the melody players, so one at a time, please. We are quite fortunate to have such an active Irish session scene here in San by Michael Eskin you go in the world. This structure gives ern silver flutes; they are based on the Diego, rivaling Los Angeles and San an Irish session a distinct feel and sound. old wooden English flutes designed back Francisco combined for the number of ’ve seen that same look many times Unlike jam sessions in some other styles in the mid 18th century and have any - weekly sessions. just as they walk around the corner of music, players of melody instruments where from zero to eight keys. For most Here’s the list: Iof the glass wall at the entrance to only play the tune melody in unison tunes, you don’t need the keys, and key - the pub. Most likely they just came in with no harmony lines. Faking through a less flutes are quite a bit less expensive Tuesday Nights after a long day at work for a pint of tune one doesn’t know, or extensively than keyed flutes. A good keyless black - 7–10:30pm Guinness or to catch a game on the TV, improvising on tunes, is generally consid - wood flute costs about $1,000. The Ould Sod but suddenly out of nowhere they find ered poor etiquette. Also, because the A perfectly good pennywhistles in the 3373 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 themselves smack in the middle of a chord structure to many tunes can be key of D can be bought from most music (619) 284-6594 flock of fiddles, flutes, whistles, Uilleann somewhat complicated and oftentimes stores for less than $10, but a whole cot - Hosts: Michael Eskin, George Rubsamen pipes, and bodhran flying with wild ambiguous, the chances of two backup tage industry has sprung up to make a http://www.theouldsod.com abandon through endless sets of Irish jigs players picking the same chords is very range of instruments out of different and reels. They often look shocked. small, and as a result many sessions materials and with specific tonal quali - Tuesday Nights Mostly they smile. (including ours) have a rule of only one ties. Most of these whistles sell for 7–10pm The look on their faces always says the backup instrument playing at a time. between $100 to $300. Blarney Stone Pub same thing: “What in the world is going In an Irish session, the tunes played in I happen to play the Uilleann pipes, 5617 Balboa Ave. on here?” a set are generally all of the same type, which look like I’ve been attacked by San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 279-2033 What’s happened is that they’ve just most commonly jigs or reels, with the some sort of alien octopus. The pipes are (while still playing the melody on Host: Heike Behl walked into the Tuesday night traditional occasional hornpipe or waltz. Most com - made of leather, ebony, and brass, so I get chanter with my fingers) to provide http://www.blarneystonesandiego.com Irish session at the Ould Sod, a pub in monly, each tune is played three times a lot of questions, usually along the lines chords under the melody lines. It’s a dif - Normal Heights, which George before moving on to another. Oftentimes, of “Is that some sort of bagpipe?” and Thursday Nights ficult instrument to master. Every piece Rubsamen and I have been hosting every there are fixed sets of tunes that everyone “How does the air get into that thing?” 7:30–10:30pm of the instrument is handmade, and Tuesday night for over five years. I’ve in a particular session knows in a particu - and often “How much does something Thornton’s Irish Pub there are only a few good builders in the seen that same look hundreds of times. lar order. It’s also as common that the like that cost?” 1221 Broadway world. A full set of pipes can easily sell So what exactly is a session? An Irish tunes will be selected “on the fly,” with The Uilleann pipes are a bellows-driv - El Cajon, CA 92021 for over $10,000. session is an informal gathering of musi - the next tune to play being determined en bagpipe, with the same range as the (619) 447-5665 Sometimes Irish sessions have a repu - Hosts: Elaine Thompson, Michael Eskin cians playing sets of traditional Irish by someone during the last time through flute, having a much quieter and sweeter tation of being somewhat unfriendly and http://www.thorntonsirishpub.com dance tunes on traditional Irish instru - a tune. When this happens, everyone has sound than the big Scottish warpipes. strict. In reality, the simple rules of eti - ments. These instruments most common - to listen closely to what is played next They are used quite often in movie Sunday Mornings quette are there to help make sure that ly include the fiddle, flute, tin whistle, and quickly join in. In some sessions, soundtracks and commercials to convey 10am–12noon the music sounds good and that every - concertina, button accordion, bodhran one person picks all the tunes, in others, an Irish mood. Most people have heard House of Ireland one has a good time. (frame drum), and Uilleann pipes (Irish like ours at the Ould Sod, any player can them but have never seen them played, In the Houses of Pacific Relations For example, there are only four sim - bagpipes). Sometimes there might also be pick the next tune in a set, and if two so here’s how it works: Balboa Park ple rules at the sessions I host: a guitar or eight-string bouzouki (octave people start a next tune, it’s good cour - Under my right arm is a bellows that I Beginners traditional Irish music class, mandolin) providing rhythmic backup. tesy for one person to quickly back off use to pump air into a leather bag under 1. Tune your instrument and try to with sheet music. The most common question I get is, and let the other player take the lead. my left arm. From the bag, the air splits keep it in tune during the session. Sunday Nights “What is the name of your band?” When This can go on for a long time. We’ve in two directions, the first into the An in-tune session sounds better to 7–10:30pm I explain no, we’re not a band, it’s an had sets of reels that have gone on for chanter, on which the melodies are everyone, and instruments drift in The Field Irish session, they generally ask, “Oh, so more than a half hour. played, and the second, to the mainstock, pitch over the course of an evening as 544 5th Ave. it’s a jam session? I play a little guitar, The next most common questions we which contains the drones and regula - the temperature changes. San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 232-9840 can I join in?” get are about the instruments and what tors. The drones, much like the Scottish 2. When someone starts a set of tunes, Hosts: The Boxty Band Well, yes and no… they cost. pipes, sound a constant D pitch in three try not to speed up or slow down http://www.thefield.com An Irish session has a structure and set Most people are familiar with fiddles, octaves, but unlike the Scottish pipes can from the speed they originally set. of sometimes frustratingly simple rules so we don’t get many questions about be turned off with a valve. The regula - Free Traditional Irish Stepdancing show There’s nothing more discouraging every week before the session from that are more or less the same wherever them. The flutes played in traditional tors, which lie on top of the drones, have than a new player finally getting up 5:30–7pm Irish music are quite distinct from mod - keys that I can press with my right wrist the nerve to start a set of tunes, only to be blown out of the water by some Additional Web Resources: insensitive who speeds things up to The Session – Popular online Irish session where the new player can no longer information and discussion site. keep up. http://www.thesession.org Chiff and Fipple – Focused on tinwhistle, 3. Play the tunes you know, don’t play Irish flute, and Uilleann pipes. the tunes you don’t know. This one http://www.chiffandfipple.com seems simple enough, but it can be TradLessons – Free online tinwhistle, very tempting to try and play poorly a flute, and Uilleann pipe lesson videos. tune you don’t really know, often http://www.tradlessons.com times distracting the person sitting next to you who does know the tune.

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by Bart Mendoza ith its abundance of sun and surf, Skelpin’s Irish Fusion Gets San Diego might be considered Wthe least likely place to be a haven for Celtic music. In fact, there are Audiences Movin’ and Groovin’ numerous groups and performers that special - ize in the genre and a whole network of ven - nated for the San Diego Music Awards’ Best in ues that support the burgeoning scene. The the World Music category in 2004, 2005, and most visible of the local performers is the 2006. They’ve been regulars on the Southern quartet Skelpin, featuring fiddler and founder California festival circuit and have made Patric Petrie, piper Tim Foley, accordionist appearances on every local television show Rowshan Dowlatabadi, and David Maldonado that features music. They’ve also made inroads on guitar. Dowlatabadi is on the road for a into the Far East, including a three-month run year, so until his return, the group has been at Tokyosea, a Disney theme park in Japan, using a rotating cast of guest players. and the surrounding area under their belts in Skelpin has built a worldwide fan base 2006. They also headlined the Tokyo Irish through relentless touring. Formed in 2003, Music Festival over St. Patrick’s Day weekend the group put a slight spin on traditional Irish in 2007. “Playing at TokyoSea was the bomb,” music, mixing in flamenco guitars and occa - Petrie said. “It was hard work at times. For sional Middle Eastern rhythms for a unique Members of Skelpin example, it was monsoon season and we sound that is still distinctly Celtic. sometimes played on top a building 30 feet off “We started out playing very traditional the ground in the rain. Sometimes the lan - Irish music,” explained Petrie. “But along the matched with her instrument. “I absolutely guage barrier was a challenge as well, but the way, the more we played with people outside adore the fiddle,” she said. “I think we’re made fans were incredible! People lined up on the the tradition, the more that spice rubbed off for each other in every way. It’s such an evoca - street for an hour before every outdoor show, on our music and took on a life, a passion and tive, lyrical instrument capable of reflecting Patric Petrie whereas some fans came every night, five days a drive all its own.” your every emotion.” She still plays a fiddle a week, to the indoor shows.” The seeds of the current incarnation of given to her by her parents on her sixteenth “As the band gets better known we can movie world as well. In 2003, Foley spent Anna Troy’s upcoming new album Skelpin took hold when Petrie and Foley birthday. “It’s more than 100 years old and expect a flood of bootleg DVDs. My strangest eight months in Rosarito, Mexico, where he Though purists may quibble about the began playing a residency under that name in looks it. We’ve been together so long that I memory is that I know there are hours and was the featured piper in the Russell Crowe group’s mixing of influences, there is no dis - an Irish Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter, across the know all its sweet spots, and the way the fid - hours of videos of each one of us somewhere film Master and Commander: Far Side of the puting that Skelpin’s sound has become a street from a flamenco club. “On our breaks, dle plays has totally influenced the way I play.” in Japan, because some folks came every day World . A little closer to home, the group con - crowd pleasing favorite in Southland venues. we’d cross the street and hang out with the Though she is best known for her Celtic for three months and set up their cameras in tributed to the soundtrack of a 2005 documen - For her part Petrie is simply happy to be mak - Maldonado Brothers who were playing there,” music, she was originally supposed to play the the same spot to film us.” tary on the tall ship, the Star of India’s annual ing music. “I went through a bad period of explained Petrie. “After that it turned into a classics. “My Dad decided right off that I was In fact, the biggest difficulty in touring has sail around the bay. Meanwhile, Newfoundland stage fright, but there’s nothing that gets me nightly game of sitting in on each other’s set going to be the first one in my family to play been simple logistics. “It’s harder other coun - TV uses one of their musical interludes as its smiling more than playing in front of people, and playing a musical version of ‘top this.’” classical music and that I would make them all tries to get your gear around,” Petrie noted. station’s theme. playing for myself, for them, and for the guys The jam sessions led to the melding of the two proud by growing up to play in an orchestra,” “In the U.S., it’s really no problem once you Among their upcoming projects are a new in the band,” she said. “If you can’t enjoy your music acts, with the union thus far releasing Petrie said. According to her, the biggest dif - load up, but in Japan we were always climbing album and more touring, with performances own music, what can you do?” three albums, Whiskey Before Breakfast (2003), ference in learning classical versus Celtic stairs, using buses, taxis, and subways.” She already booked through winter 2009. Some of Patric’s Day Holiday (2004), and Rua Rojo music is fear. “In classical, you are judged by sees a plus to the situation. “You get in great the bigger events ahead include a headlining (2005). how well you do at competitions, what’s your shape climbing subway stairs, level after level, slot at the Los Angeles County Irish Festival While the band as a whole is an exciting chair priority in the violin section, knowing toting fiddles, guitars, and everything else.” this month, a Celtic Music Cruise in proposition live, with virtuoso performances that at any time someone can, and will, chal - Though Petrie enjoys playing stages big or November and December, followed by the across the board, the clear focus is Petrie. lenge you for your seat. Where’s the joy in small, her clear favorite is the outdoor stage. Celtic Christmas Festival at SOKA University Originally from Dooniver, Achill Island, that?” She offers the contrast of a typical Irish “Big events mean there’s more room to run in Irvine on December 7. In addition, Petrie County Mayo, Ireland, her family first landed session. “The typical session is a circle of folks around on the stage, since I use a wireless has begun to be more visible on the local on the East Coast. “My Dad had a great vision of all ages getting together to share the love. pack.” On the other hand, “more intimate scene in a solo capacity. Recently she’s begun of us emigrating to New Zealand, as a lot of The real reason for a session is to strengthen events mean we can actually see people,” she to collaborate and perform with Matt Hensley Irish had taken that one-way trip.” The family the community and to pass the tunes down said diplomatically. of Flogging Molly at his Flying Elephant Pub made it as far as San Diego before they discov - from elder to younger, or vice versa depending The group has made inroads into the and Grill in Carlsbad. She’ll also contribute to ered certain types of visas were required to on the age of the player, and not to judge.” become permanent residents of New Zealand. Her father was less than thrilled with his By then, the family had fallen in love with the daughter’s change in direction. “It was a real ’60s California lifestyle. “Beaches, sunshine, disappointment to my father when I burned TVs, and indoor plumbing vs. cold, rain, and out on classical music. He didn’t come to see sheep – you make the call,” joked Petrie. me play until I performed with the Chieftains A dynamic performer, she has a playing at 4th & B in 2002,” she stated. “Now he’s style that can only be described as manic. very proud. It’s like the plumber who swears She’ll do just about whatever it takes to win his kid is going to go to college, only to dis - over a crowd, from leading a boisterous singa - cover his kid just wants to be a plumber after long to jumping on the occasional table top. all,” she quipped. For her, Skelpin is the culmination of a life - In the ensuing years she’s played numer - time of performing. A fiddler since the age of ous other genres, including country, western three, she blames her father for her love of swing, flamenco, Swedish/Finnish/Norwegian music. “Even though I grew up with family tunes, and was in a Cajun band that per - that played a variety of instruments, my Dad formed at the San Diego Zoo. says all hell broke loose when he took me to Petrie chalks up Skelpin’s appeal to their see a symphony orchestra perform. I was mix of influences. “We all bring different about three or four and I couldn’t stay in my themes to the band,” she stated. “I have a seat. I kept running up to the stage to watch freaky memory for obscure traditional tunes; the performers, and then my Dad would drag meanwhile Tim must know every Johnny me back to my seat,” Petrie said, laughing at Cash/pop song/boy band hit known to the memory. Given her obvious love of music Western civilization, plus he composes. Then it wasn’t long before the idea of learning an David adds the Flamenco fingers of death, instrument came up. Though currently known Yngie Malmsteen precision along with the for her fiddle playing, things could have been occasional rock lick, and we go from there,” very different. “We had a talk and I asked him she said. “With so many different musical ele - which was the hardest instrument to play. He ments and a palette of 15 to 20 instruments, opined either trombone or violin.” Luckily for don’t expect it to be all green beer and lep - music fans, “we didn’t know anyone who rechauns,” she laughed. Indeed, the group has taught trombone and I was pretty small as a been known to include the likes of “Amber” kid, so I opted for fiddle. My first one was a by Afro-Celt Sound System, “”In Your Eyes” by one sixteenth size.” She took personal inspira - Peter Gabriel, “Rainy Night in Soho,” by the tion from her brother Neil, an accomplished Pogues, and “Ring of Fire,” by Johnny Cash musician who played the flute and piano. along with the usual mix of originals and folk Within a few months she was performing standards. live. “My Dad used to lock me in my room Musically, it’s clear the band is onto some - until I’d practiced for at least an hour a day,” thing. While Celtic sounds are not the sort of she recalled. She saw time with her instrument thing that normally attracts much of a media as well spent for more than one reason. “Pretty spotlight, the band has managed to capture its soon I discovered some distinct advantages, as share of attention. Among other accolades, the more I practiced, the more I could get out Petrie won the Julian Fiddle and Banjo of doing chores,” she laughed. Petrie was well Contest in 2000 while Skelpin has been nomi - www.sandiegotroubadour.com 7 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch A Short History of Irish Music by Paul Hormick danced to. Thereafter it seems that the well as outdoors, well suited to go wherever desire to dance, and find new and interest - people wanted to dance. That makes the he music of Ireland permeates ing dances, led to what we think of as Irish fiddle an ideal instrument for this kind of much of the music of America. dance music. And, possibly to the chagrin music. As a matter of fact, the fiddle is so T You can hear it in the strains of of the Irish, all of it coming from other closely associated with Irish music that the country and folk music. It’s definitely there places besides Ireland. (This happens in Fiddler’s Fakebook , the compendium of in bluegrass and the music of Appalachia. other aspects of Irish history. Remember tunes that all fiddlers are expected to be And it’s served as the inspiration and basis that the person most closely associated with familiar with, are almost all jigs, reels, and for American classical composers such as Ireland, Saint Patrick, wasn’t Irish. He was polkas from Ireland. The melodies for this Aaron Copeland. Any appreciation of Italian.) music are simple and short, and the fiddler American music, therefore, should include What we think of as the most quintes - adds and varies ornamentation to the tune an understanding of Irish music. sential of Irish dances – the jig – may have each time it is repeated. It’s not like jazz, in The music of Ireland plays which the soloist departs from the such an important role in our melody; the melody is there each music because the Irish them - time it is repeated. The ornamen - selves are such an important part tation gives the performance the of our history. Throughout the zest and liveliness that is one of 1800s and into the early twenti - the key characteristics of Irish eth century generous waves of music. Irish immigrants came to this There is no single tradition of country. So much so that a very Irish fiddling, with many of the large percentage of Americans, a regions having their own distinc - little over 12 percent today, trace tive styles, and even the styles’ their heritage back to the ability to be broken down into Emerald Isle. And when the Irish sub-styles of the regions. At immigrated here, they brought 32,600 square miles, Ireland is their traditions, customs, and, of just slightly larger than South course, their music. Carolina. With our interstate Now there are some twists and driving, modern mass communi - turns to this history, and with the cation mindset, it may be difficult Irish playing a part in the tale, to imagine an island of that size there may be a bit of blarney containing regional differences. thrown in for good measure. The But these traditions developed first part of the history of Irish during a time when foot travel music goes back to around 2,000 was the principal way of getting years before anybody said “Danny from point A to point B. Most Boy” or Bono sang with U2, to people stayed put in their village the Roman Empire. The Romans or town. A village eight miles dis - had received much of their musi - tant was a full day’s journey away. cal understanding from the Light yet fast, Sligo is one of the Greeks, who had developed the modal come to Ireland from England as early as more well known fiddling styles of Ireland, understanding of music. For our purposes the 1600s, although some scholarship sug - because of the great number of immigrants here, without going all Doctor Music gests that it was picked up through more who came to this country from there. The Theory on everybody, this is where Do Re direct contact with Italy. Similarly, the horn - frenzied, almost aggressive, style of playing Mi and the basis for western music, from pipe came to Ireland from England. Some centers in Donnegal, way up on the north - Verdi’s operas to Miles Davis, comes from. people claim that the reel is indigenous to west coast of the Emerald Isle. Maybe they In the meantime, the Romans never got Ireland, but there is much evidence showing need the energy to keep warm against the around to conquering Ireland. They must that it was introduced by the Scots. Most of winds and storms of the North Sea. Derry, have thought it was too far away and a little the reels played in Ireland are Scottish com - in Northern Ireland, is slower, though not too cold and wet, so the musical modalities positions. by much, and shows the influence of the of the Greeks and Romans didn’t make it The best documentation of the introduc - Scots who emigrated to this area, particular - there. Despite Saint Patrick and the tion of a dance to Ireland is that of the ly in the hornpipe tunes called strathspeys. Christianization of the island, the Roman polka. As with the rest of Europe and the The music of Galway is known for its musical stamp that influenced the rest of U.S., Ireland fell under the spell of Jenny wistfulness and slower tempos. There is Europe had not really taken hold in Ireland. Lind, the opera singer known as the more ornamentation in the music of Galway How this sets Irish music apart is that a Swedish Nightingale, during the 1850s. than in other Irish music. The fiddling of great deal of traditional Irish music does not Lind loved the polka and popularized the County Clare is similarly slow and wistful use the chord changes that we’re used to Polish dance music on her tours and con - but has a lighter nature. Around Cork the hearing. Thus, they have a droning quality, certs. The polka still makes up a fair music blends many of these styles, contain - one basic underlying tone or note through - amount of the dance music of Ireland today. ing the sweetness of the music of Clare and out the entire song or jig. The instruments used in Irish music are the speed that you might find in Donegal. If you hear a traditional Irish melody, small, portable, and suitable for indoors as chances are that it goes back to the 1700s or 1800s. Before 1700 there is little known of what the Irish people listened and

