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SAN DIEGO ROUBADOUR Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news

September-October 2003SECOND ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Vol. 3, No. 1

official street fair program

Welcome Mat………3 Mission Statement Contributors Message from AABA

Front Porch…………5 Adams Avenue Street Fair

Center Stage... ……6 Street Fair Headliners

Performing Artists.. 8 Musician Profiles Performance Times Stages Map Information

Ramblin’ …………18 Bluegrass Corner Lou Curtiss José Sinatra Radio Daze

‘Round About ...... …21 RantHouse Sept.-Oct. Music Calendar

The Local Seen……23 Photo Page

September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour welcome mat

SAN DIEGO to the 22nd edition of the Adams Avenue Street ROUBADOUR Fair. We’re glad you could join us for our little Alternative country, Americana, roots, Tfolk, gospel, and bluegrass music news block party! You’re in for a real treat in our historic barrio. This festival has been recognized by the welcome media as “Southern California’s largest free music OUR MISSION CONTRIBUTORS festival.” But why? To promote, encourage, and PUBLISHER Because the Street Fair spans seven blocks of Adams Avenue and continues alongside provide an alternative voice for the Lyle Duplessie Adams Park? Or is it the 90 great music acts on seven stages; giant carnival rides in Adams Park; hundreds of exotic food, arts, and crafts vendors? Could it be that over 150,000 people will be great local music that is generally EDITOR taking it to the streets over a period of two days? overlooked by the mass media; Ellen Duplessie The real reason this fair is a great event is YOU, your family, and your friends! If you namely the genres of folk, country, GRAPHIC DESIGN weren’t here, “Southern California’s largest free music festival” wouldn’t exist. You’re the ones roots, Americana, gospel, and Liz Abbott who appreciate quality music and follow your ears to Adams Avenue. You’re the ones who bluegrass. To entertain, educate, PHOTOGRAPHY gather the babies and old ladies and treat yourselves to carnival rides, rare merchandise, exotic and bring together players, writers, Paul Grupp clothes, scented incense, rare jewelry, spicy sausages, and steaming kabobs. and lovers of these forms; to Ellen Duplessie And you are the ones who will stroll, shop and dine on the Avenue long after the Street Fair is over. It is explore their foundations; and to DISTRIBUTION you who help drive the economic engine that revitalizes our historic neighborhood. You are our customers and expand the audience for these Kent Johnson we appreciate you. types of music. Lyle Duplessie ADVERTISING Why Is It Fair? To receive advertising rates and The Street Fair is co-sponsored by the Adams Avenue Business Association (AABA) and the Normal Heights Kent Johnson Community Association (NHCA). Proceeds from the Carnival in Adams Park benefit Adams Elementary School information, call Ellen Duplessie 619/298-8488 or e-mail and the NHCA’s after-school arts program. The AABA not only produces the event to brand Adams Avenue as a [email protected]. WRITERS shopping destination, it also generates a portion of its budget through Street Fair sponsorships and the sale of Lou Curtiss vendor spaces. San Diego Troubadour Paul Hormick The Street Fair is only part of the AABA’s marketing program, which includes the Adams Avenue Roots P.O. Box 164 Jim McInnes Festival, San Diego/Adams Avenue Antique Street Faire, Taste of Adams Avenue, a Community and Business La Jolla, CA 92038 José Sinatra Directory, an Antique Row marketing brochure, and our website GoThere.com/AdamsAve. E-mail: [email protected] D. Dwight Worden Gus Williker Rocking the Avenue E Furthermore, the Business Association works with the City of San Diego to bring about public improvements to STREET FAIR Adams Avenue such as trees, antique street lights, sidewalk repairs, and storefront improvements. The AABA SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR, the local also administers a Maintenance Assessment District contract with the City. We are responsible for tree care, SPONSORS source for alternative country, cleanup, graffiti abatement, and landscape maintenance of select areas of Adams Avenue. Americana, roots, folk, gospel, and Mike Magers, president, AABA In 1999 the AABA partnered with the Normal Heights United Methodist Church to develop a blighted block bluegrass music news, is published Judy Moore, chair, NHCA and construct the Adams Elementary School Annex. Because of this effort, kids no longer have to be bussed monthly and is free of charge. Letters MUSIC COMITTEE to the editor must be signed and may out of the neighborhood to other schools. The AABA also helped create a computer lab and after-school Lou Curtiss, chair be edited for content. It is not, program that publishes Normal Height Kids which is in your lap now. These projects are possible through the however, guaranteed that they will Kent Johnson, Ellen Duplessie, Hector cooperation of our political representatives, including District 3 Council Member Toni Atkins. Penalossa, Dana Shocaroff, Chris appear. Mattson, Victor Payan, Virginia M.A.D. About You All opinions expressed in SAN DIEGO Curtiss, Marco Anguiano The Adams Avenue Business Association is advocating among property owners along the Avenue to create TROUBADOUR, unless otherwise STAFF additional assessment districts for the installment and maintenance of new antique lights and/or trees — from stated, are solely the opinion of the 33rd Street west to the 805 overpass, from 30th to Texas Street, and along 30th Street from Adams Ave. to El EVENT COORDINATOR: writer and do not represent the Marco A. Anguiano Cajon Blvd. If successful, this endeavor will create new Maintenance Assessment Districts that the AABA will be opinions of the staff or management. VENDOR CORDINATOR: Judy Moore responsible for. All rights reserved. TALENT COORDINATORS: Kent Johnson, Michael McClune, Victor Payan Wow! What is P.R.O.W.? ©2003 San Diego Troubadour. Another project that will help beautify Adams Avenue and encourage pedestrian-oriented shopping is the PROGRAM/GRAPHICS: Liz Abbott, P.R.O.W., which stands for Public Right of Way. P.R.O.W. will allow four business districts in the City to permit Frankie Frey appropriate merchandising, sidewalk dining, and signage in their areas. After five years of intense organization PUBLICITY COORDINATOR: Chris Mattson and negotiation, the City of San Diego has collaborated with Adams Avenue, North Park, Ocean Beach, and SPONSOR COORDINATOR: Kevin Hellman Little Italy and ceded control of the P.R.O.W. to these districts as part of a two-year pilot project. Businesses PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE: Dan Ramet will no longer have to pay hundreds of dollars in permit fees. Instead they’ll be issued permits through their STAGE & SOUND: Audio Design local business association. Ideally, this will stimulate great opportunities for outdoor merchandising, such as SECURITY: Ray Hondl & Job Corps, Vintage Sol (Ohio St. & Adams Ave.), sidewalk cafes such as Antique Row Café (30th & Adams), and graphically WRITE TO US! Elite Show Services appealing sidewalk signs that you see along Adams Avenue. TAGE ANAGERS Dana Shocaroff, We’d love to hear from you! Send S M : Caeser Churchwell, George your comments, feedback, and Street Fair Hall of Fame Rodriguez, Laurence Johnson, Victor As the leading sponsor of the Street Fair, we want to recognize several key people who’ve helped the event suggestions by email to: Payan, Vera Cabrell [email protected] mature musically over the past ten years: ELECTRICIAN: Chris Heygood Kevin Morrow, former Belly Up Tavern talent buyer, current VP at House of Blues CHIEF BLOCK CAPTAIN: Christina Kish Lou Curtiss, owner Folk Arts Rare Records, traditional music archivist Lee Birch, musician, former Normal Heights Lounge Lizard BLOCK CAPTAINS: Warren Simon, ADAMS AVE. BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Charles Bowling, Shannon Baird, Buddy Blue, standout San Diego musician, music writer, O.C. Weekly, S.D. Union-Tribune BOARD OF DIRECTORS Becca Davenport, James Huggins, David Coddon, George Varga, Michael Kinsman, arts writers, S.D. Union-Tribune Channelle Lee, Nancy Wright, Alfred Steve Kader, chief talent buyer, 4th & B; music archivist; and ex-former talent manager President Tiapula, Fua Toleafo, Jeff Murooney Mike Magers, Smitty’s Service Dana Shocaroff, Street Fair Music Committee, big ear for the blues, resident bullhorn BEER GARDEN MANAGERS: Mark & Dave Johnson (RIP), Street Fair Music Committee, “Big Dave” in the wheel- Vice President Marilyn Merrill, Chad & Christine chair, Russ Vuich, Western Commercial Wilson booming voice, Charger fanatic and discriminating ear for various genres R.E. Brokers CLEANUP/SETUP: Ramiro Navarro, Secretary There are many people, too numerous to include here, whose involvement Business Improvement District Brian Lucas, Adams Ave. Book Store with the Adams Avenue Street Fair has helped transform it into a distinctive Council Crew festival — one that has captured the heart of the neighborhood, of Southern Treasurer POSTER CREW: Enrique Dudley, Yasmin California, and beyond. These people, whose names have been omitted due to lack Marlene Goldstein, Pet Me, Please! Flores, Denise & Diana Ramirez (dog & cat boutique) of space, not to lack of gratitude, include block captains, beer garden staff, cleanup MERCHANDISE STAFF: Scott Kessler, Lou Curtiss, Folk Arts Rare Records crews, and others who make the festival a resounding success. Graciela Anguiano, Rosie Duarte Doug Generoli, Pi Financial CARNIVAL: Christiansen Amusements The Adams Avenue Street Fair expresses its gratitude to our sponsors: City of Phil Linssen, Kensington Veterinary San Diego, City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, County of San Diego, Harold McNeil, Attorney TAFF Sycuan Casino, Crows Feet Productions, Naked Juice, San Diego Media Arts Center, Dave McPheeters, Zac’s Attic AABA S Apex Music, San Diego Childrens Museum, and Inn Suites. Our media sponsors MAINTENANCE: Corey Quintana, Meredith Morgenroth, Road Rebel Channelle Lee include the San Diego Reader, 103.7 The Planet, FM 94.9, San Diego CityBEAT, Jazz Entertainment 88, Auto Trader, Telemundo 33, KSWB 5, and the San Diego Troubadour. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Marco A. Michael Rammelsberg, Rosie Anguiano O’Grady’s ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Judy Moore Marco Anguiano Sundi Sage, Timeless Collectibles Executive Director, Adams Avenue Business Association Dick Van Ransom Magana, Mariposa Ice Cream NORMAL HEIGHTS KIDS Ellen Seiter, Rick Smith