8 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR front porch

by Allen Singer

s the lights slowly come down and you watch her standing behind the mike Heloise Love: Spiritual Singer of Aand tuning her guitar, you notice that Heloise Love seems to have glow about her. When she begins to sing, you sense a hint of vulnerability, a tenderness supported by Celtic and American Folk Music her immersion in the song and belief in her music. Heloise is a singular soloist and a solidifying member of the group Highland Way, a band that plays Scottish, Irish, and older sisters loved to sing three-part harmo - Heloise, her sisters were horrified when eventually, along with my best friend’s Celtic music. In addition to performing the ny and share such instruments as auto - they found about this! Heloise played trum - incredibly talented bass player Richard music of the seven Celtic nations and songs harps, classical guitars, trumpets, ukuleles, pet until her first semester at SDSU. A Gordon Heinz, formed Highland Way. Then rooted in Elizabethan balladry as well as and whatever else they could find around transformational moment in her life we had the good fortune to add stringed American folk music, she is fond of country the house to make music. Heloise’s father occurred when she decided to seriously pur - instrument magician, Paul Castellanos on songs, especially those by Emmylou Harris. played many diverse records at home rang - sue her interest in guitar by taking guitar viola and Highland Way was born!” Heloise’s mother was born and raised in ing from bagpipe music, the Irish Rovers, lessons. In the 1990s, she started attending Highland Way has released three CDs to Paris. Her father has a Welsh and Scottish and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. He Slo Jam, a musical get together created by date and even re-recorded the first one. background. Her childhood home was secretly recorded the family singing at home Walt Richards. Heloise continues, “The influence these Heloise Love always a musical place where she and her and then played them at work. According to Heloise told me, “Walt Richards and artists had on me was profound. Over the Paula Strong asked me if I would be inter - years I have had the great honor of sharing ested in getting together to play with them a stage with Alasdair Fraser, Men of Worth, and Walt began to teach me guitar. They Alex Beaton, and Ed Miller. Dick Jay and worked out a lot of harmonies with me and Tim Day, chairfolks of San Diego Folk they were incredibly generous. After just a Heritage, have been incredibly helpful in my few gigs with Walt and Paula in the group solo musical career and also with my group Bow Willow, I was under a lot of pressure Highland Way. Tim Day, the promotional from being self-employed as a land-use con - and booking board member of San Diego sultant and the sudden loss of my father. I Folk Heritage, suggested I record a solo CD stepped out of the tiny bit of the music with a guy named Randy Sterling with world that I had entered and re-grouped. By whom I went on to produce a solo album this time, all the bagpipes and Irish Rover called Song for the Mira in 2005. He is a fine Heloise Love with Highland Way music in my head awoke from a long, long musician and former musical director for slumber and I became a bit obsessed with Neil Diamond. I called Randy and found having recently published two books she Scottish and Irish music. Then, my pals and him to be so understanding and knowledge - co-wrote with June Heinz titled Shane and I also discovered the Scottish Highland able, so I went for it. Randy was incredibly the Fir Darrigs and The Dragon and the Fir Games and Festivals where we discovered helpful and I owe him a lot for all he has Darrigs . The two books are also available on some very inspiring musicians and became done for me.” CD, recorded and narrated by Brian big fans. Also at this time, in 1995, the “David Morgan owns the studio where Caldwell of Highland Way. They are avail - movie Braveheart was released. It was at Randy records and is the amazing able at Amazon.com and these festivals we could hear Erik Rigler, guitar/dobro player on the CD. Between www.heloiselove.com. (the world’s most recorded piper), Alasdair David and Randy, they played most of the Heloise is a heartfelt performer and a Fraser (master Scottish fiddler), Alex Beaton backup for me,” she explains. “I am mostly transformational singer and musician. (Scotland’s very famous folk singer), and a rhythm guitar player and percussionist. Whether she’s singing balladry or creating Men of Worth.” These were all musicians Randy played mandolin, banjo, and guitar the haunting atmospheric setting for her with whom Heloise would later appear and on the CD. Maury Richmond, a Celtic fid - Celtic tunes, Heloise touches her audience. perform. dler pal of mine of 10 years told me years Appearing as a soloist or in Highland Way, Heloise continued her musical story by ago that if I ever recorded my own CD, he she is always out there, waiting to touch describing what happened later on. “After a wanted to be the fiddler so he joined us on you through the music she performs, espe - while I missed playing guitar so I began the CD.” cially with the spiritual and mysterious again. One night I decided to be very brave Tim Day says, “Heloise is one of the ways of the Celtic song. As the lights come and attend a North County Folk Song most versatile, talented, and dedicated on at the end of a Heloise Love concert, the Society Song Circle. While I was singing a musicians I’ve ever worked with. She audience is already on its feet clapping. Celtic tune, a young man named Brian explores the music, listens, learns, and They have bonded with Heloise during the Caldwell from Glasgow, Scotland, joined the never stops trying to be a consummate per - time they spent together in a shared musical circle. When Brian’s turn came, he sang a former and entertainer.” journey. favorite of mine called ‘Glencoe.’ We both Among her other accomplishments, decided that our voices would blend and Heloise is also a children’s book illustrator,

www.sandiegotroubadour.com 9 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

by Annie Dru An issue of Downbeat magazine advertising American universities offering music majors in jazz, was about to open up a whole new world to Gerard. “I knew I wanted to end up in New York, because I had always known SSttrraaiigghhtt OOuuttttaa DDuubblliinn Gerard Nolan that’s where the jazz was, so I applied to a handful of schools there. I could barely blow my nose; I was a full time clarinet player, and I had only just started taking up the saxophone. But that’s what I wanted to play, so The Army Band that’s what I made my audition with.” We’ll start with my newest acquaintance of the bunch, He was ultimately accepted at the New School, a pro - and the youngest, Gerard Nolan. I met Gerard about five gressive university with a jazz and contemporary music years ago, while contributing to the album of local fid - division, located in Greenwich Village. “Very expensive; I dler and composer Beverley Heising, in a band called got a part scholarship, but boy it was expensive! I think it Zepher. We had just about completed tracking when her was something like $26,000 a semester or something. producer suggested she add a bit of saxophone; she But the thing was, I didn’t have a clue. If I knew then agreed, and they called in Gerard. In just a couple of what I know now as far as how the system went, I could hours, several tracks of more or less traditional sound - have gone to community college ... just to get over here, ing jigs and reels were transformed into something then figure it out.” resembling a folk/jazz fusion masterpiece. We were all At that point he asked for a four-year leave of delighted, and not a little bit infatuated with the talent of absence to study music, something he had heard some this Dublin transplant. of the other guys had done. It required jumping through In light of that experience, and over several more some hoops, but determined, he was eventually granted years of acquaintance and collaboration, I came to per - his leave, obtained his four-year student visa, and in ceive Gerard as shy and reticent to engage in any con - 1995, at 24, arrived in New York City. versation naming himself as the primary topic, so I was All the years of saving his income allowed for the first completely charmed if somewhat surprised to hear him year’s tuition, but soon it became apparent that, recount his story leisurely and animatedly over coffee. regardless of the quality of education he was receiving, I had recently heard him perform in a Celtic setting it was just too expensive to continue there. “That school when his band Cashel performed a very traditional Irish was awesome. In fact, you’d be walking down the hall set at a local Irish pub called the Field. I was only famil - and just see all these famous people that you’d be lis - iar with Gerard’s playing within a jazz-like context, so it tening to on their CD, like, ‘Holy cow! That’s freakin’ so Gerard Nolan Brian Baynes was amazing to hear him on pennywhistle and bodhran, and so, and that’s so and so… he played with Coltrane… and singing all the familiar pub songs. I asked him if he he played with so and so… It was a real ‘who’s who’ in felt that he was as much of an expert on traditional Irish If you fancy an Irish brogue, and honestly, what red-blooded of us who can fake a jig, wear green on the appropriate day, and reel, would have been so profoundly influenced and ultimately music as he was on jazz, and he responded that it was a very different thing to be studied in something as American gal doesn’t, you will understand my delight at receiving find our way around a pint of Guinness. seduced by American music. opposed to knowing it on a cellular level. the assignment for this month’s cover story. I was given the envi - The Irish are known for many wonderful things but perhaps These gentlemen were by no means strangers to me, having “As far as the whole Irish thing goes, you were saying a lot of the Irish guys here are playing American music. I able job of interviewing three very handsome gentlemen musi - nothing so notably as their love of and affinity for music. With worked with them all in various capacities for many years, but I didn’t play a lot of Irish music in Ireland but always cians from Dublin, filling two sides of a cassette tape each, which many hundreds of years of history still alive, thriving, and, perhaps was surprised to find out how little I actually knew of what initially heard it, because you grow up with it; it’s your music. translates into roughly 227 minutes of fascinating conversation. most important, evolving at sessions, folk festivals, through inter - brought them across the pond and maybe, more important, what it It’s in you. I always tell people, you never feel as nationalistic or patriotic as when you’re not in your own With the conversations conducted in three separate installments in nationally touring traditional bands, and, of course, re-born in the is about America and its music that has compelled them to stay. country. I really feel Irish here, because I sound differ - my neighborhood coffee shop, there was more than a little good- now household name of Riverdance, it’s no great wonder that So, sit back and relax, perhaps with glass in hand, cozy up ent, am different, everybody knows I’m different. It’s like you have a hypersensitivity to your own country, natured curiosity on the part of the locals, who understandably music in all its permutations is so universally affected by the Celtic next to the fire, and take a trip with me to Ireland and back again because you’re not in it, and you’re reaching back for couldn’t resist a bit of discreet eavesdropping. influence. via the fascinating stories of these three Irishmen. it. So that’s when I really started to get into Irish music. With the St. Patrick’s Day month upon us, it seemed appropri - I found it interesting then, to discover that all of the Irishmen I If I was in Ireland, I wouldn’t be playing Irish music, I’d be playing jazz.” the jazz world. It was a great school. It was like getting ate to feature local musicians who legitimately lay claim to their interviewed, after having grown up in three separate generations, Gerard’s musical training did not begin in school, as dropped into the deep end.” Irish status, as they actually hail from the Emerald Isle, unlike those entwined in the warp and weave of pennywhistle, fiddle, jig, and funding constraints didn’t allow for Dublin’s public Broke, but inspired, Gerard left school and began tak - schools to provide for a dedicated program. He details ing private lessons, working odd jobs, and saving his earliest musical experience, like that of many other money. He eventually returned for one last semester, Dublin boys (including a young Larry Mullins Jr. of later but finally decided that it just wasn’t financially feasible. that some girl that never looked at you before suddenly U2 fame), as being the nationally recognized Artane “New York is tough, man. I was broke. I remember walk - Brian Baynes thinks this is cool, and you think this thing just gets bet - Boys Band. Apparently, at one time the school served as ing around with no money. Not only that, most of the ter; now they like it too. So there’s no going back then… a sort of Oliver Twist-like home for the destitute and dis - players I knew were in the same boat as well. These no going back to the point where there was nothing else placed but later became more of a trade school run by great players I knew, with like, holes in their shoes… play - Girls I wanted to do. I didn’t care about school or anything. I the Christian Brothers, the crowning achievement of ing in places like this… for tips.” I began my next interview by asking what it was that ini - knew there was nothing that was ever going to get close which was a much sought-after band. According to At that point he made the decision to do something tially inspired our subject in a musical direction. The to that. It took me years to figure out that it had some - Gerard, any local young man under the age of 16 could else. “I considered going back home or going to answer came back to me in true Brian Baynes form: thing to do with the music lessons I’d had earlier.” participate for the price of a bus ride and a nominal England. I wanted to continue to study music, but I knew girls. I had to pause the tape long enough to stop laugh - I asked Brian how much he thought he’d been influ - monthly fee. The band was then, and is still, famous for there was no way I could keep going there. My buddy in ing so that he could continue. enced by Irish traditional music as a young guitar play - many public and televised appearances. It was playing L.A., Frank Fontaine, said ‘Why don’t you come out I met Brian while working on the Zepher album I men - er. “I didn’t realize that I was being influenced by it clarinet in this band that the earliest seeds of his musi - here? I know some people in colleges, and I might be tioned earlier; he was producing and engineering it in his every day until I came to the States. I didn’t realize that cianship and discipline were sown. able to get you hooked up.” beautiful Spring Valley studio. I remember a lot of great it was everywhere. A lot of the friends and musicians I From first recollection, Gerard was determined to be a “So I came out to L.A. It was a gas, you know, I think I music being made during those sessions, but what real - used to play with ended up in shows like Riverdance . soldier. Enamored of GI Joe from a wee lad, yet lacking arrived on July 15, 1997. We went to a few colleges and ly stands out, was the hilarious, side-splitting banter that People like Davy Spalane – we used to play music on any real understanding of the meaning and purpose of eventually ended up at this place called Citrus College. It went on between takes. This is an Irishman who takes the beach and have a few beers. There’d be all things; the Army, his eventual entrance into and nearly decade- was a community college, and all I was interested in his humor as seriously as he does his music. there’d be blues, there’d be traditional, because we long career in that institution seems somehow divinely was staying here, keeping my student visa, you know. Piano lessons at six or seven is where it actually didn’t care… we didn’t have any rules, you know? At guided. Just one year before the end of his Artane We went in, and sat down with the head guy. Frank was began for this Dublin lad. I asked him if he’d liked it. that time, everybody mixed everything. It was wide open tenure, a fellow student confided that he was about to talking me up like ‘this guy’s from New York, great “No, because I had to do it; music was just one more … it was like a mad revolution.” apply to the Irish Army School of Music. Only ten young player, you gotta hear him… gotta get him in here.’ So subject that you had to – of all the do’s and don’ts, it Like our first subject, Brian was also drawn to America men were to be taken, and Gerard, risking the odds, he says, ‘All right, let’s hear him.’ So Frank sits down, was just one more thing. And then all my family played; for inspiration as a young musician. “America was a decided to apply as well. Much to his family’s delight, starts playing the piano; I start playing the saxophone… it was just something you did. My music teacher would natural place to look. America then was looked at as the and his buddy’s dismay (he wasn’t accepted), at only he says, ‘Okay, you’re in.’ I got a free ride there. So hit my knuckles with a pencil when I played a wrong place where all the cool music came from. It certainly 15, Gerard became the band’s second youngest mem - they paid for everything, you know, which was fantas - note. At one point she threw my music out the window looked great, anyway, from the other side of the ber. tic.” down into the street; then she called my father and said, Atlantic… that whole ’60sand ’70s thing. The Eagles, Eventually stationed in the western command in Gerard found LA a very different experience. “I liked ‘One thing your son will never be is a musician.’” Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and all that, that’s the Atlone, nine years of study, Army discipline, and constant L.A. it was totally different from New York, and I started “When I was eleven or twelve, my mother got a stuff that I thought was really cool… James Taylor; all touring honed his talent but left him hungry for more working a lot. I was playing Salsa. I got in with the bunch of guitars for a charity event she was working on that slick L.A. stuff looked cool to me.” music and greater challenge. Wednesdays off duty Johnny Polanco Band; they’re still on the go, actually. I really cheap, I mean the cheapest guitars you could “Then, in the middle of all that, I found blues people, would find him hopping the train back to Dublin to study was playing with those guys every night; sometimes possibly make – just a piece of wood with some and I wanted to know where they’d got it from – like, jazz, a discovery of his late teen and early twenties, and two, three times a day we had gigs. It was busy. We’d strings. The action was like, yea high, you know? She this guy got it from Eric Clapton, and Eric Clapton got it to hang out with guys who “…knew more than I did.” go up to San Francisco, come back to L.A. We toured to had them in the living room, and I begged her to let me from some old American blues guy Muddy Waters, and The Army Band was considered a career position, and New York… all that kind of stuff. And salsa was a gas, have one. I thought this was really cool. It was like three then I’d want to find out more about that. And that’s the expectation was that a musician, once accepted, because people were like ‘what’s an Irish guy doin’ in pounds, but man, I just broke my fingers on that thing. I why Europe, even to this day, loves real American roots would be in for life awaiting pension. Musically, however, a salsa band?’ you know. So that was great. I started found Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton, and that was it. I music.” it was limited. “Guys got to a certain level of musician - having a bit of a life. I could buy a car, started having remember thinking there’s nothing else in the world… Brian hails from the seaside town of Bray outside of ship, and that was it then, it was a job. They knew the that’s it… that thing, that lead guitar thing… that sound. I Dublin. “The coolest, artistic town, maybe the size of La material; you showed up, did your gigs. But I just had continued on page 14 thought it was the sweetest, coolest, most spiritual thing Jolla; people started their careers there… U2, everyone; it this desire to know more,” Gerard explained. I’d ever heard in my life. Then you get this realization was the local gig. There’s a major movie studio there; 10 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase

“When I got out of the service, I joined the union and David Page then just started going around, sitting in with bands and giving them my telephone number. I got my first big SSttrraaiigghhtt OOuuttttaa DDuubblliinn Another Army Band break when I heard through the grapevine that Tom Jones was starting a band. Now, at this time, we didn’t Oddly enough, like Gerard Nolan, our next subject also know who Tom Jones was, but we heard he was a guy began his professional music career in the army, albeit from Wales, and he was going to call it the Jones Boys, a very different one: the Queen’s Guard. How this and that was the whole beginning of that. It wasn’t long Dublin native came to serve in the English Army is truly before he sort of shot up, did a TV show, a variety show worthy of a Hollywood script. [Ed Sullivan], and the girls were going nuts for him. But I met David Page Jr. six years ago when we per - the guys in the band didn’t get any recognition; we were formed as members of an Irish-American band called always in the background, and he was always the star. Kitchenfire. I was very much a novice, and I remember The same with Englebert Humperdink; he didn’t even Dave being a source of much to emulate in the way of know who was playing with him.” professionalism. With a ready smile, a warm personality, and a droll wit, he was also a comforting and encourag - ing presence on stage. We became fast friends and over the course of our Kitchenfire tenure, I came to under - stand the decades of experience that his seasoned per - formance style owed its genesis. Born to a musical family, and raised in Dublin, son of four-time Irish champion Uilleann piper, David Page Sr., young Dave grew up playing accordion in his dad’s band, but in 1954, at the age of 15, the family relocated to London. “It was such bad times in Ireland. My dad was out of work, and the opportunities were in London. At that time the Irish were streaming into England, because that’s where there were jobs. But then I was conscripted, meaning I got my draft papers.” Hoping to play drums in the Royal Air Force Band Brian Baynes David Page (deeming the accordion a “sissy instrument”), teenage Dave went down to Scotland Yard. Not able to find the recruiting office, he asked directions of an officer in another building. The gentleman detected his Irish If you fancy an Irish brogue, and honestly, what red-blooded of us who can fake a jig, wear green on the appropriate day, and reel, would have been so profoundly influenced and ultimately accent, and said, “Have you ever thought of joining the American gal doesn’t, you will understand my delight at receiving find our way around a pint of Guinness. seduced by American music. Queen’s Guard?” The man turned out to be the recruiter for the Irish division of the Guard and quickly the assignment for this month’s cover story. I was given the envi - The Irish are known for many wonderful things but perhaps These gentlemen were by no means strangers to me, having convinced a 17-year-old Dave that, being Irish, it would be able job of interviewing three very handsome gentlemen musi - nothing so notably as their love of and affinity for music. With worked with them all in various capacities for many years, but I only right that he represent his country, assuring him Page with Evelyn Glenny cians from Dublin, filling two sides of a cassette tape each, which many hundreds of years of history still alive, thriving, and, perhaps was surprised to find out how little I actually knew of what initially that he could play drums in the Guard Band just as easi - ly as in the Air Force as soon as he finished his basic translates into roughly 227 minutes of fascinating conversation. most important, evolving at sessions, folk festivals, through inter - brought them across the pond and maybe, more important, what it training, of course. Dave played with Tom Jones for about two years, and With the conversations conducted in three separate installments in nationally touring traditional bands, and, of course, re-born in the is about America and its music that has compelled them to stay. After spending the first 30 days in Caterham Barracks, recorded on the now infamous What’s New Pussycat? new recruits were offered a one-time opportunity to my neighborhood coffee shop, there was more than a little good- now household name of Riverdance, it’s no great wonder that So, sit back and relax, perhaps with glass in hand, cozy up album in 1969. I mentioned the magnitude of that leave the Guard, but if they chose to stay, it meant recording and asked if Dave if he was ever duly com - natured curiosity on the part of the locals, who understandably music in all its permutations is so universally affected by the Celtic next to the fire, and take a trip with me to Ireland and back again seven years of service; three of active duty, four in the pensated for his contribution to it. “We just got the fee couldn’t resist a bit of discreet eavesdropping. influence. via the fascinating stories of these three Irishmen. reserve, all beginning with 12 weeks of “hell.” “Miserable for the recording. When I was in the Queen’s Guard – place; it had been a prison once. You were marched this is amazing – we made lots of albums, you know, With the St. Patrick’s Day month upon us, it seemed appropri - I found it interesting then, to discover that all of the Irishmen I everywhere, even to the bathroom, in quick time. It was and they got awards and so on. On one of the albums ate to feature local musicians who legitimately lay claim to their interviewed, after having grown up in three separate generations, just terrible, but it did teach you discipline,” Dave there was a tune called “Liberty Bell,” which was used explained. Irish status, as they actually hail from the Emerald Isle, unlike those entwined in the warp and weave of pennywhistle, fiddle, jig, and for Monty Python at the beginning and the end of the At the outset of his service a crisis in the Middle East show. We just got paid a recording fee for the album, found Dave training as a parachuting marksman rather and that’s it ‘We don’t owe you a penny now; the than a drummer, and it wasn’t until tensions eased and album’s done.’ Now, I figured, it’s still being played he returned to England that he was afforded the oppor - maybe five or six times a day all over the world and get - became big names in the Irish music world, and then tunity to finally study music. “My mum and dad bought ting maybe $25 dollars every time [as a residual if we’d you’d go home to have your dinner and you’d turn on me a drum set for 40 pounds; a little four-piece set – have been paid] and I underestimated purposely. So I the radio, and there was so much Irish music. When I not that good, but good for me, you know. Sometimes figured, okay, if this is 1970 whatever it was, between that was a kid, in the middle of the day you’d go home when I look back, that money… at that time… again, and now, there’s 30 years of residuals, played five from school, and there was an Irish music program y’know moms and dads, they’ll do anything for their times a day, that’s 35 times a week, that’s like whatev - every single day on the radio; so I got an hour of that, I kids. They must have suffered to buy me that drum set. er, 200 times a month… they would owe me four million had friends who played it… it was just everywhere; it was I didn’t play jazz or rock and roll in the army; rather, dollars!” in the air.” more like marches, and selections from The King and I I asked him why his royalties were not protected. “We I allowed the topic to wander in that direction for a and Oklahoma , but it was good training.” were just soldiers. Same with all the movie scores we moment longer and asked him about the pub scene in In his official capacity with the Guard, Dave toured did; we did numerous movie scores. We did music for Ireland when he was a young man. “There was always a with the Queen wherever she went. “Most of our tours Bridge on the River Kwai for example. That still remains guy in the corner who’d start a tune on a whistle, and were with her – when she went to Australia, India, the most famous movie ever. The director said, ‘I’d like somebody would take out another whistle; literally, Sweden, or Germany. After every tour, we’d get into our maybe 15, 20 whistlers… people who can’t whistle prop - they’d just go out to the car and get the fiddle, you concert hall, and she’d come out and thank everybody erly.’ I said, ‘I can’t whistle at all.’ He said, ‘Go ahead, know, and there’d be a session. But sessions happened and this and that and the other. You’re not allowed to you’re in.’ So we did all that whistling, but we didn’t get spontaneously, they weren’t organized things; like here any major movie that was made in Ireland was made talk to her unless she talks to you, but she was really paid for it again, so we’d had a double whammy there! you have an organized session… it’s at a certain time, there. So we were always seeing big stars down in our good, because she’d make sure to walk amongst us ” and everybody sits in the same seat and they all have pub; it was a small town. Everyone who came out of and thank everyone.” I asked him about other movie scores he did outside their assignments; almost like a little mini orchestra. It’s that scene went on to do different things. Everyone was Upon asking him whether he ever saw any actual of the Queens Guard. “Yeah, we got paid, but still no just different; there are no rules in an Irish session. an artist – a sculptor or a writer – or a musician. There action, he said, “The biggest scare I ever had – because residuals. A Bridge Too Far , The Island in the Sun with Someone could get up and sing a Beatles song, and was a kind of a revolution there; Riverdance came out I wouldn’t hurt a fly – was on duty in Wellington Harry Belafonte. There was another one called The Circus they’d give them the same respect as if they were of that. Barracks in London, which means that you’re just there of Horrors and the only reason I got that is because I doing anything else, even someone who couldn’t sing The irony of the fact that Brian had a greater affinity to blow the bugle; it’s a traditional thing right? was playing with the circus at that time. The circus is very well. There was great respect for someone trying to for, and familiarity with, American music than that of his Nonetheless, you had your gun in the guard room. There great training for drummers, because you play so loud do something creative or artistic. It’s amazing; people homeland came to the fore when he was hired on as was a sniper in Trafalgar Square, which was about a and you never stop playing… same with the Fern Street could be in the middle of an argument or a discussion, part of a band that was to travel to Miami to entertain mile from the barracks, taking pot shots at people; so Circus; I do that every year; it’s great for energy.” or trying to order a drink, and everything would stop. You tourists from England, Ireland, and Scotland. The travel they sent down to Wellington for a marksman to come In 1969 Dave went to Chicago and hooked up with a came away thinking music was spiritual, almost like a agency’s idea was to bring the wives over for shopping and pick him off, you know? The sergeant comes in and group called the Arbors, out of which came the favorite church; something very deep.” and sight-seeing, while the husbands would be made to says, ‘You gotta get your gun, because you may have ensemble of his career. “We got together through work - So here he is on his way to America for the first time, feel that they’d never left their local pub back home. to take someone out.’ I almost got sick. I didn’t want ing shows like Sinatra and Barbara Streisand, George on his way to play Irish music in a Miami hotel. The only fly in the ointment was that no one in the band to be the one to, you know… but luckily enough, by the Benson, Lou Rawls, and Glen Campbell, which are all high “Somebody figures out the words on the plane… they knew a traditional Irish tune to save their lives. “We time we got there, somebody had talked him off. That’s pressure shows. We suddenly realized that the three of were simple songs. We almost looked down on some of learned our first song on the plane on the way over; the closest I ever came to being really scared.” us had a good rapport, you know, relaxed. The piano these songs… pub songs, because they were simple, somebody got a book of Irish songs,” Brian remem - Then stationed in London, Dave made his way down player’s name was Randy Waldman, who plays with and we thought we were better musicians or whatever, I bered. to the West End to see a big band play. Befriending the Barbara Streisand right now. The bass player was a guy don’t know. So we were just kind of thought, ‘that’s I asked him how this was possible. “I didn’t realize drummer, he told him, “I’m in the Queen’s Guard and named Kim Darigan, and I think he’s with Tina Turner. No easy.’” until then, that all of that [music] was there. It’s like hav - know nothing about swing whatsoever. Could you give ing money in the bank; an Irish music account. You’re me a few lessons? He said sure, and I took lessons with continued on page 16 so steeped in it; you’re around these people, who later continued on page 14 him for about six months. Then some guys in the Queen’s Guard Band formed a band outside.” www.sandiegotroubadour.com 11 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Bluegrass CORNER