3 4 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour parlor showcase there’s something for everyone at the

by Paul Hormick Boys of Alabama, of musical come specifically for the ven- and former styles. dors. One woman comes hile San Diego’s Rolling Stone Scott Kessler, every year to buy sunglasses. annual Street Mick Taylor, who executive He says the biggest motive W Scene screams, ignited the stage director of and payback of hosting the “Look at me! Look at me!” with some of the the Street Fair event is that it helps bring a with its mega-superstars and most inspired from 1989- sense of community to a budget that must run into and spontaneous 2001, still Normal Heights. the hundreds of thousands, guitar playing helps out Anguiano adds that the Adams Avenue Street Fair possible in the with some of another goal of the fair is to has remained a more humble universe, made the set up for bring people to the Adams event. Indeed, the Street Fair their appear- the festival. Avenue business district, both has been called the antidote ances at the He says, “the Normal Heights residents and to Street Scene. It has far less Street Fair. wide array of folks from the outlying neigh- glitz, but it’s easier to get a Other big music is one borhoods, such as good view of the performers; name acts like of the distinc- Kensington, University you don’t have to stand in a Rosie Flores and tive things Heights, and elsewhere. He long line to get a kielbasa; James Harmon about the says, “It’s one way we fight and, best of all, it’s free. have followed. fair.” He also for the market share that’s It started 22 years ago Iron Butterfly says the fair is been sucked up by the simply as a way to celebrate rose phoenix-like special malls.” While people are the newly refurbished Normal from the ashes because of shopping through the street Heights business district sign, to play a medley the diversity vendors or wandering from which had been reinstalled at of their hits in of the crowd the jazz stage to the blues the corner of Felton Street ‘94. Rick it draws. stage, they may notice and Adams Avenue. The Derringer rock People from Lestats, the bookstores, or the party wasn’t much more than and rolled in ‘95. all ages and other permanent retail estab- a pancake breakfast and a Dan Hicks played backgrounds lishments on Adams Avenue. donkey ride for the kids. The hot licks in ‘98. enjoy the The Adams Avenue Street music came from only one The year 2000 Street Fair. Fair takes place Saturday and band, a jazz combo of old brought Chris The musi- Sunday, September 27-28. If timers whose name escapes Hillman of Byrds cians agree you’re not too busy running everyone right now. and Flying that the for governor, come on down, Over the years the fair has Burritos fame. And Street Fair is have a kielbasa, and enjoy Latin, jazz, folk, country, grown to its supersized status Mike Keneally played the something special. Local some music. You’ll find more gospel, and blues. Lou as the largest free music Street Fair last year. Okay, blues legend Robin Henkel information on the fair in Curtiss, proprietor of Folk Arts event in Southern California. he’s a San Diegan, but he’s says, “I love it. There is such a this issue or you can make Rare Records and regular con- Among the dozens and still a major talent. variety of acts. There is just your computer do the tributor to the San Diego dozens of vendors, the beer The big-name acts add a this excitement buzzing. I’ll Internet thing at Troubadour, is the quasi-offi- gardens, and the carnival little pizzazz to the street fair, start my performance, and GoThere.com/AdamsAve/ cial ‘music czar’ of the Street rides, 90 plus musical acts but most of the music still the next thing [I know], Fair. He says, “the goal is to will perform on seven stages comes from local performers. there’s 200 people there, and present a mixture of music. for this year’s two-day festi- San Diego stalwarts such as it’s just great.” To him the The Roots Festival is where val. And although it has Sue Palmer and her Motel crowds are some of the most the music has been, and the grown so large, it retains Swing Orchestra, Billy receptive that he has played Street Fair is where the music much of the low-key flavor of Midnight, and Berkley Hart for. “I have never felt more is going.” its roots. It’s kind of like will be returning to the stages comfortable with an audi- Besides presenting a musi- Woodstock — but you can as will newer artists such as ence,” he says of his perform- cal mix, Curtiss tries to make bring your mom. Anya Marina and Will ance two years ago when he the Street Fair distinctive. A big turning point for the Edwards. played on the 34th Street “I’m looking for bands that fair came in 1992. Until then The other music festival — Stage. don’t play all the [other] all the performers had been the Adams Avenue Roots “If you like music, this is Street Fairs [in town],” he culled from the local talent Festival, which is held in April the place to be,” agrees says. Although he used to be pool. In an effort to bring — focuses on traditional folk Marco Anguiano, executive the main talent booker for more prestige and attract and old-time music. At the director of the Adams Avenue the Street Fair, now it’s all more people to the event, Street Fair the musical mix is Business Association. He adds done by committee of repre- national and international far more diverse, with a wider that there is much more than sentatives from the Adams acts were booked. That year representation of musical music attracting people to Avenue Business Association, Ann Peebles, Charles genres: rockabilly, zydeco, the fair. He knows folks who Musselwhite, the Five Blind which ensures a wide variety 5 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 centercenter stagestage

H street fair Andy Summers Trio Andy Summers has largely charted his own course as one of the most popular E bernie leadon and successful musicians of the past 20 y

r Combining clean, clearwater vocals, songwrit- years. Best known as the innovative gui- e m

o ing savvy, and expert chops on all-things- g

tarist behind The Police, Summers has t n A o stringed, Bernie Leadon has served as a flexi-

since produced a body of work that M

k ble, integral member of such seminal “country r

stands on its own in terms of creative a

M hyphen” acts as Dillard and Clark, the Flying

daring and instrumental ingenuity. From : o t

o Burrito Brothers, and the Eagles, and has

early collaborations with Robert Fripp, I h D P since worn the hats of engineer, producer, and Advance Masked and Bewitched label executive. Leadon’s well-rounded skills, through striking solo terrain with The uncanny ear, and copacetic vibe have made Golden Wire, World Gone Strange, him invaluable in the studio, and he has Summers has consistently challenged L played and/or sung on a staggering number of himself and expanded his musical timeless sessions with the likes of Randy palette. His music took an eclectic turn Newman, the Amazing Rhythm Aces, Emmylou with 1998's The Last Dance of Mr. X, Harris, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gram then headed deep into electric neo-bop with 1999's Green Chimneys: The Music of I Parsons, Linda Ronstadt, David Bromberg, Thelonius Monk. Summers went even further with Peggy’s Blue Skylight in 2002, Michelle Shocked, Stevie Nicks, Stephen diving into the deep end of the jazz pool with the incomparable work of Charles Stills, Bob Neuwirth, Pam Tillis, Travis Tritt, the Jayhawks, and many, many more. Virtually Mingus. His latest CD, Earth and Sky, sees the return of Summers the composer. omnipresent on the music scene since the late ‘60s, Leadon has just come out with his Summers continues to tour internationally with his own trio, frequently N long-overdue new solo album, Mirror, which is great news for afficionados of Americana appearing in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. In March of this year he music and for us local folks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Police. who welcome him to the Saturday, 7:30-9pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin Stage (Adams Park) E Adams Avenue Street Fair this year. Sunday, 4:45-6pm, Sycuan Roots ricardo lemvo R Rock Stage (33rd St. & Adams) jack tempchin & makina loca Makina Loca is s l

l Pick up any book with S

e word play in two W a chapter on the e languages; it e L music scene y means o r

T of 1970s Los

: “crazy o t

o Angeles and

h machine” in P the author will Spanish and make some los alacranes “dancing in a reference to w/ Quino from Big Mountain trance” in the "peaceful, Kikongo. easy feeling" After you see that this this band music evokes. perform, you Unbeknownst will experi- to him at the ence both time, Jack meanings Tempchin had first hand. penned what V ocalist has become Ricardo not only an enduring, classic song, but a defining Lemvo formed his ten-member Los Angeles-based phrase for his own generation — post-Vietnam group in 1990 with musicians from Cuba, Europe, Africa, baby-boomers wishing to explore the vastness of and the U.S. The music is as colorful and diverse as the a nation they so recently had inherited. Anyone band itself, consisting of an irresistible fusion of Afro- who hears this song finds themselves wanting, "to Cuban rhythms spanning everything from his native sleep in the desert tonight, with a billion stars all Congolese Soukous and rumba to salsa, Cuban son, around." Puerto Rican bomba, and Dominican merengue and But it didn't stop with “Peaceful, Easy Feeling.” bachata. Singing in a multitude of different languages, Tempchin is the writer of such legendary hits as Los Alacranes are one San Diego’s most beloved group of musicians and the pride of San Lemvo’s lyrics parallel the diversity of the group’s “Already Gone,” “Slow Dancing,” “You Belong to Diego’s Mexican-American community. The music of these “musicos locos” has been rhythms. the City,” “Smuggler’s Blues,” and others, which described as sort of a cross between the humorous style of Lalo Guerero and the corri- Ricardo Lemvo has been the subject of various have been covered by a wide range of artists. dos and old timey norteño songs. “Chunky” Sanchez explains it as Southwest-Chicano- national and international radio and television programs, Recipient of SDAM’s 2002 Lifetime Achievement Mexican-Barrio folklore. His song about a chorizo sandwich is not to be believed. including the NBC Today show and CNN’s WorldBeat. Award last year, Tempchin continues to produce Founded in 1977 by Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez and his brother Ricardo, Los Alacranes Makina Loca have taken their unstoppable musical and perform music across the country. The Adams along with Don “Güero” Knapp and Miguel Lopez have inspired audiences for more than energy to countless festivals, performing arts centers, Avenue Street Fair two decades. Following and major clubs throughout the world. As stated by LA welcomes him this the success of their crit- Weekly, “Whether you’re a salsero with a jones for the year, along with his ically acclaimed CD, clave or an Afrophile craving things Congolese, Makina band, Rocket Science. Rising Souls, released Loca has its crazy machinery geared up to meet your Kenny Wertz May 1999, Los Saturday, 8-9pm, Sycuan needs.” Roots Rock Stage (33rd Alacranes released Kenny Wertz, long-time resident of San Diego, first Sunday, 4:30-6pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin Stage St. & Adams) Picando, originally (Adams Park) started in music playing with the Scottsville Squirrel recorded in 1989. This Barkers along with a teenage Chris Hillman and Bernie group always puts on a Leadon. After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, Kenny joined good show. with Chris again in the Flying Burrito Brothers. With the demise of the Burritos, he became a member of the Sunday, 2:45-4pm, newly formed Country Gazette, which included Byron T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin Stage (Adams Park) Berline, Roger Bush, and Herb Pedersen. Kenny’s new band, Bluegrass Odyssey, features Kenny on banjo and guitar, Tom Cunningham on fiddle and guitar, Steve Dame on fiddle and banjo, and Becky Green on bass.