by Sven-Erik Seaholm The first is that how a record makes by Dwight Worden someone feel is much more important NOW “E AR ” T HIS : than how it sounds . We are making The San Diego Bluegrass Society has just music (most of the time) after all, completed a major survey of its membership. ometimes you hear yourself say which is a medium of expression . We The surveys were mailed to all members, something, and it causes you to want to be sure that the sum total of Sven-Erik Seaholm our efforts represents the artist’s intent. along with their ballots to vote for the Board Spause and think about the subject imparted. It was incredibly full-ranged, A great sounding recording, while very of Directors. Here are some of the more at hand with a renewed perspective, never harsh and again, nicely rounded important, is still only part of that interesting results of the member survey, giv - almost as if it wasn’t you who said it at at the bottom end without any trace of equation. ing you a feel for the state of bluegrass in all. You hear the words coming out of tubbiness. In the event that you might The second is that accurately captur - San Diego: your mouth, but they might just as want even less low end, a three posi - ing what you’re hearing in the studio • The Summergrass bluegrass festival, co- well be the utterances of some phan - tion roll-off switch makes things easy. tom third party. We’re not talking is a crucial first step in the recording produced by the San Diego Bluegrass The Infamous Stringdusters The mic was a perfect match on process. That one can be a bit more Society and the North San Diego County about the kinds of things that you congas as well, where the previously www.summergrass.net and click on tricky. Bluegrass and Folk Club every August, blurt out without thinking through mentioned lower midrange creaminess “Infamous Stringdusters 3/21 tickets.” Or, We use microphones as our elec - received the highest priority ranking with and then write an album’s worth of and exceptional transient response call Betty at (858) 205-3834. tronic “ears” in an effort to capture 438 points. songs dedicated to clarifying what we yielded a mix-ready tone that required The Infamous Stringdusters are the reign - what our own ears are hearing. But actually meant or, worse yet, attempt - no additional eq or compression. • The Special Concerts produced by SDBS, ing holders of the IBMA award for Album of almost all microphones, by design or ing to repair whatever damage our lan - An unusual test was when I featuring prominent traveling bands, the Year, Song of the Year, and Emerging accident, hear things in slightly, some - guage has inflicted upon a relation - switched the mic’s pad again to -25dB, received the second highest ranking with Artist of the Year. Comprised of Chris times drastically different ways. ship. It’s more like you suddenly see and put it in front of the bottom rotor 331 points. Pandolfi on banjo, Jeremy Garret on fiddle, Enter the Shure KSM things from a slightly different of a blaring Leslie cabinet for a Andy Hall on Dobro, Travis Book on bass, and 137 ($575 list, $299.99 • SDBS’s every Second Tuesday jam and perspective. Hammond B3 organ track. I was hop - Andy Falco on guitar (recently replacing Chris Street) , a small diaphragm get-together at Fuddruckers in La Mesa For example, just yesterday I ing to get that sound without the low Eldridge who moved on to Chris Thile’s new condenser microphone that received the third highest ranking with answered someone’s routine query end smear that can make the instru - band, the Punch Brothers), this group of hot excels at capturing all of the 321 points with the statement, “Yeah, but we ment tough to place in a mix and I got young players is guaranteed to light your fire. sparkling transients of the don’t make records that way any - what I was looking for, though the lack They dazzled the crowds at Summergrass most complex sources, as more.” of bass would have made it less suit - 2006 and will be back again this August at well as their inherent Something about that proclamation able in a more sparse musical situation. Summergrass 2008. This concert in the warmth. made me stop what I was doing and In fact, bass, kick drum, and other Powerhouse will be your chance to see and Boasting Class A circuit - reflect for a few moments on the impli - instruments that take up the lower - hear them up close and personal in a venue ry, gold-plated internal and cations of that sentence. What did I most frequency ranges benefited a bit that seats only 100 or so. external connectors, and a really mean by that anyway? Was I say - less from this mic. Get involved in local bluegrass. I promise tightly focused cardioid ing that everyone makes recordings (or However, when placed over a snare you won’t regret it! Visit the SDBS online pickup pattern, this little should) with a strict adherence to a cir - played with brushes, the resulting calendar to see what is happening at dynamo proved its useful - Emma’s Gut Bucket Band cumscribed set of rules? sound seemed absolutely three-dimen - www.socalbluegrass.org, or visit Wayne ness in a wide variety of sit - Frequent readers of this column sional; as if you could actually hear Rice’s KSON Bluegrass Bulleting Board at would probably attest to the fact that I uations. • Next in order were (4) Emma’s Gut Bucket around the sound. I mean, we’re using www.waynerice.com/kson/bgevents.htm, believe there are many paths to mak - My first and subsequent Band and its SDBS-sponsored school out - one mic here, and it sounds like a which also has a complete listing of blue - ing a great recording, all of them valid. favorite use for it was on reach program with 296 points; (5) SDBS’s hologram! grass-related events. Some are obviously easier to justify acoustic guitar. Placing it about 18 Fourth Tuesday’s featured band night at This is how this mic came to be than others, but the road to innova - inches away and pointed toward the Boll Weevil, 290 points; (6) SDBS’s instru - SAD FAREWELLS nicknamed “The Ear” around my stu - tion nearly always bends with an instrument’s lower bout provided a ment donation program, giving instru - It is with sadness that we note the passing dio, because wherever you put it is just unorthodox detour or two along the clear and articulate top end, with none ments to worthy causes, 288 points; (7) of three long-time members of the San Diego like sticking an ear there. way. of the “boomy-ness” that can so often SDBS’s Third Tuesday at Fuddruckers in bluegrass community. First, we lost Clay When you add to that the fact that it In light of this, it’s often easier to plague other mics in this application. Chula Vista, 233 points; (8) band scram - Wolfe, a quiet gentleman who supported can capture the most delicate of signals forge one’s way through the thick tan - Most notable was the welcome bit of bles, 227 points; (9) social get-togethers, local bluegrass and old time music for all the way up to a crushing 164 SPL (a gle of wires and waveforms with a throatiness to the tone, a husky quality 211 points; (10) campouts, 210 points; decades in San Diego and whose presence jet engine is roughly 140 SPL), I’d say broader, gentler overview to guide us, in the low mids that gave the guitar a and (11) workshops, 209 points will be sorely missed. Then, we lost Don there’s very little this mic can’t do. Nelson who died in his 50s after valiantly rather than a specific set of hard and punchy swagger. Sven-Erik Seaholm is an award-winning struggling with cancer for many years. Don fast conventions. For myself, there are Switching the mic’s pad to -15dB a couple of good examples of these and placing it three inches away from independent record producer, singer and was a true inspiration to those who knew songwriter. His impressive discography can him, playing music up until the end. Finally, that adequately illustrate what I mean a loud electric guitar amp, I was be found on his websites: www.kaspro.com we lost Les Preston to an unexpected by this. bowled over by the ballsy tone it and www.svensongs.com aneurism at age 58. Les and his wife Lou Ann were prominent members of the San Diego bluegrass community, performing in North Forty, the Les and Lou Ann Band, and in the Soledad Mountain Band. Les was also SDBS donates instruments to injured vets an SDBS board member, and with wife Lou Ann, produced the annual Bluegrass Day at the Fair for the SDBS. • The recent special concerts produced by We salute all three and send our best SDBS, which included the Gospel wishes to their many friends and loved ones. Program at St. Marks, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, the Gospel Program at the First Baptist Church of Pacific Beach, the Saline Fiddlers, the James King Band, and David Parmley and Continental Divide, were all well attended, with the St. Mark’s Gospel Program garnering the most responses and the David Parmley and Continental Divide concert coming in second. • The members’ ratings for the second, third, and fourth Tuesday regular events, produced by SDBS, were overwhelmingly high, with the vast majority being in the categories of “Great! Keep it up!” or “good” with a few rating the events as “poor” or “very bad.” • There were many suggestions offered as to how to make things better, which the SDBS Board is reviewing, and some changes are expected in response. THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS IN SAN DIEGO The Infamous Stringdusters, will be making a special San Diego appearance on Friday, March 21, at the Del Mar Powerhouse. There will be two concerts, one at 7pm and one at 9pm. The concerts are co-sponsored by the SDBS and the Del Mar Foundation. Tickets are $20. To buy tickets online, go to

12 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ramblin’

Hosing Down Radio Phiillosophy,, Art,, Cullture,, & Musiic STAGES by José Sinatra Daze SHAKEN AND STIRRED by Peter Bolland plain sight for years. I’ve never loved music more Last night at around 3am, taking the than I do right now. I have created the greatest Adams Avenue exit off of the 805, I was CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES radio station on earth. No commercials, no asi - nine sound effects, no FCC regulations, no DJ clobbered once again by the only sight s CD sales continue to crash through chatter, just a miraculous sequence of the best capable of turning me into a horrified, the floor, as record labels and retailers songs ever made. Each song like a gift you didn’t trembling mass of helpless organic mat - Acontinue to vanish from the face of the expect. And then another. Unforeseen and ter. Celebrity organic matter certainly — earth, as recording artists agonize about how to unforeseeable juxtapositions. Perfect pairings. smoothly groomed, immaculately attired record and distribute their music, two things are Song cycles that take your breath away. Familiar, — now instantly bereft of artistic pur - clear: nothing is ever going to be the same, and almost tired songs made new by the whimsy of no one knows what’s coming next. pose, awareness of my need for sleep, serendipitous segues. Who knew that digital When rock and roll was born in the late ’50s could be whimsical? I have come to know my even the ability to scream. Swerving my and early ’60s, fans had one source for new music music collection in a far deeper, more intimate car to avoid the slightest contact with it, I – their AM radios. When they liked what they way than I ever have before. I feel like I’m at a nearly froze stiff as its hating eyes met heard, they ran down to the local record store reunion. I’m embracing long lost friends and mine, its snarl seeming to rasp, “Just try and bought the single or, if they were feeling rekindling old flames. it, you freak. I’m walkin’ here. Oh, by the José Sinatra especially adventurous, the album. A single was a iTunes and iPods have their detractors. Many Jim McInnes way: Boo!” small vinyl record with one song on one side and of the criticisms are valid. The sound quality is That last line was serious overkill. like cloned bunnies. Reputable daily another song on the other side. Sometimes the overly compressed and, compared to high end by Jim McInnes second song was crap. Sometimes it was great. Ever since I approached my teen years newspapers, myself, a few friends and audio systems, relatively lo fi. iTunes has forever The B side of Elvis’ “Hound Dog” was a little altered the music distribution industry. And per - (see Sandurg: The Hose: The Prairee family members seem to be the final holdouts. When I hear it in conversation Johnny Ace Lives! ditty called “Don’t Be Cruel.” Not bad. The B side haps more significantly, it has forever changed Years ), nothing has caused me more fear of “Hey Jude” was “Revolution.” Can you say (and after I gain control of myself), I begin the way people listen to music. You don’t have to than possums. I’m aware that it seems ...not the rockabilly singer Johnny Ace, “defining moment”? listen to entire albums anymore, so you aren’t to address the speakers with a lot of ridiculous, but that doesn’t help a bit; the who died playing Russian Roulette in Albums gave you an opportunity to deepen exposed to new and unfamiliar music as system - simple physical presence of a possum thee s and thou s, hadst s and couldst s, and 1958, though. This Johnny Ace is the your experience of your favorite artists. You loved atically as you used to be. It’s all about individual within my sight has the same effect on they look at me like I’m crazy. Maybe they nom du musique of San Diego singer- them so much, you were dying to hear what else songs now. Something has indeed been lost. But I me as I imagine a taser would, but with - know something I don’t. Like idiotic affec - songwriter John Acord, as well as the title they were up to, even if it wasn’t getting played think it’s naïve to pout about the change. We on the radio. You brought the album home, out the laughs. I’ve learned empathy tation, as opposed to the studied kind, at of his self-released CD. I had played his should say yes to it and embrace it. The album which we crazy people have always been stuff under his real name back when I pulled the vinyl LP out of its inner sleeve, placed format is not dead, but it is evolving. I think through this terror — you won’t find me it on the turntable, then sat back and stared at so adept. hosted KGB’s “Homegrown” show. there still is a need for “albums” of work, small scoffing at someone who admits to a fear the album art while soaking in every note of collections of songs, an hour or so long. It’s a I nearly did need a straight jacket after A few months ago he sent me a of snakes or walking under ladders or Pat recording at KFMB, where I am a news - every song, lost in the dizzying discovery of a comfortable format. It’ll be around for a while. I reading a recent report from the Robertson. Sure, I might laugh at their man. I reminded him that I no longer new world. Three weeks later after dozens of still like hearing new music. I like being chal - idiocy in private, but my outward Associated Press. The FCC, it seems, is had a rock radio show where I could play spins you knew all the songs by heart. You knew lenged and stretched beyond the “hits.” I make demeanor will always be one of compas - set to go against 52 ABC owned/affiliat - local musicians. He said he was aware of the sequence. And because you listened to the sure to put lots of songs on my play lists that are sion and concern. ed TV stations to the tune of 1.4 million that and just wanted my opinion. As I entire album all the way through every time, the not familiar favorites. songs between your favorite songs opened up and After awhile I was able to gain the dollars. You see, back in 2003, a particu - often do when people give me CDs, I I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I became your favorites too. You gave the music a only know that music is alive and well. The necessary composure to complete my lar episode (what? not nearly all?) of put it aside, thinking that some day I’d chance to work its magic on you – and it did. medium of conveyance changes with the tide, but journey home, where my sleep was NYPD Blue portrayed “multiple, close-up check it out. That day came a few weeks later Lori and I finally joined the modern world the waves and waves of mysterious, beautiful, repeatedly punctured with nightmares views” of a woman’s “naked buttocks.” and got our first iPod for Christmas. We had the when I was in a particularly down mood. glorious music rise forever from the limitless and The valiantly insane FCC insists that this same problem everybody else had – a thousand about possums. Which is why I’m so I was driving up the 15 when I remem - inexhaustible source. Our challenge is only to violates its rule against portraying or CDs scattered around the house (and boxes of cranky today — just the sort of mood bered his CD was in my glove box. I put make sure the medium never hinders the flow, depicting “sexual or excretory activities.” vinyl in the garage) and no simple way of enjoy - conducive to collating a few pervasive it in and after the first minute, my mood but enhances it. In that sense, I think the iPod is ing any of it. All those great songs buried on complaints I’ve felt during the last month I’ve seen the episode and can truthfully (if brightened! It was the tonic I needed. a miracle. Despite what has been lost. mediocre albums, the inelegance and impractical - or so, and putting them down on paper in sadly) state that those nude buttocks The first track, “Little Angel,” begins Peter Bolland is a professor of philosophy and ity of tracking down the right disk, opening the humanities at Southwestern College and singer- were not involved with either exercise. like a combination of Pink Floyd’s “Shine hopes that they’ll scurry away. How jewel case, calling up, say, track ten, listening to songwriter-guitarist of the Coyote Problem. You Will somebody please tell these imbe - pleasant it is to peacefully dream. . . . on You Crazy Diamond” and “One of it, then getting up and searching the house for can complain to him about what you read here at [email protected]. www.thecoyoteproblem.com About six years ago in this column, I ciles that although there is a crack prob - These Days,” with an electric guitar style the next CD. It makes you crazy to the point is the ethereal home of the Coyote Problem. laid out my hatred of the word “cool” and lem in the United States, it’s inarguably very much like Mark Knopfler’s laid over where you just don’t bother. It’s like sitting on a the top. The vocal is very closely miked my fervent wish that it be supplanted by not centered between a pair of naked gold mine and not owning a shovel. The iPod and multi-tracked to great effect, something — anything — else. Here, six female cheeks? changed everything. To me, the only dangerous cheeks in reminding me of Leonard Cohen on an In the days after Christmas I gathered togeth - years later, the word’s grip on our society up day. Strummed acoustic guitars, bass, Everybody Loves the the entire world are those on the face of er all the scattered CDs – some in the kitchen, has grown monstrous. For God’s sake, and a conga drum round out the back - Paris Hilton, and this is entirely a person - some in the band room, some in our offices at EvErLy BrothErs! even the Reader is now touting itself as ing track. As the track fades out I’m work, some in the den, some in senseless stacks al matter; they bookend a physiognomy the “Cool Paper”! It’s become the nearly reminded of 10cc’s multi-layered vocal around the living room stereo and some, oddly automatic choice for a positive adjective, that seems more marsupial than human. drone on “I’m Not in Love.” This is an enough, in the CD cabinet. As the gathering pro - a perfect no-brainer descriptive for even And, of course, that’s my own problem, eight-minute head trip, dude. gressed, the stacks on the dining room table grew those who still seem at times to possess but it’s stickin’ with me until it scares me “Mexico” has a long spacy Spanish- taller. When I was certain I had them all, the something of a brain, and its tragic con - to death. flavored intro before Ace’s distinctive low sorting began. Local stuff in one pile. Classical vocal enters to tell the story of regretting and instrumental in another. And the main pile of sequences are building up secretly some - Hope to see you at the big Java Joe never having moved to our Southern all the rock, folk, and country stuff. I arranged where, awaiting their cataclysmic reunion on March 1 at the Handlery Hotel. Don’t play possum; go out and neighbor. “Streets” has a fine soulful each pile alphabetically by artist. Then the real release. I foresee that future explosion, vocal about getting away – a theme that work began. enjoy a memorable night. Among similar the awe-inspiring effects of which will be runs throughout this album – with a fine Ten at a time I carried them into the den musical showcases, this one looks sub - witnessed by the startled millions staring laid-back guitar break that really where the computer sat waiting. One by one I Join us for an evening of limely neato, no butts about it. wide-eyed, stunned, unable to verbally breathes. This guy is a tasteful, economi - placed the shiny silver disks onto the out - Everly Brothers’ songs at asses the scene any other way than to cal player with excellent taste. He knows stretched tongue of my PC like a priest handing unanimously sigh in unison, “Cool.” what to not play on the guitar. out communion wafers. As each disk slid out of sight, iTunes sucked it dry of every drop of data. Joe rathburn’s Also, way back then (if six years can “Rockaway” is a gentle, yet mysteri - Then onto the next one. Three or four grueling really be considered “way back”), I noted ous-sounding, ode to opening your heart Folkey Monkey and letting it sing. “Helpme,” a faux live days later (I lost track of time) our entire CD col - the vapid encroachment of the word track, sounds like Knopfler singing, lection was copied into iTunes. I plugged the with guests “amongst” into territory previously backed by the Eagles and Procol Harum iPod into one of the USB ports and it synched usurped and held by “among.” And, like (great organ solo), yet its derivativeness itself up. For a computer Neanderthal like me, Liz Abbott and “cool,” “amongst” just continues to breed doesn’t bother me. Johnny Ace obviously this was all fairly painless. After another day of Kent Johnson reveres his musical influences. “Hit&Run” trial and error, with occasional forays into the is John Mellencamp meets Dire Straits. online manual, I learned how to make play lists. That’s when the magic happened. It’s great, too. “Made It Home” could thursday, March 6 The bottom line: iTunes and its portable com - have been written by John Fogerty. ponent the iPod liberated my music from the Milano Coffee Co. Again, the theme is about getting away. prison to which it had been sentenced. No longer You hear all of Acord’s influences: Pink 8685 Rio San Diego Dr. languishing in a dusty archival stack of long for - Floyd, Dire Straits, Fogerty, etc. (That’s gotten, isolated, disconnected data-storage 7-9pm. just what I hear, although Mr. Ace may devices (physical CDs), the music once again disagree!) But, hell, there’s nothing became a living, breathing force. iTunes and the wrong with that if you do it well. Johnny iPod rendered all of my music into one seamless, (Ace) Acord does it extremely well. flawlessly interconnected and highly navigable I wholeheartedly recommend Johnny stream. Ace to San Diego Troubadour readers! The two best things about the iPod: play lists Oh, and beware the Ides of March . and shuffle. I’ve created a number of play lists. They’ve regrouped and are on tour Then I listen to the play list on “shuffle.” I’m again! rediscovering lost jewels that have been hidden in www.sandiegotroubadour.com 13 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase continued

Gereard Nolan, cont. from page 10 back to school at San Diego State and fin - Having met a couple from L.A. on the my limited time in the pub scene that it your money at night, and then expect to ished off my degree in jazz studies. Since beach in Miami who offered to put Brian can be a wonderful way to hone your be creative during the day.’ The perfect money, you know what I mean… it was then, I’ve just been working around town, up in a house they owned on the West chops and grow as a musician and enter - scenario is to write songs during the day good.” and I teach.” Coast (if ever he should make his way tainer; the people are wonderful, the and do my creative thing, and then go out Working pretty much constantly with And lucky students they are. From my there), he looked them up upon arriving in money is consistent, and it can be a lot of and make money at night. But it doesn’t Johnny Polanco, he somehow managed own limited experience, Gerard Nolan is California. They set him up with a couple fun. But at a certain point you stop grow - work, because it’s a lifestyle.” I couldn’t to get another year of school under his one of the very most talented, profession - of other guys from Miami in a house in ing and start to lose inspiration. Eventually agree with him more. belt before circumstances moved him al, and versatile musicians I have ever Riverside, with the only stipulation being Brian burned out. “I remember being on On the up side, it dawned on Brian at a down to San Diego. The band was playing had the good fortune to work with. He is that they take care of the place and, oh stage and not caring whether or not my certain point that he had become an Irish at Cafe Seville when Gerard met his as much sought after for his creative, pre - yes, play in a band that they would front guitar was in tune. I went way past the guitar player. “What I loved about lead gui - future wife, Jennifer. “She was about to cise, and quick studio work as he is for his the money for. point of diminishing returns. I should have tar was that it could be so passionate and have knee surgery and was out on the gorgeous performances and easy likabili - It didn’t take long for him to realize done that for two years, maybe three wail all these long notes, but when you town to dance one last time before she’d ty on stage. He has appeared with the that all the money was coming from ille - years, but I did it… I don’t know, 12 or 15 think about it, that’s the Uilleann pipes; all be off her feet for six months. I went up O’Jays, Gilbert O’Sullivan, and Lewis gal activities and that the band was actu - while trying really hard to be creative.” these long, sad notes, but that’s what to the bar to get a drink at the break; we Stewart, and performs regularly with his ally a tax shelter. “The next thing, we find Later on, he advised a young pub band attracted me about the sustain of the gui - started talking, exchanged phone num - band Cashel, an Irish/jazz/funk/groove ourselves at Gold Star Studios in that he was producing. “They said they’d bers, and that was it.” ensemble as well as the Gerard Nolan Hollywood; Herb Albert’s trumpets on the just do the Irish pub thing at night, and I That brings us to December of 1999. Jazz Quartet, which are set to record their wall… the Supremes recorded their hits said, ‘Good luck, it cannot be done; make continued on page 16 With Y2K looming on the horizon, Gerard’s second album in the coming months. there. They made us sound like a big passport and visa expired. Thinking he He also founded a production compa - famous band so that they could lose a lot would go home to Ireland to sort it all out ny called Cashel Entertainment; which of money. When the album was nearly fin - and come directly back, it came as offers professional quality Irish as well as ished and I got wind of what was going unhappy surprise when he wasn’t other genres of music here in Southern on, I started demanding the money they allowed back into the States. “I went to California. Cashel recently saw its second had promised, and everything went down - the embassy to try and get back, but they annual performance of A Celtic Christmas hill. I had no means to support myself, so turned me down. They said I’d over - Celebration at UCSD’s Mandeville I was out on the streets in Hollywood with stayed my visa, because I’d been in Auditorium, produced and directed by a hundred dollars and a guitar. It was a America for five years. I’d only been in Gerard himself. weird existence for a while.” school for three years, so they were like The arrival of baby number two last Employing some very creative and ‘that’s a bad boy’ and gave me an November now finds Gerard double ingenious methods, Brian and his girl - automatic ten year denial access to booked, along with the role of daddy. The friend survived the crisis until a friend of America, right? And I had a life here; I had baby’s due date happened to coincide his in San Diego encouraged him to join a girlfriend, a car, an apartment I was with the release party for the Flimz debut the very warm and welcoming Irish com - renting, so I just went to the airport any - album; his lovely wife was kind enough to munity down here. “The Irish community way and tried to just get on the plane. here is full of really nice people. It wasn’t They didn’t let me on. They stamped Brian Baynes, cont. from page 11 like that in L.A. They helped us; we had a something like ‘bad boy’ on my pass - moving truck, and it seemed like half the port, but I was gonna try.” After a year of a very comfortable living bar (at the Blarney Stone in Clairemont) They eventually decided to have came out to move us… great community Jennifer fly to Dublin, so that they could in Miami, recreating an Irish atmosphere for shuffleboard playing retirees, Brian was spirit. I ended up playing the Irish bars be married there and sort it out that way. down here and got a job right away. I Gerard was just waiting on the final paper - bored. “All I wanted to do was something creative. Here was this great gig… every - thought I’d do that for a while. I was prob - work to go through when 9/11 happened. ably one of the highest paid entertainers “I thought oh no, I’m screwed now, you thing paid for, but at that age I wasn’t interested in survival. I thought L.A.’s in San Diego at one time; the pub scene know?” But November 11 of 2001 saw is like a booking agency. But ultimately, Gerard, green card in hand, on his way where it’s happening, so I got on a Greyhound bus with two expensive guitars it’s a trap. I ended up doing that a lot back to San Diego, and he’s been here longer than I had ever intended.” ever since. “So, I came back, then I went and a pocketful of cash; it was the dumb - est thing.” I sympathized with Brian, knowing from