Saturday, 7:45-8:45pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage (Felton St. & Adams)

6 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour centercenter stagestage

street fair little george sueref H San Diego Reader music critic Dave Good writes that Little George Sueref has reinvented a blues the delgado brothers form, taking the sounds of the ’50s and ’60s and E injecting them with something that hasn’t been heard since Hendrix or even Coltrane. Hailing from London of Greek descent, Sueref brings vocals and a musical style, the likes of which we guar- A antee you’ve never heard before — unless you happened to catch him headlining Street Scene’s Saturday night blues stage a few years back. He works the high-end range, completing a circle D that was started way back with J.B. Lenoir. As the Stones, Clapton, and Zeppelin did decades ago, Little George is rejuvenating and repackaging American blues with his uncanny yet authentic L Delta-Chicago sound. The Adams Avenue Street Fair is proud to present this incomparable British vocalist, guitarist, and harmonica player to its I 22nd annual event.

Saturday, 6:15-7:15pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage (Hawley Blvd. & Adams)

With a sound that can be described as Chicano roots music, the Delgado N Brothers have woven roots, rhythm, blues, funk, Americana, and straight-for- ward family values into their music. “When you grow up playing as a family, The Blazers you can create grooves as soulful as your own heartbeat,” says middle broth- E z

t er Joey Delgado. The brothers have been playing their distinct East L.A. l i D sounds together for years, with big brother Bob on bass, middle brother Joey y r n

e on guitar and vocals, and youngest brother Steve on drums and lead vocals. H

:

o The three brothers are complemented by Dave Kelley on Hammond B3 and t R o h

P “the Reverend” Ray Solis on congas and percussion. The Delgado Brothers released their first record in 1987 on Hightone Records and have had the pleasure of cultivating an enthusiastic following ever since. Over the years, the band has toured with their childhood compadres Los Lobos, been featured at S upper-echelon festivals such as the Monterey Blues Festival, and had their songs covered by artists like John Mayall.

Saturday, 7:45-9pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) guitar carlos guitarlos With their rousing mix of rockabilly, R&B, rocked-up norteño, blues, and Carlos Guitarlos has shorty country, the Blazers are the latest in a long line of Chicano artists from the been around the East L.A. area, extending from Ritchie Valens in the ’50s through Cannibal block more than a and the Headhunters and Thee Midniters during the heady days of the ’60’s few times. As a for- East Side sound, to their compadres Los Lobos in the ’80s. The nucleus of the mer member of the Blazers formed as long ago as 1971, when guitarists Ruben Guaderrama and legendary L.A. band Manuel Gonzales met at East L.A.’s Roosevelt High School. In 1990 the two Top Jimmy and the long-time friends joined forces with a fiery rhythm section, and the Blazers Rhythm Pigs, he has were born. Blending their all-out rock ‘n’ roll spirit with the passion of East left a lasting impres- L.A.’s musical heritage, the Blazers began delighting audiences throughout sion on many musi- Southern California. Since that time, they have become one of the tightest, cians. From the top of most exciting roots-rock bands in the country. Well-seasoned from near-con- the heap in the early stant touring, they have established strongholds of rabid fans from Austin to 1980s with Top Boston, Philly to Frisco. Their dedication to the true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll is the Jimmy to becoming foundation of the Blazers’ philosophy of giving the fans what they want. another obscure name later in the Sunday, 1:15-2:30pm, Sycuan Roots Rock Stage (33rd & Adams) decade, Carlos lived on the streets, playing for spare change. Eventually his hard living landed him in a hospital bed, fighting for his life with congestive heart failure. That expe- Guitar Shorty has made his name rience, combined with the alcohol-related death of his for- as a fiery blues guitarist for over mer band mate, Top Jimmy, was the catalyst of his recent 40 years. Once married to Jimi gary jules personal turnaround and career resurgence. Carlos Hendrix’s sister, it was Shorty who Guitarlos is once again a musical force to be reckoned with. taught his licks to Jimi back in the With just a single album (Greetings from the Side), San Diego native There’s a very good reason Carlos Guitarlos is not a house- day. After touring with such greats Gary Jules emerged as one of the most gifted songwriting talents to hold name. The music industry doesn’t have a clue what to as Ray Charles, Shorty started surface during the ’90s. His distinctive mix of honesty and eclecti- do with him. He’s a walking encyclopedia of musical forms. incorporating acrobatics into his cism offers insights and emotions that hit home to anyone who has And he’s not afraid to combine, say, African highlife bass performance. Keep your fingers ever found themselves hopelessly entangled in love and loss. Three lines with a Mexican guitar lead and a Cajun accordion line, crossed that you’ll see him play years after his first CD came Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets, an and then tie it all together with a Creedence-like rhythmic his guitar with just about every- independently released album even more stunning and advanced. thump. That’s just one example. And the man has hundreds thing but his fingers — and Benjamin Friedland of Rolling Stone called it at once “beautiful and more. Carlos can write 20 songs in a day without breathing upside down, too! A truly remark- haunting, depressing and inspiring, lonely and welcoming… deli- hard and at least 19 of them will be better and more inven- able blues-rock guitarist who cately crafted folk music of the highest order.” tive than anything you’ve heard on the radio since Clear must be seen to be believed. Jules’ confessional brand of songwriting is delivered in a musi- Channel took over the planet. This man lives for his music cal style that incorporates elements of blues, country, and rock, and those who hear him play this year are in for a treat. Sunday, 4:45-6pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage while sneaking in some sharp lyrical edges. According to one reviewer, he has effectively taken folk (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) music into the present, offering an effective antidote to a road-raged, web-overloaded world. Sunday, 5-6pm, The Planet Rock Stage (34rd St. & Adams)

Sunday, 5:15-6pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage (Felton St. & Adams)

7 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 performingperforming artistsartists

boards, guitar, bass, drums, and rub board, Abigail’s Attic Baja Bugs add three-part harmonies, mix it up with a lot Annie Bethancourt ryan blue of rockin’ Zydeco, blues, R&B, and that great Annie Ryan Blue is Abigail’s Attic is Mardi Gras sound, toss in dazzling showman- Bethancourt is a 25-year-old an all-female ship and a big old dance floor, and you get a local singer/ singer/song- band from the hot, spicy musical jambalaya that is the songwriter writer who Point Loma. All Bayou Brothers! with an arrest- calls the San four — ing voice, Diego coffee Cristina Saturday, noon-1pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) interesting houses Sanchez on melodies, and home. He vocals, Valerie a passion for plays and Easterbrook on guitar, Karen Chambers on Berkley Hart storytelling. Annie’s sound ranges from soft sings his own bass and acoustic guitar, and Justeen Tyme on The Baja Bugs are a Beatles tribute band The power- folk to soulful blues, a merging of such influ- songs (as well drums and percussion — are songwriters whose repertoire consists mainly of lesser- house duo of ences as Ben Harper, Fiona Apple, and a musi- as interpretations of songs by other songwrit- who utilize their talent for melody and har- known Beatles songs from the early days Berkley Hart cal family she describes as “like the ers) on guitar, piano, and harmonica. mony to create high-energy, emotionally rather than the familiar standards. Anyone combines Partridges—with a dad.” Two years after He began appearing at Wendy’s Open Mic intense songs and performances. who loves the Beatles will love these four ener- two songwrit- writing her first “real” song during her soph- Night at Java Joe’s in 2001, playing Bob Dylan getic South Bay musicians. omore year at UCSD, Annie formed her own Sunday, 2-3pm, The Planet Rock Stage (34rd St. & ing souls and Joni Mitchell covers and soon started writ- label (Rubygirl Records), released a full Adams) Saturday, 1-2pm, Sycuan Roots Rock Stage (33rd with the fun- ing and performing his own songs, at Lestats, St. & Adams) damental guts of rock ‘n’ roll. Berkley Hart album in 2002 (The Garage Sessions), earned the Zodiak Café, and Twiggs. In 2002 he blends their distinctive voices and solid musi- a bachelor’s degree in sociology, spent six signed with Luminosity Music and recorded Acteal cianship to create sounds founded in months living and playing in Spain, and has his debut album, Not a Clue, which was Bayou Brothers American roots rock with folk longevity and slowly grown into the type of singer/song- released in December. Ryan continues to play raw energy. Berkley Hart is Jeff Berkley and writer that people recognize and embrace. For all over San Diego and is currently working Calman Hart. They met each other within the more information, go to www.anniebeth.com. on his new CD. circle of the emerging San Diego coffeehouse Saturday, 10-10:45am, Troubadour Acoustic Saturday, 12:45-1:45pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage (Felton St. & Adams) scene during the early ‘90s and soon found Stage (Felton St. & Adams) themselves collaborating and performing together. In 2000, their debut record, Wreck ‘n’ Sow, garnered top honors at the San Diego Big rig deluxe blue rockit Music Awards. Their second album, This band draws from old-school country, This local rock en Español band mixes reggae Something to Fall Back On, brings together Western outlaw, ’70’s country, Bakersfield and ska with a hint of punk to express their a full band for a total rock ‘n’ roll experience. sound, and modern Americana to serve both feelings and views on life. More than just With a sound straight out of Louisiana’s The band, featuring Clark Stacer on bass, Ben its covers and original songs. Featuring another group that plays Latin-flavored dance clubs, bayou festivals, and backyard Moore on keyboards, and Brian “Nucci” Johnny G on vocals and rhythm guitar, music, Acteal’s nine members are committed crawfish boils, the Bayou Brothers will rock Cantrell on drums, joins Berkley Hart for a Michael P. Hunter on upright and electric bass, to bringing spirit, energy, and rhythm to their you right on into Fat Tuesday with their good time at this year’s Street Fair. Robin Henkel on lap steel and dobro, Becky music and have been able to establish a fol- extensive experience and endless enthusiasm Sue on drums, and Rip Carson on guitar, Big lowing that measures up to those of well- Saturday, 6-7pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Stage to deliver a rousing, rollicking, heart Rig Deluxe brings joyous music, with a roots- Blue Rockit is known for its hard-hitting blues established local bands. (35th St. & Adams) thumpin’, foot stompin’ musical gumbo y’all influenced, sweet southern blues flavor. sound with a jazzy edge. Featuring Bill Morse won’t soon forget!!! Saturday, 3-4pm, The Planet Rock Stage (34rd St. on lead guitar and vocals; Rephael Harp on Saturday, 3:45-4:30pm, Sycuan Roots Rock & Adams) Start with a blend of accordion, key Stage (33rd St. & Adams)

8 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour performingperforming artistsartists

harmonica, guitar, and vocals; Oliver Shirley hopeless, bring a word of peace to the per- on bass and vocals; Lynn Willard on organ Tom Brosseau plexed, and share the “good news” with the Bunky and vocals; and Barry Farrar Jr. on drums and Curt Bouterse down and out. n

o The first thing you An ascendant s

Curt Bouterse has d

vocals, Blue Rockit is one of the most respect- r

a notice about Tom Sunday, 10:30-11:30am, Jazz88 Blues Stage avant-pop- h

been a performer at c ed local bands. They have performed numer- i Brosseau is that (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) plus aggre- R

l

every Roots Festival l ous times at San Diego’s biggest and best i

B incredible voice, gate fronted

and many Street : musical events, including Street Scene and o t which harkens back by singer- o

Fairs as well. Old h the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, with a versatile P to balladeers of the Slam Buckra & his drummer time Appalachian sound that includes lots of dance music. Blue ’30s and ’40s. Emily Joyce folk songs with fret- Groove Palookas Rockit can be heard around the county at the Matched with his and guitarist- less banjo, ham- best food and music venues. Come on out and wistful guitar play- vocalist Rafter Roberts, Bunky is one of the mered dulcimer, let the good times roll! ing, it’s an unbeatable combination. area’s top bands to emerge in recent years. autoharp, plucked dulcimer, and Vietnamese Born in North Dakota, Brosseau began Powered by Joyce’s crystalline breathy croon Saturday, 10:45-11:30am, Jazz88 Blues Stage mouth harp (upon which he plays Southern (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) writing and singing at a very early age. His and (simultaneous) tight traps working along mountain dance tunes) are his specialty. grandmother, who was involved with several with Roberts’ inventive song arrangements, Sunday, 11:30am-12:15pm, Troubadour bluegrass associations, would take him to guitar work, and alternately hushed/gleefully Peter Bolland & Acoustic Stage (Felton St. & Adams) church basements and retirement homes and frantic vocals, the band is fleshed out by a Broken Hills old dance halls to listen. One guy would stand revolving handful of available ringers on bass, up and yodel and another would play the vibes, trumpet, sax, trombone, etc. Dubbed “alternative the brombies jew’s harp. The audience would clap. Soon Once you’ve seen Slam Buckra (formerly country fiction” by The Brombies’ known as Rick Gazlay), it’s something you’re Saturday, 1:30-2:30pm, The Planet Rock Stage Brosseau began mixing the mediums and (34rd St. & Adams) Los Angeles critic Ed music has been singing. He learned how to play the guitar, sure not to forget. His one-of-a-kind perform- Burns, Bolland’s described as roots- then learned the harmonica. He knew early ances can be described as part music, part music blends its based bluesy rock on that he wanted to do what he’s doing now. performance art, and part poetry reading — Butterface influences into a ‘n’ roll. Although all of which does not detract one iota from the unique sound that is they perform their Saturday, 7:15-8pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse fact that Slam and his band deliver an unfor- Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) at once fresh and own original songs, gettable blues/funk sound. familiar. Influenced the music seems Born in San Francisco, Buckra first by such artists as Gram Parsons, Jackson somehow familiar expressions of learned to adore music and strum a tennis Browne, and Neil Young, Bolland takes listen- and accessible to a racket in the Chicago suburbs, then developed ers into the lives of his characters as they wide range of people and age groups. While praise his musical interests further in the Pacific struggle through a world of rain and fire, each band member is an excellent musician, Northwest and in La Jolla. Before relocating to empty roads, and empty beds. A veteran of the they also like to emphasize their tight vocal Northern California in 1996 to perform as region’s alt-country scene, Bolland has per- harmonies. The band has a very optimistic Slam Buckra, he performed throughout the Hailing from the suburbs of San Diego, formed hundreds of shows up and down the outlook on life and feels that music can be a San Diego area for many years . butterFace consists of three guys with com- West Coast. His new CD is called frame. major contributing force of positive energy in His songwriting, guitar playing, singing, pletely different musical backgrounds. Their As a sideman, Bolland plays lap steel gui- our world. It is with this feeling that the and stage act are legendary — the music will sound reflects this diversity as they deliver tar and electric guitar in the Los Angeles band Brombies perform, making their shows fun transport you to some far-off distant planet. As eclectic mixtures of rock, pop, blues, and Grant Langston and the Supermodels. Bolland and energetic with unplanned jams to be a wordsmith, Buckra has a definite gift for the R&B. Having gathered a faithful following in also writes a monthly column on music, art, expected. All of the band members have vernacular, even adding some of his own word the La Mesa area, butterFace aims to please a creativity, and performance called “Musings.” played professionally for many years, working creations to express himself. This crazy man Expressions of Praise started out as a family larger audience. The perfect bar band, with many well-known artists. But for the past is the quintessential entertainer! Sunday, 12:30-1:15pm, Troubadour Acoustic gospel singing group in the summer of 1998. butterFace loves to entertain bar patrons with nine years, they will tell you that they’ve had Stage (Felton St. & Adams) After the release of their first CD, Love Is the Saturday, 4:30-5:30pm, The Planet Rock Stage singalong cover songs and rockin’ originals. the most fun with their own band. Answer, they “adopted” a group of highly (34rd St. & Adams) motivated musicians and three talented vocal- Saturday, 11:30am-12:30pm, Sycuan Roots Rock Saturday, 10:15-11:15am, 94.9/CityBEAT Stage (33rd St. & Adams) DiMilles Stage (35th St. & Adams) ists into the family mix. The mission and goal of these gospel singers is to encourage the

9 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 performing artists

Having begun piano lessons when he was five, country, folk, and blues intersect. Fretless bass, Roy Ruiz Clayton Connor bought his first guitar at 14 and Tomcat Courtney Dee Ray crisp bluegrass fiddle, and classical violin Roy is a potter, an formed the Keyhoppers in high school, a The Godfather of meet pop-style rhythm guitar, piano, and artist (who has done dance band named for his aggressive piano the San Diego Blues dynamic percussion, setting the stage for a the illustration for style. After graduation, he played in numerous scene, Tom searching and powerful voice and a uniquely the past four Roots bands but made his first real money in music “Tomcat” Courtney styled prose set to music. Blending influences Festivals), a guitar as a jingle writer for radio and television com- has been playing from Bach to the Beach Boys and Bob Dylan, picker, a songwriter, mercials in East Lansing, Michigan. blues in San Diego varied backgrounds, instrumentation, and tal- and a singer. Since His main instrument is guitar now, since he was trans- ents showcased in the group, have defined a wandering into Folk which he learned from 20 years of playing planted here some new genre the band calls acoustic Americana Arts Rare Records 20 with Dave Beldock, a graduate of the Berklee time in the late folk rock. Founded by members of San Diego’s years ago, he’s played both the Roots Festival College of Music, in their band Bordertown. 1960s. About half of the young guys playing Dee Ray is a four-piece band out of San Diego acoustic music scene in 2001 — Will and the Street Fair many times over the years The band, founded in 1982, performed in one blues in this town worked their way through who have been compared to the Pretenders, Edwards on guitar and vocals, John Ciccolella and is one of those guys who writes songs with form or another until 2001. Ten years ago, one of Tom’s bands. Originally from Waco, Talking Heads, and the Velvet Underground. on fretless bass, Daniel Dempsey on drums, words you have to listen to. You won’t be Connor got involved in elementary school Texas, Courtney was first put on a stage by the Their sound displays different styles of music Ingrid Alongi on violin, Will Turner on fiddle, sorry. music education, writing songs with the stu- late blues great Aaron “T-Bone” Walker who that reside in the heart and mind of song- and Satish on piano/keyboard — the group dents, which led to teaching music full-time. gave him his start. writer Dee Ray, which are helped by the recently released its debut full-length CD, Saturday, 11-11:45am, Troubadour Acoustic Nowadays, besides teaching and performing, unique and exceptional ability of each band Lookout Road, on Tangled Records. Stage (Felton St. & Adams) he runs his recording studio, Windy Hill Sunday, 3:15-4:15pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) member to enhance her vision. Led by singer- Saturday, 2:15-3pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Studio, and mans the soundboard for Dark songwriter Dee Ray on bass and vocals, the Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Dan Connor & Little Thirty Productions in Lakeside. His current band features Johnny Ford on guitar, Sue del band, Little Big Men, is a trio that includes Lou & Virginia Guidice on keyboards, and Alan Leasure on Big Men harmonica master Dan Byrnes and “Bongo” drums. Together, the steadfast drumming of Eleonor England Contemporary Bob Goldsand. Curtiss Leasure and Dee’s pulsating bass lines create a folk singer and trio Saturday, 5:15-6pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse firm foundation for Sue’s keyboards to weave songwriter Dan Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) hypnotically in and and around Ford’s psy- “Eleonor has what I Connor has won chedelic, hillbilly guitar style. The final ingre- would classify as a local awards as dients to this harmonic stew are Dee’s soulful, world-class voice— a musician, Angela Correa introspective voice and lyrics, which have a beautiful tone, songwriter, band expansive range, p Literate, captivating, habit of lingering in your head. p u leader, and pro- r and honest are just and amazing flexi- G