14 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR highway’s song Transatlantic Tea Time with Beoga

by Steve Thorn band to put a spin on. It’s one of those songs that everybody has heard sung at eoga (translation: lively) is an some stage by someone. For example, I innovative five-piece Irish group heard a new version of it last week Bconsisting of Liam Bradley (key - while in town. I’ve no idea who the Members of the Irish music group Beoga boards, vocals), Niamh Dunne (fiddle, artist was and later that day I watched vocals), Eamon Murray (percussion, Jamie Cullum do another cover on TV! vocals), and the dueling accordions of Two totally different versions of the last few years and more recently in the toes, we’ll call it a day!” Damian Mckee (vocals) and Sean Og same song. It’s a great tune, really U.S. and the reaction is unbelievable. Don’t count on that occurring in the Graham (vocals). If their YouTube tour catchy and fun, the way songs in the People seem to enjoy what we are foreseeable future. diary videos are any indication, the title ’20s and ’30s were. We enjoyed putting doing with the music and get into it Beoga performs Sunday night, March 2, of the group’s current CD, Mischief , is the Beoga stamp on it and we love play - from the word ‘go.’ It’s great to see that at 7:30 in the parish hall of Holy Trinity appropriate. ing it live, too.” young people are once again enjoying Church, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Ocean “I guess Mischief is a reference to the As the band once again prepares to folk music and it’s even better that they Beach. Tickets are $20 in advance or $22 music more so than anything else,” said leave the old sod and tour “the enjoy our brand of music. Most of our at the door. Phone 858-689-2266 for tick - Dunne during an Internet chat with the colonies,” Murray reflected on the gigs are abroad and we love it that way. et reservations or visit www.holytrinity - San Diego Troubadour from Ireland. “We international popularity of Beoga. All our crowds are really appreciative ob.com really enjoy playing and arranging our “It has been amazing. We have been and long may it continue. Once they music, especially our own composi - touring a lot throughout Europe in the start to throw rotten or tinned toma - a sense of freedom to play around with tions, and in a sense it’s about translat - ideas and push the boundaries.” ing that sense of fun through the tunes The boundaries are pushed, indeed. and songs. I think Mischief really How many traditional Irish groups do reflects what Beoga are all about, a cover version (“Dirty Work”) by although to be fair it could be said that Steely Dan? we certainly get up to our fair share of “Steely Dan are heroes! Their music devilment on the road, too!” Tour of Ireland Will Highlight Concert Season is so clever and distinctive,” said The fun comes from hearing Beoga’s Murray. “We were hunting around for diverse sound. “All the members of the another song to put on the album when band are fans of good music, regardless our co-producer and good friend Shaun of genre,” said Dunne. “I suppose it’s a ‘Mudd’ Wallace said, ‘What about ‘Dirty case of playing something a bit differ - Work?’ Niamh, our singer, took a listen ent, not just to keep our audience inter - and loved the song from the word go, ested, but to excite us, too, to keep it which we were delighted about. It was interesting. Our music is definitely a bit bold covering such a song but so rooted in traditional Irish, but most of few bands in Irish music take a leap of our tunes are self-composed, so it gives faith, so we thought, why not? Thankfully the reviews have been all positive...alleluia!” Another splendid musical leap on Mischief is “Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone,” a classic from the Great American Songbook that was recorded by Sinatra, Lady Ella, Lady Day, and many others. “I first came across the song while by Steve Thorn Christian heritage and will include Closer to home, Bausch and Holy listening to the wonderful Willie unique monastic sites well over 1,000 Trinity concert coordinator Susan Batt Nelson,” said Murray. “He does a great ince 1997, Father Larry Bausch and years old and splendid medieval are launching the new concert season. version and I thought it would be per - his dedicated staff of volunteers at churches.” Last year witnessed memorable per - fect for both Niamh’s voice and for the the Holy Trinity Church have Other famous sites will include the formances by Scottish songwriter Jim Sbrought some of Ireland’s finest musi - Dingle Peninsula, familiar to film buffs Malcolm, Irish singer Muireann Nic cians to perform in the parish hall of around the world from the movie Ryan’s Amhlaoibh, and Irish Uilleann piper the Ocean Beach church. For many in Daughter , and the beauty of the Skellig Paddy Keenan. Holy Trinity departed Islands. from their strictly Celtic format by the audience, the sounds of a fiddle or Bausch said that in order “to provide hosting contemporary California the Uilleann pipes have been the closest a comprehensive view of Irish history, singer/songwriter Kat Parsons for a they’ve come to setting foot on the we will also visit sites that illuminate noteworthy concert one evening last Emerald Isle. the past 500 years and address such summer. But this concert season, Bausch has issues as the relationship between This year’s season starts with a provided a solution. During two weeks England and Ireland, rural life, and Sunday evening show on March 2, fea - in the summer, the Anglican priest will emigration. These visits will be aug - turing Beoga (see accompanying arti - serve as tour guide on a journey that mented by opportunities to enjoy tradi - cle), an Irish group renowned for their includes famous historical sites of tional Irish music, which has sustained live concerts and their penchant for Ireland by day and the opportunity to and uplifted the people throughout musical unpredictability. hear traditional Irish music by night. their history. Music sessions will be “The Holy Trinity Concert Series is Through an arrangement with available at pubs in Dublin, Galway and still confirming the lineup for the Connoisseurs Tours of Savannah, Killarney during the tour.” remainder of 2008, but we promise a Georgia, Bausch will lead a tour pack - To appreciate traditional Irish music, hearty mix of audience favorites, plus age called “An Anglican Heritage Tour Bausch recommends viewing the DVD some up-and-coming newer artists, all Exploring the Character of Ireland.” Inné Amárach (“Yesterday Tomorrow”), in the Celtic tradition,” said Batt. “It “The island of Ireland, the western a superb documentary of the five-man will be well worth the wait to have a edge of Europe, expresses stunning nat - group, Teada, and the legendary musi - solid lineup later this year. Many of the ural beauty,” said Bausch. “It has also cians who come from the band’s home best Celtic artists play festivals in been inhabited for more than 5,000 base, County Sligo, in Northeastern Europe over the summer.” years, becoming home to many peoples Ireland. The disc also explores the Irish Connoisseurs Tours (phone: 1-800- whose various cultures have con - emigration to North America following 856-1045) is currently accepting reser - tributed to its rich historical deposit. the devastating potato famine of the vations for the Ireland tour, scheduled During the tour, we will visit several of nineteenth century and the internation - for August 15–27. Celtic music lovers the many remarkable places, both al following that traditional Irish music are invited to join the Holy Trinity coastal and inland. Most of our destina - enjoys today, particularly in China and mailing list by visiting www.holytrinity - tions will be to important historical Japan! Visit the Compass Records web - ob.com. sites, ranging from Newgrange, a site at http://compassrecords.com/teada neolithic tomb built in 3,200 B.C., to for further information on Téada and modern, thriving Dublin. Our particu - the DVD. lar focus will be on Ireland’s rich www.sandiegotroubadour.com 15 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR parlor showcase continued

Brian Baynes, cont. from page 14 David Page, cont. from page 11 gig at Dublin Square Dave met Gerard Nolan. “Another friend said, ‘Do you know tar. I thought well, if I’m going to have to matter what we later went on to do, the Gerard? He’s from Dublin… great player.’ make a living making this music, I’ll times we spent as a trio are the happiest Once again, that was it; we started playing make it interesting and try to make the memories for all three of us.” The gigs together.” arrangements interesting. That’s when I like Sinatra were lucrative, but according Page Drums came into being after got into open tunings before it was cool. I to Dave, the price was high in stress. making a set of drums for the famous thought I can be a lead guitar player and “You’d think… okay, this is going to be deaf Scottish drummer, Evelyn Glenny in get paid playing Irish music. I can have it over in an hour, then I get my check; I 1980. His revolutionary snare drum design both ways; I can be a good musician and don’t have to work for two months now if is now being played by Larry Mullins Jr. of still play Irish music.” I don’t want to, but you paid for it as well, U2, and demand for his parade drum is That last statement made me laugh, a lot of pressure.” growing at a phenomenal rate in Ireland but Brian pointed out to me that there Knowing that he’d done a brief stint in and Scotland where there are literally hun - really hadn’t been a history of guitar the New York production of Riverdance in dreds of pipe bands. In fact, Dave and his played as a lead instrument in Irish 2002 (they were using Page custom wife are on their way back across the music. Up until that time, it had been pret - drums), I wondered if Dave had had much pond tomorrow morning to confirm spon - ty much used only for rhythm. “People opportunity earlier in his career to play sorship at the World Champion Pipe Band thought it was dumb, but I thought well, Irish music beyond his stint on accordion Competition in August in Glasgow. why can’t it be a lead instrument? If I can with his dad. “At that time, it was hokey The U2 story is an article unto itself, play blues on it, why not Irish music? Now Irish music, not like Riverdance ; but like reading almost like a scene from one of Gerard Nolan and David Page with their bandmates in the band Cashel it’s kind of popular and people do it, but ‘diddily uppity diggity diggity’ on snare the 007 movies Dave contributed to the it wasn’t that way a dozen years ago.” drum; I hate the bodhran. Well, I don’t soundtrack of, and perhaps will find its These days find Brian mostly in his stu - hate it, but there are other instruments way into a future edition of this newspa - dio, producing and recording albums for a like djembe, which a lot of people don’t per. I was held completely captive in total wide variety of local and visiting artists, realize is older than the bodhran. People fascination as he described his initial both Irish and from a wide variety of other say, ‘Oh, but the bodhran is a traditional meeting at the U2 Headquarters, and I genres. He can still be seen performing Irish instrument,’ and it is, but it’s not the can hardly wait to de-brief him upon his locally, most notably with the San Diego original, you know. The djembe got over to return on the first of March. Symphony with which he has performed Ireland before the bodhran; the bodhran’s My time with Dave, both in pursuit of selections from his album Celtic Guitar not that old. That’s the problem with a lot this interview, as well as the time I’ve (featuring fiddler Martin Hayes), including of people; they’ll just go back so far, and spent on stage with him, has been a com - his own original compositions, along with that’s their idea of traditional.” Dave plete joy and delight; he’s a talented drummer David Page (featured in this arti - expressed a high regard for what musician with an illustrious and very col - cle). He had a role in the blockbuster Riverdance has done to bring Irish music orful career history and, just as important, movie Titanic and will be performing this into the “now,” especially world beat a lovely man and an asset to every com - summer with Canadian fiddler Eileen Ivers rhythms fused with traditional Celtic munity he’s a part of, both musically and and Uilleann piper Eric Rigler at the melodies. “It was so refreshing to me, otherwise. Summer Pops Series on July 31. because it’s the one thing I would have He’s known by many locals as “Uncle I expect that we will be seeing more of wanted to happen to Irish music. It’s a Dave” inasmuch as his sister Moy (a tal - this talented and versatile musician in the great show.” ented musician in her own right, having coming year, as he tells me he’s getting In 1997, Dave and his wife, Sandy, set - once toured with the Beatles as part of a the itch to perform again. It’s a very tled in San Diego to retire; about five band called the Beat Chicks) is mother to good thing for those of us who appreciate years ago he made the decision to get off one of our favorite local singer/songwrit - listening to great music while we lift our the road to play local gigs and run his ers: Gregory Page. That makes three gen - pints in honor of the gift of song they so drum business. It was in the process of erations of Pages that have contributed so graciously bestow upon us. Slainte, Brian! selecting musicians for The Daiti Show ; a richly to the music and culture of our tribute to Dave Sr., he produced at the community. Speckles Theater, that he really began connecting with the local Irish community. In Closing “Somebody said, ‘Go into the Blarney Stone,’ so I went in there and met Brian Well, I don’t know about you, gentle read - Baynes and heard his band. I thought er, but I have greatly enjoyed spending K time with these three fascinating Irish ‘this is the sort of thing I’m looking for.' So that was it, we got together.” Then at a musicians, and when St. Patrick’s Day

16 www.myspace.com/sandiegotroubadour MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR of note