(34rd St. ducer. He exer- l Saturday, 6-7pm, The Planet Rock Stage u a few of the words bility—as well as a a & Adams) P

cises all these : never-ending supply

o used by some to t o talents on his recently released CD, Writes of h describe singer- of ever-changing P Passage. Connor is a gem of a songwriter, songwriter Angela Lou Curtiss, curator of the Adams Avenue Derek Duplessie & and infinitely funny lyrics.” wrote San taking on current issues that are offbeat and Correa. Influenced Roots Festival, chair of the Street Fair, propri- Francisco music critic Michael Mecca. Other refreshing. His subjects vary from the tradi- as much by etor of the legendary Folk Arts Rare Records, the Desert Poets critics have called her music blues-informed tional folk themes of love lost or love gone Ramblin’ Jack Elliot director of the historic San Diego Folk Derek Duplessie and jazz as well as half jazz, half stand up come- wrong to a philosophy for living in a chang- as by Cat Power or P.J. Harvey, she mixes an Festivals, and San Diego Music Award-winner, the Desert Poets cre- dy. Award-winning San Francisco jazz vocalist ing world. This is not just another guy singin’ indie sensibility with folk/country sentiment. pairs up with his better half, Virginia, to cook ate their own Eleonor England and her jazz combo, featur- and playin’ guitar here. Connor creates an Her debut album, Red Room Songs, has up sardonic, witty traditional ditties that’ll unique “jangle” ing renowned Indonesian jazz pianist Eddy essence and feel that words can’t describe. He gained attention, but her live performance have you rolling gleefully in the aisles. country-rock sound, Sambuaga and Steve Fowler on bass, are in is a thinking-man’s writer. the lineup at this year’s Street Fair. Come see and haunting murder ballads continually Saturday, 1:15-2pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse blending together Originally from the Midwest, this singer- capture her audience’s imagination. Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) the electric 12-string what critics are raving about. songwriter discovered music early in life. guitar with har- Sunday, 3:15-4pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Stage Saturday, 6:15-7pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) monica and pedal steel guitar leads. Well-crafted and hook-filled original songs, Fowl Play together with timeless classics by the likes of d o Neil Young, Tom Petty, and Gene Clark (the e L c M

Byrds), give this band a sound that is refresh- a n

ingly new, yet well-grounded in the roots of y a J

:

that California hippie-country sound. They o t o h

sound a bit like Steve Earle meets the Byrds P meets Tom Petty!

Sunday, 3-4pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Stage (35th St. & Adams)

Will Edwards Band The timeless music of the Byrds can be heard again live at the Adams Avenue Street Fair. Seasoned musicians Randy Hoffman, Gene Rochambeau, Lyle Duplessie, Kent Johnson, and Liz Abbott are all avid Byrds’ fans and veterans of the San Diego music scene.

Saturday, 2:30-3:15pm, Sycuan Roots Rock Stage (33rd St. & Adams)

Simple name, complex sound. The Will Edwards Band walks the fine line where rock,

10 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour performingperforming artistsartists

tion from kids jamming in a garage to a self- The Fremonts Fred Gerlach Hatfield Rain Mark Jackson Band sufficient, hard-working rock band whose Fred Gerlach spent members have made personal sacrifices for the good old days of the betterment of the band. They are currently the McCarthy era in recognized as one of the tightest indie-rock New York City, bands, and their ever-growing fan base easily hanging out with confirms this. the likes of Woody Hot Like (A) Robot’s first album, a self- Guthrie, Cisco released nine-song LP titled Sky, was recorded Houston, Pete by Jeff Forest (Rocket from the Crypt, Seeger, and Big Bill Broonzy. Gerlach’s apart- Blink182, Three Mile Pilot), a strong support- The Fremonts are a West Coast blues band ment was the place where everyone came to The music of Hatfield Rain crosses multiple er of the local indie-rock scene. Despite the who draw their influences from several pick on a Saturday night and one of the genres and, although influenced by decades of lack of well-deserved, well-needed distribu- regional styles of rhythm and blues. From the prime pickers was Fred himself on the the country’s most respected artists, the band Mark Jackson is a songwriter whose music has tion, the album continues to sell wherever Hot hypnotic drones of Slim Harpo’s “Scratch my Leadbelly-style 12-string guitar. In the late manages to play their music with an unprece- traveled from the hills of Oklahoma to the Like (A) Robot travels. Already a single from Back” to hard swinging tunes of West Coast ’50s, early ’60s he wandered out to San Diego dented style. Rock, country, blues, and jazz shores of the Pacific Ocean. Influenced by the album (“Sub-titled”) has been picked up pioneers George “Harmonica” Smith and Pee and played in a few of San Diego’s long-gone fuse and mingle to create an eclectic and such greats as Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Neil by San Diego radio station 92.1 KFSD FM, and Wee Crayton, the Fremonts remain dedicated coffee houses like the Upper Cellar and Circe’s inspired sound. Fronted by Dawn Jackson, Young, and Willie Nelson, he carries on the was voted song of the week in July of last year. to the electric blues of the 1940s and ’50s, Cup. Fred has been more or less a regular at granddaughter of Nashville’s legendary pedal tradition of the storyteller and poet, combined Hot Like (A) Robot will begin their second while working hard to create a sound that is the festivals on Adams Avenue, where his vir- steel guitar builder Shot Jackson, the band to create the Western American folk song. tour next April; their second album is already unique to the band. Featuring Mighty Joe tuoso guitar playing never fails to amaze. members have roots spanning the country, Accompanied by Toria Robertson on vocals; in the works. With so much thought and Milsap on vocals, Kurt Kalker on drums, Troy from San Diego to New York, Boston, Ken Wilcox on guitar, slide guitar, autoharp, detail going into their new songs, Hot Like (A) Sunday, 2:45-3:45pm, Troubadour Acoustic “Pony Boy” Sandow on harmonica, and “evil Stage (Felton St. & Adams) Nashville, and Texas. Fearless and richly cre- and vocals; Howard Bertin on fiddle, key- Robot’s future releases are sure to be ones that twins” Pat Skog and Tony Tomlinson on bass ative, lush and full, Hatfield Rain tells musi- board, and accordion; Drew Decker on bass; will impact the local music scene. and guitar, the Fremonts have shared the cal stories that cross genre, political, and gen- Kim Bishop on percussion; and Mark “Doc” Sunday, 12:30-1:30pm, The Planet Rock Stage stage with Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, Ghost Town der boundaries with a vibe that seeps into Rolph on drums, the Mark Jackson Band has (34rd St. & Adams) Big Jay McNeely, Nappy Brown, Sam Taylor, your blood stream. performed at numerous venues around San James Harman, and Carey Bell, and have Deputies Diego County and appeared on KUSI-TV’s Saturday, 11:45am-12:45pm, 94.9/CityBEAT played nearly every major blues venue in the DiMilles Stage (35th St. & Adams) Morning Show. In addition, they have been Ila Southwestern region. featured performers at the San Diego Folk The power of Ila’s Heritage Festival (now the Sam Hinton Folk Sunday, noon-1pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage (Hawley music is unique and Blvd. & Adams) Robin Henkel Heritage Festival) in La Jolla, as well as the comforting, a cross Robin Henkel’s Sage and Songbird Festival in Alpine and the between folk and ! music ranges from Train Song Festival in Poway. This band has soul music. Her Fuga primitive, created a style of original roots country music songs are a release Mississippi Delta that is fresh yet timeless. from tension, an Riding out of the Midwest with guns a- blues to the urban Sunday, 11:45am-12:45pm, Sycuan Roots Rock escape into relax- blazin’, the Ghost Town Deputies rambled Chicago sound to Stage (33rd St. & Adams) ation, and a touch their cowboy rock stylings into Southern Texas-style western of the best parts of reality. Her soft voice capti- California earlier this century. Embracing the swing and beyond. ( ) vates coffee house audiences who realize Ila is essence of American rock in a barrel full of An amazing blues slide guitarist, Robin has Hot Like a robot singing more than words; she is singing her well-crafted, original songs stirred into an been playing music since the ’60s both as a spirit. Ila’s songs filter through the distrac- intoxicating blend of rootsy, alt-rock influ- solo act and as a contributing band member. tions of falling in love and falling down in life ences, Ghost Town Deputies sing spirited tales With the Robin Henkel Band he uses a variety to evoke the innermost emotions that others Formed in the desert heat of the El Paso/ of living, drinking, yearning, and losing with of back-up musicians who he custom picks to may not be able to express. Juarez border, this gem of a band proves that enough heart and soul to go around a camp- fit each gig. He has opened for such top acts At the age of 22, Ila embodies multiple music can become a vehicle for positive social fire the whole night long. A blend of Country as Dizzie Gillespie, Bonnie Raitt, Arlo Guthrie, talents. A self-taught singer and guitar player, and political change. Nurtured by Mexican and Western music, this trio conjures up and Dave Mason. she pursues her music full time while concur- (American) culture and community, Fuga! sounds of Johnny Cash and Social Distortion A seasoned veteran and winner of Best rently enrolled as a visual arts/media student creates music that conveys a message of resist- as well as music of garage bands like the Blues Album at the 2000 San Diego Music Formed in 2001, Hot Like (A) Robot is a at UCSD. A regular performer in San Diego ance and struggle against oppression. Their Clash and the Replacements. The lively Awards, he has participated in numerous strong driving force in the local music scene. and Los Angeles, Ila has gained a strong fol- music speaks of reality, freedom, and hope, arrangements, endearing stage antics, and blues festivals. He is also a guitar teacher at Quirky, yet powerful, their music is a perfect lowing and has been written about in the while inviting the listener to sing, dance, punchy, melodic approach of Ghost Town the legendary Blue Guitar, where he has been blend of hard-driving guitars with intensely media. Last year she opened for Jason Mraz. embrace life, and to believe that another Deputies will leave you wanting more. giving lessons to students who are eager to melodic vocals that are sure to captivate even Saturday, 4:15-5pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse world is possible. learn from the legend himself. the toughest critic. In only two years, Hot Like Saturday, 3:15-4pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Saturday, 4:15-5:15pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin (A) Robot has managed to make the transi Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Saturday, 5:15-6pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage Stage (Adams Park) (Felton St. & Adams) Sage Gentle-Wing

Sage Gentle-Wing is one of those rare multi- faceted artists who brings to the stage a subtle yet powerful presence of authenticity. He will captivate you with his unique use of altered acoustic guitar tunings to create a large, full- band sound. The deep resonance of the down- tuned bass often approximates the register of an actual bass guitar. His songs reflect a time- less, masterful song craft that employs com- pelling themes, impeccably rendered by a truly original American artist. With his vast catalog of great original songs, the listener is treated to a broad palette of colors, including folk, jazz, blues, country, country-blues, folk- rock, pop, Celtic, and even tango.