Terence East West Jorge Espinoza Zen Boy & Dayna Carroll Un Minuto Yesterday, Today Blanchard by Chuck Schiele Karma Girl I’m always a big fan when some - Forever… A Tale of God’s body tries something new instead of by Mike Alvarez (with Felimon Alvarez) Who They Are and doing all the cool things somebody It would be so easy to dismiss this by Paul Hormick Will (A Requiem else already did. I’m a big fan of the CD as just another collection of How They Came to artistic risk involved with sticking Spanish guitar ballads with over - your neck out. There’s a commitment Culled from Tin Pan Alley, for Katrina) wrought, sentimental lyrics. That was Be! Broadway musicals, and standard there that’s pure, raw, and magnetic. my first impression, but something Having said that, I dig it, too, jazz performance, Dayna Carroll has made me want to give it a chance. put together ten classics from the by Mike Alvarez when any artist refers to a certain tra - by Craig Yerkes That something was its similarity to a Great American Songbook in her dition with their own music, and gets lot of music I heard my dad play on The first time I gave this CD a According to their CD sleeve and new CD Yesterday, Today Forever… . it “right.” his own guitar while I was growing spin was while in the car. I hadn’t yet their website, Zen Boy and Karma Carroll has a soft voice and delivery, Interestingly, music always up. Being Filipino, we share a huge looked at the song titles or liner Girl are intergalactic superheroes sort of like Blossom Dearie in her less changes when one style, genre, or Spanish influence with most Latin notes, so I had no preconceived who’ve been stranded here on earth rambunctious phases or Billie Holiday “thing” influences another. And the cultures, so the sound is very familiar notions of what to expect. It starts and have chosen to be folk singers in in the latter part of her career. Like yin and yang of it all is what makes and comfortable. My dad is no musi - with “Ghosts of Congo Square,” a order to keep a low profile. Clearly, Dearie and Holiday, Carroll’s forte is sense in the new result. Motown met cal lightweight; in fact, he has a very percussion-driven chant underscored these space travelers are smarter not in belting out the big notes and Memphis, and boom! God gave us discriminating ear for a lot of great by a manic acoustic bassline and than the Coneheads, whose only shaking the rafters but in her great rock and roll. East West strikes me as music so I ran this by him. wild trumpet soloing. The following cover was that they were from sense of time and phrasing. being about this notion. He loved it! Un Minuto ’s mostly track, “Levees,” is a somber orches - France. On their new CD, Who They Propelled less by dynamics and Take your standard jazz band com - minor key chords and melodies were tral jazz piece that is at once mourn - Are and How They Came to Be , the melody, Carroll works at intimately prised of the traditional instrumenta - right up his alley, as were the skillful - ful and exquisitely beautiful. At this duo shows they are quite adaptive evoking the meaning and emotion tion of drums, bass, guitars, winds, ly played guitars. The arrangements point, what attention I didn’t need alien life forms, managing to imitate of the lyrics. It gives the listener a some piano…. Then take a sound are sparse, mostly rhythm and lead for driving was immediately riveted a cool, quirky folk duo. There’s one chance to hear these chestnuts in a that pays respectful homage to forms guitars with some subtle keyboard to the sound coming out of my thing, though…aliens don’t seem to new way and hear the joy, wistful - like the blues, and Mendes-like bas - backing and occasional light percus - speakers. I couldn’t wait to get home have the same marketing consisten - ness, heartbreak, and humor that sas, with flutes offering a smooth sion. The intent is to showcase to give this a proper audition. While I cy that humans demonstrate; the CD these songs have always contained. edge to it. Espinoza’s gentle vocals as well as have never been to New Orleans, I cover art shows four wildly different All of Carroll’s vocals are backed by What’s so different about that? the immaculate guitar playing by knew, somehow, that the storm-rav - artistic renderings of the super - spare arrangements, most of the Nothing. Ernesto Javier, and that‘s precisely aged southern city was the well - heroes. These E.T.s are fairly cynical time only the piano of Sue Palmer or Now, imagine the koto player the effect that is achieved. Lyrically, spring from which this music flowed. about what they see here on earth. Lin Cook. Bass, guitar, and drums, busting out into a jazz solo, or sur - it is very much in tune with the The imagery it evokes is so vivid that Disillusionment and resignation reign provided by Sharon Shufelt and Pete dos, castanets, and flamenco shoes romantic traditions of Latin-derived this conclusion is unmistakable. supreme in the lyrics, but you might Harrison, are added to some of the spicing things up a bit. Amazingly, cultures. It’s only when he switches Trumpeter Terence Blanchard’s miss that darkness if you focus on tunes. over the course of 10 great tracks, to English, as in the songs “Por Que jazz quintet makes up the core the whimsical music as opposed to For the older tunes, Carroll the five band members — along with Sera?” and “No Sabia Amar,“ that ensemble of players. Each is a highly the words. “Love, Love, Love” has a includes the full introductions. For five sit-ins — manage to weave the the words sound a bit on the syrupy accomplished musician, capable of title and a sugary melody that might those of you younger folks who musical equivalent to sunshine side. When sung in their native providing the deftest subtleties as suggest it’s yet another folk song don’t know what these are, it’s when played on about 17 different instru - tongue, they work like gangbusters! well as the most spectacular fire - extolling the virtues of caring for singers came onto a Vaudeville or ments. And this proves to be a lot of As a friend of mine once said, “There works. There is a singleness of pur - your fellow man, but this depressing minstrel show stage, they sang the fun. are some things you just can’t say in pose here that is served well by their take on the absence of love in every - intros, often in free time and having No slouches in this band either; English.” incredible technique and sense of day life might even make Nietzsche reflective lyrics, to set the musical they all excel in their respective In all honesty, I’d have to charac - taste. Blanchard in particular proves say, “dang!” “There Won’t Be” also mood for a tune. It’s nice to hear duties. I like this CD very much, pret - terize Espinoza’s voice as merely ade - to be a master of his craft, wringing uses upbeat folk hooks (really, really them again. ty much from head to toe, although I quate to the task. He has a nice, every drop of emotion out of each good ones, I might add) to deliver a Opening the disk is Bill Barnes’ must admit that I did pop a groaner warm presence and stays in a com - horn note. Augmenting their per - fairly depressing message. Oh, and “Something Cool,” a tune that isn’t with the gorgeously orchestrated fortable range that works well for formance is the Northwest Sinfonia, for those of you who are tempted to often heard these days. Most singers translation of George Gershwin’s him. There were times when I felt a 40-piece string orchestra that lends wonder if this music is meant for avoid this one, having difficulty in “Summertime.” It’s a great job. that sentiments such as these called a cinematic vastness and emotional kids, the “F-Bomb” on the first tune interpreting the song’s theme, which Again, it sports a beautifully played for a more impassioned and expres - gravity to the music. The one defin - should put that idea right out of is that seduction can work cool, and koto, which in itself is interesting. But sive delivery. Also, when the ing characteristic that runs through - your head. Some might find the maybe a bit tawdry, as well as hot. when I think of that song, what it melodies get complex, he sometimes out is a sense of the bittersweet. darker lyrics a bit much, but I think This is a welcome reworking. Musical really means and where it came from wanders a shade off pitch. Not While there is a lament over what it’s cool and authentic. On a purely genius Scott Paulson backs up the — a certain sense of raw sorrow enough to detract too much from was lost, there is also a celebration of musical level, this stuff is actually song with a pristine and beautiful should be present to keep the tradi - the listening experience, but it some - those things that can never be taken quite good, if you’re into this retro- oboe. And speaking of seduction, tion right. This particular take is too times is noticeable and must be away. Sadness goes hand in hand hippie “new folk” (think “New “Lost It at the Astor,” filled with bois - perfect, actually, coming off more mentioned. with resilience and hope. Dissonance Slang” by the Shins for a reference terous double entendre, is the like a polished mimosa. I’ve heard a Because there are just a few gives way to beauty. The chords and point). Much of it reminded me of naughty and funny song of the disk. lot of those. instruments and voices employed in melodies are startling, unexpected, soundtrack music I am starting to “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” However, the risk that the band this recording, there is a lot of space and inspired. The music is precise hear in many of the recent teen-cen - one of the great songs that came took in doing it this “way” had me in the arrangements. Every part is and tight when it needs to be, but it tric movies like Juno . The vocals are out of the Depression Era – about listening to it three times in a row. clearly audible and placed well in the also swings with abandon when the exactly as you would expect them to the Depression – and one of the (And, further, my opinion has noth - audio field. Yet there is a missing occasion calls for it. be (think minimalistic) and there are greatest songs ever written, is a tune ing to do with the artistic successes quality to the sound that makes me This is a deep listening experi - great instrumental touches that that Carroll heard when she was of their unique take.) suspect it was not recorded, mixed, ence, not to be undertaken lightly. reminded me of Brian Wilson’s studio growing up in the hills of West It’s definitely a worthy addition to or mastered in a professional studio. There are layers upon layers of tinkerings. “Yeah Yeah” and “There Virginia. Carroll’s heartbreaking inter - your jazz collection. Regardless, they present the music meaning and emotion to be gleaned Won’t Be” will easily become pretation conveys the feeling of a www.eastwestjazz.com intelligently. The person who mixed from this work. While Blanchard is cemented in your brain due to their pride that has been irrevocably this has a great ear because there is the primary composer and leader of continued from previous column memorably catchy, sing-along cho - betrayed and broken by the unre - a good balance and separation the quintet, other members con - ruses. “Life of the Party” walks a fine lenting hard times. between the various instruments and tributed pieces for the group. It is a part of a greater whole. line between playful moping and Also included on this disk is “As voices. startlingly cohesive effort, showing Later research revealed that A serious heartbreak as it tells the tale Time Goes By,” which Carroll had I don’t know that Un Minuto that these musicians are very much Tale of God’s Will is the soundtrack for of the obligatory long-suffering male covered on Sue Palmer’s CD would have much crossover appeal, in tune with each other. As such, it’s Spike Lee’s 2006 HBO documentary forced to cope with a female whose Sophisticated Ladies . When I reviewed but those with an appreciation for difficult to pick certain pieces above When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in status as a social butterfly leaves him that disk, Isaid that Carroll per - this kind of music would undoubted - others. If pressed, I would select the Four Acts , but it stands up very well lonely, high, and dry. formed the best version of this tune ly enjoy it very much. Because my achingly beautiful “Ashe,” the tri - on its own as a fully realized musical If Zen Boy and Karma Girl really ever. After a few months of reconsid - dad gave it a thumbs up, I can say umphant “Over There,” and the composition. It even won a 2008 want to get off this planet, they ering, I still stand by what I said. This this with great confidence. mournfully dignified “Funeral Dirge” Grammy award for Best Large Jazz should make sure the soundtrack is the best. This song perfectly cap - as the ones with early staying power. Ensemble Album. Rare is the compo - music moguls in Hollywood hear tures the notion that love commands However, I strongly urge that that sition that will leave me in a silently their stuff. Their music, for this niche us all, through all of its joy, hate, and one listen to this album from start to contemplative mood long after its genre, is as good as you will find and jealousy. And no other version cap - finish. Each selection is an important conclusion. That’s exactly what this might make them enough royalty tures this as well. money to get their spacecraft fixed. continued adjacent one did. It’s that good. www.sandiegotroubadour.com 17 MARCH 2008 SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR ’round about