Saturday, 2:15-3:15pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage (Felton St. & Adams)

11 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 performingperforming artistsartists performing artists

12 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour performingperforming artistsartists

13 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 performingperforming artistsartists

who hired her as a primary on-air personality. Burning Bridges), Jim McInnes (guitar—vet- jamie jenkins The Kernel Johnny Love Sound Upon the urging of singer-songwriter Steve eran rock radio deejay, now with The Planet Born and raised in The Kernel, Poltz, Anya began singing and playing her 103.7 FM), Jack Pinney (drums—formerly San Diego, singer/ originally clever songs in coffeehouses and night clubs with Iron Butterfly, Glory, the Jacks, and many songwriter Jamie planned as a around town. She has since shared the stage others), Dave Stanger (vocals, from the Jenkins has been four-piece with such notables as Poltz, the Rugburns, the Greasy Petes), and Dr. Paul Kater, M.D. (per- singing for as long band, features Dragons, and the Incredible Moses Leroy. cussion/EMT). Modern Rhythm has played all over San Diego—at Street Scene, Sea World, as she can remem- long-time Sunday, 4:15-5pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Stage ber. At the age of 15, friends Jeff (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Humphrey’s, the Belly Up Tavern, Dick’s Last when she decided to Lapp and Steve This local rock and roll band, led by the one Resort, the Millennium Bash in Balboa Park, teach herself how to Roth alternately on guitar and bass, comple- and only Johnny Love, features guitar genius St. Patrick’s Day, S.D. Festival of Beers, play the guitar, she mented by the rock-solid foundation of per- Uncle Bri, flute virtuoso Erica Laurie, and Billy Midnight Oktoberfest, and the Sky Show, plus numerous Madman Bucko Johnson on drums. Johnny z dive bars, weddings, and wild parties. If your realized she had found her medium of expres- cussion and drums by Jeff Kerrigan. Their e r

Love hit the San Diego open mic scene in the a toe ain’t tappin’ when these guys play, you’re sion. After finishing school, Jamie packed up rock, pop, and reggae/ska musical style is cre- u S

n her guitar and headed north to the Bay Area. ative, original, and versatile, which is best summer of 1999. Taking the concept of i probably dead! m s

unplugged to the extreme at such venues as a

Within a year she had found her audience expressed when you see them live. Y Sunday, 1:30-2:30pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles : o

Java Joes, Twiggs and Lestats, he would polite- t

and in the fall of 2002, she released her debut o Stage (35th St. & Adams)

Sunday, 10-10:45am, The Planet Rock Stage h ly request that the P.A. be turned off while he P CD, Fool’s Disguise, an album of intense inti- (34rd St. & Adams) macy, ripe with passion, and thick with the sang and played songs by Irving Berlin, poetry that has always been the core of her George and Ira Gershwin, and other Tin Pan Nitro Express music. As a performer, Jamie’s openness and Lady star and the Alley legends. Johnny became a regular at sensitivity pour off the stage as she offers her Wendy’s open mic at Java Joe’s and gradually Described as “music that makes you home- heart to her listeners, at once vulnerable and bustin’ loose blues began to integrate microphones and original sick for a home you’ve never had,” Billy powerful. As her audience continues to band material into his set. Midnight’s sound conjures the image of desert expand, so does her music, reflecting the joys Early this year Johnny Love Sound stars and sweeping ocean cliffs. Their youthful and sorrows of life both within and without. Lady Star is recorded Sushi Girl, their first album, which live energy and tight harmonies and guitar the real deal. was released in March at Hot Monkey Love work have earned them descriptions like Sunday, 12:15-1pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse In the spirit of Café. Notable recent appearances include the Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) “Pink Floyd meets Gram Parsons.” Billy Koko Taylor, Go-Go Girl multimedia extravaganza at the Midnight’s rootsy, West Coast sound borrows Etta James, Casbah in May and their roof-raising per- from the past while pushing ahead in a fresh kahuna cowboys and Tina formance at the Belly Up Tavern in August. direction, music that’s strangely familiar but Turner, this Their new album, Coffee Girl, is currently in Spending time ventures into unexplored sonic territory that blues diva production. This country-rock band plays everything from with the goes beyond retro. The trio, which includes delivers like classic country and classic rock ‘n’ roll to Kahuna Sunday, 10:30-11:15am, Troubadour Acoustic brothers Billy (guitar) and Bobby Shaddox few others can. swing, rhythm & blues, and even reggae if Cowboys was Stage (Felton St. & Adams) (drums) and Ben Cook on bass, mines a rich Since moving requested. With influences ranging from once described field of harmony-drenched Americana, to San Diego, Bakersfield and Nashville to Liverpool and as basking in accompanied by some inspired guitar. Lady Star has sung the blues on her own Anya Marina London, they have created their own distinc- the sun on a terms in nearly every smoke-filled bar room Sunday, noon-1pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Stage tive sound that appeals to a wide audience. g The daughter of col- n

tropical isle, i (35th St. & Adams)

both sides of the border. She spent two years in K Jim Pulsifer, leader of the band on guitar and lege professors, Anya r

while listening e t vocals, has been performing professionally in Mexico, performing with some of the coun- e Marina began her P

to the gentle :

try’s finest musicians. In the U.S., Lady Star o Southern California for more than 20 years. t entertainment rhythms of o Modern Rhythm h His use of a B-Bender on his guitar gives him has shared the bill with such blues legends as P Hawaiian steel guitars and having Gene Autry career in theater, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Jimmie Vaughn and a unique style, which is as original as it is gallop by, chasing a herd of Texas longhorns. first on stage and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dr. John, and good. Other members of the band include The Kahuna Cowboys deliver powerful and later for television Carey Bell and has always been a crowd Kirk Browne on pedal steel, fiddle, harmonica, authentic vocals backed by some 23 different and independent favorite at many San Diego music festivals. mandolin, guitar, and vocals; Tom Gobel on instruments, including guitars, ukuleles, slide films. While at col- Lady Star can best be described as a bass and vocals; Patrick Giurbino on drums steel guitars, a gutbucket bass, wood saw, lege, she became down-home blues-singin’ woman who leaves and vocals; and Barry Amundsen on guitar whiskey jug, and washboard. Whistling and the host of the pop- a bit of herself on stage every time she per- and vocals. gargling may be added as well when playing ular radio show, The forms. More important, people who have seen Western swing, Hawaiian, jug band, blues, Void, which became such a success that Modern Rhythm has been playing its amal- Sunday, 3-4:15pm, Sycuan Roots Rock Stage her show have a better understanding of what jazz, and cowboy tunes. The band’s three col- KROQ’s sister station, KOME, hired her as a gam of blues, swing, and rock ‘n’ roll since (33rd St. & Adams) the blues is all about. orful characters—Doctor D, Rustlin’ Russ, fledgling on-air staffer. Soon after graduation, 1982. Since 1999 it has featured founding and Lahaina Les—are always upbeat and Sunday, 1:30-2:45pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage (Hawley Anya’s demo tape got into the hands of rene- members John Gunderson (bass/vocals) and humorous when they perform. Blvd. & Adams) gade radio programmer, Michael Halloran at Don Story (lead guitar/vocals), plus Andrew XHRM (“San Diego’s Independent Radio”) Vereen (guitar/vocals—formerly with Saturday, 10:45-11:45am, The Planet Rock Stage (34th St. & Adams)

14 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour performingperforming artistsartists

Ray on bass and vocals, Terence Godfrey on bridges across generations. Omo Ache Gregory Page vocals, Greg Woods on drums, and Kyle Radio La Chusma Based on the earthy and honest style of

n Hyper-prolific and Schilling on guitar and vocals, Paradise write Drawing from the ’60’s folk movement, but full of relevance o s d

r part-time Hatchet and produce their own material. With their Mexican, Afro- for the 21st century, Rafael’s songs are both a h c i Brother, Gregory first CD released last year, they are currently Cuban and unique and familiar — familiar because they R

l l i Page will be releas- working on new material for a second CD. Jamaican cultures, are authentic, and unique because they speak B

: o

t ing his tenth CD, They also have a video out, which recently Radio La Chusma to us about our lives here and now. What sets o h

P Love Made Me premiered on local television show, Fox Rox. creates world folk him apart from many others is his frequent Drunk (Bedpan music, blending inclusion of extended family, because his Saturday, 2:30-3:45pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin recordings), at this year’s Street Fair. It was Stage (Adams Park) intricate guitar grandparents, parents, wife, children and The talented Omo Ache Afro-Cuban Dance composed while he was living in Paris last polyrhythms, heart- friends are often the characters that populate Company, led by Juan Carlos Blanco, performs year and is reminiscent of the Paris in the felt vocals and deli- his ballads, and he serves up a slice of true the lively and energetic traditional dances of ’40s, with its violins and accordions. He will Powerthud cate harmonies to expand the parameters of Americana in every song. Rafael’s songs evoke Cuba. Featuring a wonderful group of dancers be joined by many of the friends who played jazz, Latin, rock, and reggae. the inspiration, the hope, and the greater real- and drummers, Omo Ache offers audiences a on the CD. Page was born in London and ization that there is more to life than what is Saturday, 11:30am-12:30pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & journey through the evolution of Cuban cul- moved to San Diego in the late ’70s. Latin Stage (Adams Park) readily apparent. ture, from its African roots to today’s most Becoming quick friends with Steve Poltz, he Sunday, 4-5pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage popular urban dances. They perform at festi- spent three years with the Rugburns. During (Felton St. & Adams) vals, universities, and at schools throughout that time, he made out with Jewel in her infa- Joel Rafael Band t