sunday • 16 MARCH CALENDAR Temecula Bluegrass Festival , Old Town Front WEEKLY St., Temecula, 11pm. Sweet Joyce Ann , Tower Two, 5083 Santa Monica, 2:30pm. every sunday Open Mic , Across the Street @ Mueller College, 4605 Park Blvd., 8pm. Rick Helzer/John Stowell/Ellen Weller/Bob Shawn Rohlf & Friends , Farmers Market, saturday • 1 Sven-Erik Seaholm/Patti Zlaket/Michael Weller/Mark Dresser , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & DMV parking lot, Hillcrest, 10am. Open Mic , Joe & Andy’s, 8344 La Mesa Blvd., Tiernan , Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 8pm. Shelter Island Dr., 6pm. Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 4pm. Bluegrass Brunch , Urban Solace, 3823 30th Dave Humphries CD Release , Humphrey’s Flora Purim & Airto , Anthology, 1337 India St., St., 10:30am. Open Mic , Dublin Square, 544 4th Ave., 9pm. Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 4pm. Locked Out of Eden , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. 7:30pm. Daniel Jackson , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 11am. Blue Creek , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. Celtic Ensemble , Twiggs, 4590 Park Blvd., 78 (3 miles west of Julian), 6pm. Tommy Sands , San Dieguito United Methodist 4pm. every thursday Java Joe’s One Shot Showcase , Handlery Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, 7:30pm. monday • 17 Clachan Boys , R.O. Sullivan’s Irish Pub, 118 E. Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle N., 7pm. Grand Ave., Escondido, 5pm. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. Lou Fanucchi/Karen Giorgio , Westgate Hotel, Lou Fanucchi/Karen Giorgio , Westgate Hotel, Sue Palmer Quartet , Lyceum Theatre, Horton Open Mic , Turquoise Coffee, 841 Turquoise 1055 2nd Ave., 7:30pm. Plaza, noon. Traditional Irish Session , The Field, 544 5th 1055 2nd Ave., 7:30pm. Ave., 7pm. St., P.B., 6pm. Geoffrey Keezer Trio w/ Julia Dollison , CSNY Tribute , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Adrienne Nims , Dublin Square, 544 4th Ave., Open Blues Jam , Downtown Cafe, 182 E. 4:30pm. Open Mic , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. Venice , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield St., Rd., 7:30pm. Main, El Cajon, 6pm. Steve White , Old Time Music, 2852 University 7:30pm. Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Joe Rathburn’s Folky Monkey , Milano Coffee Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. Troubadour Open Mic w/ Phil Harmonic , Ave., 8 & 9:45pm. Jeffrey Joe Morin , Borders, 11160 Rancho O’Connell’s, 1310 Morena Blvd., 7:30pm. (no Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Shenanigans , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 Carmel Carmel Dr., 8pm. Adrienne Nims , La Costa Resort, 2100 Costa open mic March 9 & 16.) Moonlight Serenade Orchestra , Lucky Star del Mar Rd., Carlsbad, 7pm. Mtn. Rd., 8pm. Duke Ellington Tribute w/ Cecil Lytle/Gilbert Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss , 8-10pm, KSDS Restaurant, 3893 54th St., 7pm. Luciana Souza , Athenaeum Jazz Studio, 4441 Castellanos Quartet , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Shawn Mullins/Pieta Brown , Belly Up, 143 S. (88.3 FM). Open Mic , Hot Java Cafe, 11738 Carmel Mtn. Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8:30pm. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Park Blvd., 8pm. José Sinatra’s OB-oke , Winston’s, 1921 Rd., 7:30pm. Coyote Problem , Rock Valley House Concert, Dave Boodakian/Katy Wong , Across the Street Chet & the Committee , Patrick’s II, 428 F St., 9pm. Traditional Irish Session , Thornton’s Irish @ Mueller College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Bacon St., 9:30pm. University City, 8pm. [email protected] The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne Rice , Pub, 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, 8pm. Chet & the Committee , Thornton’s Irish Pub, Lisa Sanders/The Flimz/Peggy Watson , 10pm-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Open Mic/Family Jam , Rebecca’s, 3015 1221 Broadway, El Cajon, 8pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. tuesday • 18 Juniper St., 8pm. Skelpin , Blarney Stone, 5617 Balboa Ave., 9pm. Longsleeves , Across the Street @ Mueller Bill Evans Tribute , Anthology, 1337 India St., Wood ‘n’ Lips Open Mic , Anna’s Family College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Reggie Smith , Anthology, 1337 India St., 9:30pm. 7:30pm. every monday Restaurant, 8099 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 8pm. Turtle Project CD Release , Lestat’s, 3343 Nathan James & Ben Hernandez , Hensley’s Blue44 , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, 873 Open Mic , Skybox Bar & Grill, 4809 Adams Ave., 9pm. Flying Elephant Pub & Grill, 850 Tamarack, Turquoise St., 7pm. Clairemont Dr., 9pm. Alejandro Chavez , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 sunday • 9 Calrsbad, 8pm. Open Mic , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 7:30pm. Jazz Jam , South Park Bar & Grill, 1946 Fern St., 9:30pm. El Cajon Blvd., 9pm. Keltic Kharma CD Release , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine Eliane Elias/Marc Johnson/Billy Hart , Pro-Invitational Blues Jam , O’Connell’s Pub, Skelpin , Blarney Stone, 5617 Balboa Ave., 9pm. & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 2pm. Neurosciences Inst., 10460 Hopkins Dr., La 1310 Morena Blvd., 8pm. Jolla, 8pm. S.D. Folk Song Society Mtg. , Old Time Music, every friday 2852 University Ave., 2pm. every tuesday California Rangers , McCabe’s, Oceanside, sunday • 2 Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , wednesday • 19 Traditional Irish Session , The Ould Sod, 3373 4:30-9pm. Coastal Comm. Concert Band 25th Anniversary Dream Catcher Lounge, Viejas Casino, 5000 Willows Rd., Alpine, 5pm. Adams Ave., 7pm. West of Memphis , House of Blues, 1055 5th Concert , Carlsbad Comm. Church, 3175 Harding Bill Shreeve CD Release w/ Peter Sprague , Ave., 6pm. St., Carlsbad, 2:30pm. Michael Peter Smith , Dark Thirty House Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Open Mic , Cosmos Coffee Cafe, 8278 La Concert, Lakeside, 7:30pm. [email protected] Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7pm. Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, Beoga , Holy Trinity Church, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Nate James/Steph Johnson , Dizzy’s @ S.D. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. Holly Cole , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Jack Tempchin & Friends , Calypso Cafe, 576 Blvd., 7:30pm. N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Jason Ott , Gallagher’s Pub, 5046 Newport Deborah Flores CD Release , Anthology, 1337 Blind Boys of Alabama/Tom Freund , Belly Up, Ari Heist/Richard Julian , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 6pm. India St., 7:30pm. 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Ave., 9pm. Open Mic , E Street Cafe, 125 W. E St., 7:30pm. Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo , Prado Tomcat Courtney/Jazzilla , Turquoise Cafe Bar John Hammond/Marcia Ball , Belly Up, 143 S. Applebrown Jazz Ensemble , Lestat’s, 3343 Tristan Prettyman , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Europa, 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Solana Beach, 9pm. Restaurant, Balboa Park, 8pm. Shep Meyers , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. Amelia Browning , South Park Bar & Grill, Amber Rubarth/Kris Delmhorst , Lestat’s, 3343 1946 Fern St., 7pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Modern Day Moonshine , Martini Ranch, 528 monday • 10 thursday • 20 F St., 10:30pm. Jazz Night , Rebecca’s, 3015 Juniper St., 7pm. Open Mic , Bella Roma Pizza, 6830 La Jolla monday • 3 New York Dolls , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Joe Rathburn & Dave Beldock , Milano Coffee Blvd., 8pm. Solana Beach, 8pm. Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. every wednesday Open Mic , Egyptian Tea Room & Smoking Blue Monday Pro Jam , Humphrey’s Backstage Old Time Fiddlers Jam , Old Time Music, 2852 Music at Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market , Parlour, 4644 College Ave., 9pm. Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., 7pm. University Ave., 7pm. Newport Ave., 4-7pm. Brehon Law , Tom Giblin’s Irish Pub, 640 tuesday • 11 Toni Price/ Sue Palmer Quintet/Steve Wilcox , Christopher Dale & Friends , Handlery Hotel, Grand Ave., Carlsbad, 9pm. Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor 950 Hotel Circle N., 8pm. tuesday • 4 Jose Serrano , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Dr., 8pm. David “Fathead” Newman w/ PLNU Jazz Band , Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, The Itals , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. every saturday Aubrey Fay’s Lou Rawls Tribute , Anthology, Saville Theatre, SD City College, 8pm. Beach, 8pm. 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Folk Arts Rare Records Singers Circle , Dan Papaila , The Lodge @ Torrey Pines, Robin Henkel with Horns , Tio Leo’s Mira Mesa, Kadan, 4696 30th St., 6pm. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., 5pm. Adrienne Nims & Spirit Wind w/ Warren 10787 Camino Ruiz, 9pm. Bryant & Jimmy Patton , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. wednesday • 12 Tomcat Courtney , Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa, Tomcat Courtney/Jazzilla , Turquoise Cafe Bar Coast Hwy. 101, Leucadia, 7:30pm. 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. Europa, 873 Turquoise St., 7pm. Rufus Wainwright , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Adrienne Nims & Raggle-Taggle , P.B. Library, friday • 21 Elliott Lawrence Quartet , J Six Restaurant, Solana Beach, 8pm. 4275 Cass St., 7pm. 435 6th Ave., 7pm. Lou Fanucchi/Karen Giorgio , Westgate Hotel, Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise 1055 2nd Ave., 7:30pm. St., 6:30pm. wednesday • 5 Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra , Anthology, 1337 Paragon Dance Band , La Mesa Adult Center, India St., 7:30pm. 8450 La Mesa Blvd., 7pm. Christopher Dean , California Ctr. for the Arts, Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. 340 N. Escondido Blvd., 4 & 7pm. Austin Jennings/Jordan Reimer , Java Jones, Taller Sur , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 El Matthew Good/Veronica May , Belly Up, 143 S. 631 9th Ave., 7pm. thursday • 27 Cajon Blvd., 9pm. Luther Hughes Quintet/Cannonball-Coltrane Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Project , Museum of Art, Balboa Park, 5:30pm. Infamous Stringdusters , Del Mar Powerhouse, Paragon Dance Band , Balboa Park Club Middle Earth Ensemble Belly Dance Show , 1658 Coast Blvd., 7&9pm. (President’s Way by Park Blvd.), 1pm. Adrienne Nims & Mike Stewart , Cardiff Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. sunday • 30 Library, 2081 Newcastle Ave., Cardiff, 6pm. Herb Alpert , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Joe Rathburn w/ Peggy Watson , Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. Hard to Travel Bluegrass Jam , Old Time Music, Christopher Dale Trio , Handlery Hotel, 950 Sara Petite CD Release w/ the Slidewinders/ 2852 University Ave., 7pm. Hotel Circle N., 8pm. Janis Ian , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield Siobhan O’Brien , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, thursday • 13 St., 7:30pm. Smart Brothers , U-31 Bar, 3112 University Ave., Matt Woltjer , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 Carmel Solana Beach, 4pm. 8pm. Joe Rathburn w/ Robin Adler & Dave Mtn. Rd., 8pm. Cindy Lee Berryhill , Meeting Grace House The Jazz Ensemble , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Blackburn , Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Peter Sprague & Friends , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine Concert, Normal Heights, 8pm. lizzie@meeting - Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 4pm. Candice Graham/Citizen Band/Colin grace.com Armstrong , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Diego Dr., 7pm. & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Ignacio Berroa , Anthology, 1337 India St., Beach, 8pm. Michael Tiernan Band , Calypso Cafe, 576 N. Chip Conrad & the Concrete Feat , Across the Gilbert Castellanos Quartet , Dizzy’s @ S.D. 7:30pm. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Nathan James/Ben Hernandez/Robin Henkel/ Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Street @ Mueller College, 4603 Park Blvd., Billy Watson/Anna Troy/Byron Hudson , Skelpin , Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub & Grill, 8:30pm. Delancey , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 850 Tamarack, Calrsbad, 8pm. Wrong Trousers/Reeve Carney/WAZ , Lestat’s, Sue Palmer & Blue Four , Patrick’s, 428 F St., 9pm. Sue Palmer & the Hayriders , Martini Ranch, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. 528 F St., 9pm. friday • 14 friday • 28 saturday • 22 thE sAM hINtoN thursday • 6 Holler , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. 78 (3 Mtn. Tribal Gypsies , Wynola Pizza Express, miles west of Julian), 6pm. 9th Annual Spring Harmonica Festival , Harry 4355 Hwy. 78 (3 miles west of Julian), 6pm. LIBrAry Joe Rathburn w/ Liz Abbott & Kent Johnson , Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise Griffen Park, 9550 Milden St., La Mesa, 11am. Matthew David Wheeler/Nathan James/Ryan Milano Coffee Co., 8685 Rio San Diego Dr., 7pm. St., 6:30pm. Chris Clarke Trio , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Cramer , Java Jones, 631 9th Ave., 7pm. About 600 books from Old Time Fiddlers Jam , Old Time Music, 2852 Flora Purim & Airto , Anthology, 1337 India St., Hwy. 78 (3 miles west of Julian), 6pm. Diane Schuur , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & University Ave., 7pm. 7:30pm. Sue Palmer Trio , Martini’s Above Fourth, 3940 9:30pm. Sam Hinton’s library will be Ingrid Michaelson/Cary Brothers/Jim Bianco/ Citizen Band , Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle 4th Ave., 7pm. Iron Strings Authors , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 housed in a special collection Greg Laswell/Kate Havnevik/Jessie Baylin , N., 8pm. Herb Alpert , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Carmel Mtn. Rd., 8pm. Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. Jim Earp & Friends , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 The Flimz/The Smart Brothers , North Park Johnson, Bosley & Morin , Borders, 11160 at UCSD’s Geisel Library, Skelpin , Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub & Grill, Carmel Mtn. Rd., 8pm. Vaudeville Theatre, 2031 El Cajon Blvd., 8pm. Rancho Carmel Dr., 8pm. which will eventually be 850 Tamarack, Calrsbad, 8pm. Sabrina Nilsen/The Band Relationship/Travis Sketch & the Draftsman , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 Zzymzzy Quartet , Claire de Lune, 2906 Peery , Java Jones, 631 9th Ave., 7pm. Carmel Mtn. Rd., 8pm. University Ave., 8:30pm. available to the public. A large Johnson, Bosley & Morin , Borders, 159 Jane Lui/Camille Bloom/Carrie Clark/Stasia Kenny Eng , Across the Street @ Mueller friday • 7 Fletcher Pkwy., El Cajon, 7pm. Conger , Across the Street @ Mueller College, College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. number of his books can now 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. North County Cowboys , Cask & Cleaver, 3757 S. ESP Jazz Quintet , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Eleonor England/Shep Meyers Trio , Lestat’s, be found at D. G. Wills book - Mission Rd., Fallbrook, 6pm. Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 8pm. Tonny Ferrer , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 El 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Cajon Blvd., 9pm. store in La Jolla for resale. Robin Henkel , Chateau Orleans, 926 Turquoise Bad Credit/Digital Unicorn , Lestat’s, 3343 Staring at the Sun CD Release , Winston’s, 1921 St., 6:30pm. Adams Ave., 9pm. Mario Escovedo Experience , Lestat’s, 3343 Bacon St., 9pm. The bookstore is located Adams Ave., 9pm. Sharon Hazel Township , Lollicup, 119 E. Grand, Tommy Castro Band/Bill Magee Blues Band , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. at 7461 Girard Ave. Escondido, 6:30pm. saturday • 29 Matthew David & Friends , Hot Java Cafe, sunday • 23 Telephone: 858 456-1800 11739 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 7pm. saturday • 15 SWAN Day Celebration w/ Sue Palmer Melissa Vaughan/David Falkenau/Robert Jon/ Andy Villas Boas , Anthology, 1337 India St., Quintet/Coral MacFarland Thuet/the Golliards/ Chad Cavanaugh , Java Jones, 631 9th Ave., 7pm. Temecula Bluegrass Festival , Old Town Front 7:30pm. Annarocelle Piano Quartet , Athenaeum, 1008 New City Sinfonia , Unitarian Universalist St., Temecula, 11pm. Cheryl Wheeler/Kenny White , Acoustic Music Wall St., 10am-5pm. Church, 4190 Front St., 7:30pm. Adrienne Nims & Raggle-Taggle , Kensington SD, 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30pm. Intellectual Property & Music Licensing Free The Grams , Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle N., Library, 4121 Adams Ave., 2pm. Steve Earle/Allison Moorer , Belly Up, 143 S. Workshop , P.B. Library, 4275 Cass St., 11am. 8pm. Mark Jackson Band , Wynola Pizza Express, Cedros, Solana Beach, 8pm. S.D. Indie Music Fest IV , 7 Venues, University Paul Seaforth/Peter Sprague/Bob Magnusson , 4355 Hwy. 78 (3 miles west of Julian), 6pm. Slant/Stranger’s Six , 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Ave. between Utah & Ray, noon-midnight. Dizzy’s @ S.D. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Smart Brothers , E St. Cafe, 128-130 W. E St., Mark Kinney , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. Dr., 8pm. Encinitas, 6pm. 78 (3 miles west of Julian), 6pm. Jo-el/Bryan Bangerter , Across the Street @ Flora Purim & Airto , Anthology, 1337 India St., tuesday • 25 Adrienne Nims , The Beach House, 2530 S. Mueller College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. 7:30pm. Coast Hwy. 101, Cardiff, 7pm. Patrick Yandall , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30pm. Gregory Page , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Incendio , Acoustic Music SD, 4650 Mansfield Charles Lloyd Quartet , Neurosciences Inst., Carla Riojas , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 El St., 7:30pm. Bob Schneider , Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros, Solana 10460 Hopkins Dr., La Jolla, 7 & 9pm. Beach, 8pm. Cajon Blvd., 9pm. Tom Baird & Friends w/ Jim Earp , Rebecca’s Small Potatoes , San Dieguito United Methodist Coffeehouse, 3015 Juniper St., 7:30pm. Steve Poltz & Friends , Casbah, 2501 Kettner Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, Blvd., 9pm. Jump Back Heart Attack , Hot Java Cafe, 11739 7:30pm. saturday • 8 Carmel Mtn. Rd., 8pm. Rockola , Anthology, 1337 India St., 7:30 & 9:30pm. Chris Klich Jazz Quintet , Claire de Lune, 2906 Lou Fanucchi/Patrick Berrogain , House Smart Brothers , GSDYPAA-looza, WorldBeat wednesday • 26 Concert, 8pm. www.patrickberrogain.com Center, Balboa Park, noon. University Ave., 8:30pm. Allison Lonsdale (6pm) /John Hull/John West , Mesa College Jazz Ensemble , Dizzy’s @ S.D. Longsleeves/Allyssa Jacey , Across the Street Robin Henkel Band w/ Billy Watson/Becky @ Mueller College, 4603 Park Blvd., 8:30pm. Russell/Johnny G , Miramonte Winery, 33410 Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Wine & Culinary Ctr., 200 Harbor Dr., 7pm. Rancho Calirofnia Rd., Temecula, 5:30pm. Francisco Lorenz , Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 Miracosta Latin Jazz Orchestra , Anthology, Carlos Olmeda/Cotton Fever , Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave., 9pm. Frank Lucio , Wynola Pizza Express, 4355 Hwy. El Cajon Blvd., 9pm. 1337 India St., 7:30pm. 78 (3 miles west of Julian), 6pm. Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra , Tio Sue Palmer Quintet , Croce’s, 802 5th Ave., 8pm. Avett Brothers/Jessica Lea Mayfield , Belly Up, Leo’s, 5302 Napa, 9pm. EJP/Ivan Cheong/Happy Ron , Lestat’s, 3343 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, 9pm. Skelpin , Blarney Stone, 5617 Balboa Ave., 9pm. Adams Ave., 9pm.

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