San Diego through the Institute for Arts mous van and went on to produce many local r a w

Education. artists, including Jason Mraz and, most e

t “Action” Andy S

recently, Robin Henkel. For more information e d Saturday, 10:30-11am, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin l E

Rasmussen

on Mr. Page, visit his groovy website: www.gre- :

Stage (Adams Park) o t

o Long-time founder

gorypage.com Powerthud is a band with a seamless chem- h istry, both as musicians and as a unit of per- P and bassist for San Sunday, 2:15-3pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Stage Diego’s premier Opensure (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) sonalities. Sharing a love of no-frills rock, blues, soul, and folk music, as well as a gen- roots-rock band the uine affection for one another as friends, Sleepwalkers, Sue Palmer & her Powerthud’s timeless, throbbing rock and roll Rasmussen will be oozes with a thudding groove, oblivious to the making his debut Motel Swing flavor-of-the-month mentality that pervades acoustic performance at this year’s Street Fair. Orchestra so much of contemporary music. With The 1995 winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival He’ll be playing many of his country and rag- New Folk Emerging Songwriter award, Joel time originals with an eclectic touch of his San Diego’ s American roots music serving as a launching Rafael and his band make folk music for the favorite garage-rock songs. Through various Queen of Boogie platform, Powerthud blasts through melodic 21st century. Considered to be San Diego’s bands, he has performed with a wide array of Woogie, Sue hook-laden songs with soulful vocals, monster Through dynamics, inspiration, talent, spirit, premier acoustic band, they have successfully talent, ranging from the Texas Tornadoes, Palmer, has chops, years of experience, and the joy of and soul, Opensure came out of the Orange blended contemporary folk music with heart- Sleep LaBeef, Ronnie Dawson, BR5-49, ? and amazed audiences playing. County area to create emotionally charged, felt songwriting and a world beat. With the Mysterians, the Legendary Stardust all over the world distortion-driven music, which has fueled a Sunday, 4:30-6pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Stage Rafael’s daughter, Jamaica, on violin and Cowboy, and most recently country legend with her unique unison of outlooks. Opensure is the embodi- (35th St. & Adams) viola, Carl Johnson on acoustic lead guitar, Charlie Ryan as backup. style and phe- ment of different styles, philosophies, and atti- and Jeff Berkley on ethno-percussion, the nomenal left hand. She delights in creating Saturday, 3:45-4:45pm, Troubadour Acoustic tudes. At times aggressive, though always sin- band’s collective musical energy builds an atmosphere reminiscent of the small clubs Stage (Felton St. & Adams) cere, the music appeals to emotions that are and cafes of 1932 Paris, Harlem, and West only effectively evoked by their magical com- Texas. Her first CD, which features many of bination of sounds and lyrics. her own compositions, has been described as Saturday, 12:15-1pm, The Planet Rock Stage “full of fun, and cool enough to cause crop (34rd St. & Adams) damage to orange groves.” Her second CD, Soundtrack to a B Movie, was hailed as a “steam of sultry sound.” Live at Dizzy’s, her Other Natural most recent release, is a live account of her Flavors multimedia show in February 2002, featuring Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra with special guests Romy Kaye, David Mosby, and Chuck Perrin. Equally at home with 12-bar blues, boo- gie woogie, swing, jazz, or country, Palmer is a successful band leader in her own right. She fronted her own swing band Tobacco Road for 12 years and produced and played on four The mouth-watering music of this inventive independently released CDs, which featured band combines a delicious taste of modern bassist, vocalist, and arranger Preston rock with a side order of edgy pop, sure to Coleman, an indispensable player in the serve up a tasty treat every time they perform. Chicago and New York jazz scenes of the ’30s San Diego’s five-member Other Natural and ’40s. This wildly popular vintage swing Flavors features Chris Van Cott on vocals and band was the recipient of the prestigious San guitar, Maritza Rodriguez on vocals, Joe Diego Music Awards seven times between Pangia on bass, Steve Olivera on guitar, and 1986-1994. Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing George Lolodice on drums, each of whom Orchestra always receives rave reviews. supply a punch of their own musical taste, Saturday, 4:30-5:45pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage which comes together to produce a zesty (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) sound. Other Natural Flavors has always been a motivated, do-it-yourself outfit. The band writes, records, and produces their own music Paradise as well as books their own gigs, designs their own CD layouts and promo materials, and manages their own record label and publish- ing company. It’s quite clear that this band is an ambitious, energetic bunch.

Saturday, 1:15-2:15pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Stage (35th St. & Adams)

Paradise blends rock, old, school, and Latin music to produce an explosive energy and passion like no other. Featuring Patrick Cruz on timbales, Jorge Estrada on congas, Vernell

15 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 performing artists

demonstrate why he has become the first-call Rookie Card el rosario Lisa Sanders san diego cajun producer for scores of local artists. A little more than Lisa Sanders got her The Mysterious Ways will back the duo at two years old, musical start in playboys their Adams Avenue Street Fair appearance. Rookie Card’s Philadelphia, where as a child she per- Sunday, 1:30-2:30pm, Troubadour Acoustic sound falls some- Stage (Felton St. & Adams) where in the alter- formed songs for her native-indie rock parents with her world, with a brother. It was then Aliah Selah slight twang of she decided what she wanted to do in life: Recently relocated country. With write music. Following a period when her from Austin, Texas, good songwriting, smart lyrics, and catchy Since its inception nearly ten years ago, Latin dream was waylaid with marriage and moth- Aliah Selah is hooks, the band features Adam Gimbel on rock group El Rosario, has been integrating erhood, Lisa moved to Los Angeles where she The San Diego Cajun Playboys honor the tra- another example of lead vocals and guitar; Nasrallah Helewa on hard rock with bossa nova, rumba, salsa, and joined the Los Angeles Songwriter’s Showcase ditions of Louisiana with authentic Cajun the talented song- drums; Jason Hee on bass; and Oregon-import trova, as well as aspects of funk, jazz, pop, and tried to make a living writing jingles with music sung in all French all the time. Under writers and musi- Gabe Acock on lead guitar, trumpet, and keys. and classic rock. An amalgam of styles, they a partner, which ended after a brief period. the guidance of local roots music legend Lee cians who come to Music critic Bart Mendoza described their incorporate their diverse influences and back- After moving back to San Diego in the mid- Birch they started in Normal Heights in 1996 San Diego to pursue music as “a veritable explosion of pop culture grounds into a unique rhythm. ’90s, she started writing songs again and, and have had the pleasure of playing Cajun their musical call- influences that’s kinda hard to pin down. It’s inspired by watching singer-songwriters play music with many great musicians ever since. ing. You can see her Sunday, 3:30-4:30pm, The Planet Rock Stage their music in local coffeehouses, she began literally a bit of this and a bit of that, mixed (34rd St. & Adams) The band’s favorite place to play Cajun prior to the Street Fair, every Thursday in together for songs that are as hook filled as performing. She has since released four CDs music is at dances sponsored by the Bons September, at Miracles Cafe in Cardiff from 8- any you’re likely to come across. . . ” and opened for such music legends as B.B. Temps Social Club of San Diego, where a 10pm. Look for the release of her new CD, Saba King, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, bunch of fanatical Cajun/Zydeco dancers who Wildflowers, later this year. Saturday, 2:45-4pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Making her first Stevie Nicks, and Sting. Today this two-time have trekked to Louisiana more times than Stage (35th St. & Adams) San Diego Music Award winner can be found you can count flock to hear some good Saturday, noon-12:30pm, Troubadour Acoustic appearance in 2002, Stage (Felton St. & Adams) 23-year-old singer/ in venues all around the country playing gui- Louisiana music. Skid Roper & the songwriter Saba has tar and singing from her soul. The Truckee The San Diego Cajun Playboys take pride earned a reputation Brothers will join her at this year’s Adams in being able to play a full repertoire of Cajun Shadowdogs Shadowcasters as one of the “best Avenue Street Fair. French music, enough for a four-hour dance! Skid Roper and the And when they get together, it’s all-French- voices in the San Saturday, 7:30-8:30pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Shadowcasters are a Diego Music Stage (35th St. & Adams) music-all-the-time. local well-kept Scene.” This year, the self-taught flautist, bas- Saturday, 1:30-2:30pm, Jazz88 Blues Stage secret. A multi-tal- soonist, and guitarist was recognized as one of (Hawley Blvd. & Adams) ented musician, the top 10 female songwriters in the nation in Skid dusts off his the Third Annual Pantene Pro-Voice Fender Jazzmaster Contest. For the past year she has been per- Chuck Schiele & for a fun set of tunes with his band, playing forming both in her hometown and in Los Sven-Erik Seaholm Shadowdogs conjures up the spirit of the cool, feel-good ’60s instrumentals with plenty Angeles, reaching audiences as far as New Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo, while putting of reverb and twang. Also featured are novel York City. A resolute supporter of the do-it- their own stamp on country music. Bluegrass, arrangements of nifty songs like “Exodus,” yourself philosophy, Saba founded Spinster Americana, and R&B flow through their “Harlem Nocturne,” and “The William Tell Records to establish her career based on the music, which will remind some of a simpler, Overture.” Consisting of Skid Roper on guitar strength of her songwriting and to ensure the straight-ahead approach to country rock pro- and vocals, Chip McClendon on Fender Bass, integrity of her music. duction while introducing a new generation and Danny Kress behind the drums, the Sunday, 1:15-2pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Stage to the contemporary songwriting of Bruce Shadowcasters promise a good time for all. (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Fitzsimmons and Rich Maiorano. The band is Sunday, 10:30-11:30am, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles anchored by the rock solid rhythm section of Stage (35th St. & Adams) Kevin Glassel on drums and Jon Scarantino on bass and vocals. Chuck Schiele and Sven-Erik Seaholm are two of San Diego’s most forward-thinking, Saturday, 6:30-7:30pm, Sycuan Roots Rock unabashedly pop-oriented singer/songwriters. Stage (33rd St. & Adams) Both have been long-time contributors to the San Diego music scene and have not only stayed at its forefront but have simultaneously The Shambles increased in their musical relevance as well, as each of their recent CDs will testify. The semi-eponymously titled Chuck Schiele and the Mysterious Ways is a globe- trotting feast of pop hooks, exotic rhythms, and deeply introspective lyrics. Alongside a few instrumentals that feature Schiele’s excellent guitar work, Chuck’s band plays with a singu- larity of focus that so succinctly captures his world view that one reviewer was prompted to comment: “When he sings about soul, you know he has one.” Formed in 1992, this group of life-long While Seaholm’s own CD Upload features friends — Bart Mendoza (vocals/guitar), contributions from 22 (!) of San Diego’s finest Kevin Donaker-Ring (guitar/vocals), Mark Z musicians, the end result is still focused and (bass), and Mike Kamoo (drums) — has a cohesive. Deftly moving between Beatles/Brian wonderfully distinct sound! These native San Wilson-influenced pop, alt-rock brawn, R&B Diegans have been members of highly grooves, and acoustic textures, Seaholm’s respected bands, including power-pop favorites catchy and clever songs remain the focal Manual Scan and R&B sensations the point throughout, and the recordings aptly Crawdaddys; Kamoo is also one of the main

16 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour performingperforming artistsartists

forces behind up and coming alternative rently working on her new CD Juanita Goes country circuit siren on drums, keep the Pin- rockers the Stereotypes. As the Shambles, they Tikal to Rehab, which is due out this fall. The Truckee ups on the not-so-straight-and-narrow honky- take ’60s pop, garage, folk, and ’70s am radio tonk path. Their first two CDs (Woman’s Saturday, 8:15-9:15pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Brothers music and mix it with pre-1970 Disney, Stage (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) Work and Caution: Swinging Doors) gar- soundtracks, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, and Spanish nered high praise from all corners. The third ballads for a wonderful hook-filled collection installment in the bar room trilogy, Last Call of songs. Tribe of Judah Confessions, is scheduled for release at the The Shambles have toured extensively, Local reggae end of the year. Check out reviews from contributed to dozens of compilation albums, rebels Tribe of around the world and songs at mp3.com. See and just released their fourth album, Chelsea Judah inspire y’all in the funny pages! Assembled by local jazz favorite Joe Garrison, Smiles, on the Spanish label Snap. There’s and uplift with Tikal is an all-star band of eight innovative Saturday, 5-6pm, Sycuan Roots Rock Stage (33rd also been a fair bit of press, from Billboard to their rock- musicians from diverse backgrounds who St. & Adams) Mojo, and gigs alongside the likes of Jonathan steady brand of excel in sophisticated and visceral improvisa- Richman, Superdrag, and Robyn Hitchcock. music that tion. Experts in spontaneous musical combus- If you like a catchy tune played with invokes insight The Truckee Brothers are a two-man band, - tion, Tikal leaves charts behind to give the Z Bonics conviction, passion and a way with a guitar, and introspec- blending tight, dissonant, atypical harmonies audience a unique listening experience where you’ll like these guys. tion. Veterans that run through every bit of their music. styles and notions intersect. The band features of the local Bob Marley Day and Martin They write songs to make themselves happy, Saturday, 4:30-5:30pm, 94.9/CityBEAT DiMilles Garrison as well as Burnett Anderson, Andy Luther King Day celebrations, this nine-mem- and use that spark for the energetic, fun live Stage (35th St. & Adams) Esparza, Kiko Cornejo, Ellen Weller, David ber outfit puts on a righteous live show char- rock shows that excite audiences. They are Millard, Fermin Rivero, and Emilio Camacho. acterized by irresistible rhythms and power- their own drummer and bassist, driving the Jose Sinatra & the house vocals. tunes like a garbage disposal with guitars and Sunday, 11:30am-12:30pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & keys. The Truckee Brothers — Pete Truckee Stage (Adams Park) Troy Dante Inferno Saturday, 1-2pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin Stage on vocals, guitars, drums, mandolin, and (Adams Park) Z-bonics is a San Diego-based group that have harmonica, and Carl Truckee on guitars, bass, been formed over the last several years but Trailer Park Queen piano, keys, and vocals are certainly twisted, only started performing at the beginning of Trophy Wife but they sure play some damn fine rock n the year. Featuring Zak Najor on drums, Greg roll! Pete says he’s an air sign and Carl is an Porter on vocals, Steve Haney on percussion, earth sign. Together they make a dust cloud. Brian Teel on guitar, George Sanders on keys, Sunday, 5:15-6pm, Inn Suites Coffeehouse Stage and Preston Mays on bass, Z-bonics mixes (Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave.) new and old soul music, sometimes jazzy and sometimes rocking, but always swinging. Greg Porter delivers a strong vocal performance on West Coast top of the music while the others play sponta- Pin-Ups neous breakdowns and solos. Their long-term José Sinatra and the Troy Danté Inferno con- goals include writing and recording an album tinue to touch female hearts — or at least the and touring nationally and internationally. areas surrounding them — with their taste- Coming from Seattle, Washington DC, and Teresa Gunn writes stunning original songs lessly tactile invention, “Lounge Metal.” San Diego, the members of Trophy Wife met Sunday, 1-2:15pm, T-33/APEX Jazz & Latin Stage that marry honesty and laser-sharp observa- Recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, each other at a California New Found Art pot- (Adams Park) tion with a tragic bravado, an aching longing the Hose declined the honor, protesting the tery convention and have all been integral to return to innocence. Her CD, Trailer Park antiquated international sanctions that forbid parts of rock’s seething underbelly. Although Queen, is not just gutsy and original. Songs him from legally marrying himself. The now in its infancy, the band’s deep roots have like “CherryLime Ricky” are among the few band’s second EP, Knowing Me Again, morphed through several variations before musical compositions that truly reflect San Touching Me Again will be launched at their arriving at its current incarnation. Bits of The West Coast Pin-ups formed in the waning Diego; she delivers a riveting portrait of life much-anticipated performance at this year’s rock, country, punk, and Irish drinking songs days of 1995, after finding country music as a growing up in Imperial Beach. Gunn doesn’t Street Fair on Saturday night, featuring some characterize their music. As guitarist Steve last refuge for their down-trodden rock ‘n’ roll deal in idealizing or in San Diego clichés. She surprise guests. Sabo recently remarked, “ While lots of bands souls. Thank God for Merle, George, Buck, is trailer-park honest and makes the life she play from inside the box, we haven’t actually and Lefty. Although many have moved, mar- Saturday, 7:30-8:45pm, The Planet Rock Stage describes so much more evocative because of found the box and therefore aren’t hindered ried, and forsaken country music, the remain- (34rd St. & Adams) it. Her delivery retains the power of in-your- by its limitations.” Trophy Wife, formerly Big ing band members helped to keep the spirit face poetry with a musical framework to evoke Wheel Wipeout, formerly Skunk Drunk, have alive and now the race is on. Skelpin just the right flavor. played with the Rugburns, Los Lobos, Jewel, Ben Farkas on Fender bass, Mike Sabo As an artist she believes it is her job to the Hatchet Brothers, and Ben Taylor. (aka Johnny Smokes) on lead and steel, help students fall in love with the power, joy, multi-instrumentalist Miff Laracy, long-time and endless possibility of choice. Gunn is cur Sunday, 11:15-noon, The Planet Rock Stage (34rd St. & Adams) sideman to José Sinatra (and Nashville devo- tee), and Erin Marie Payne, a hard workin’

One of the nation’s premier Irish-American bands, Skelpin (Gaelic for a slap, spank, or thrashing about energetically), has been known to drive strong men and women to uncontrollable bouts of foot twitching and hand clapping. Bursting at the seams with kinetic energy and blazing heat, Skelpin per- forms traditional Irish music, spiced with a jigger of sauce Americain and romantic soul. As the group’s tiny fiddler/singer Patric Petrie sets the pace for the group with her driving, yet lyrical style of fiddling and ethere- al singing, she is joined by the God of the bodhran and tee-shirt philosopher Harold Southworth; multi-instrumentalist extraordi- naire Steve Peavey on banjo, mandolin, and guitar; talented flutist, keyboardist, singer Richard Tibbitts; and dynamo Tim Foley on bodhran, uillean pipes, and vocals.

Saturday, 6:30-7:30pm, Troubadour Acoustic Stage (Felton St. & Adams)

17 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 ramblin’ramblin’

full circle

The Recordially Yours P h o t o :

B i l l HE UTIES OF A ECORD the stuff they have T D R R i

Bluegrass c but are content to be h COLLECTOR OR MUSIC HISTORIAN a r d s

members of “the I o

OR JUST A MUSIC FAN n CORNER have it, you don’t It isn’t enough to sit in your lonely club.” They ought to room contemplating all those really be ashamed of them- rare records you’ve found. It isn’t selves because in 30 even enough to sit at your computer years or so they’ll be gone. At least some by D. Dwight Worden ented bluegrass musicians in the hawking what you’ve found on eBay. of them will have country, had the crowd in the If you like the music enough to col- lect it, you’ve got to love it enough to heirs who will throw A WEEKEND IN PARADISE palm of their hand as they dis- want to help keep the music alive. their “lovingly col- Wow, was Summergrass ever played dazzling proficiency on In the more than 50 years I’ve lected” rare record- great! Last weekend saw the inau- their instruments and their goofy, been a record collector I’ve done ings into the garbage gural presentation of the but endearing, stage humor. New over 50 music festivals where I and some of that West, perennial Julian favorites, Summergrass San Diego: Pickin’ in organized the kinds of music I col- music will be lost for- provided a nice contrast with their Lou Curtiss Paradise bluegrass festival in Vista. lect, and I’ve paid to attend a couple ever. impressive presentation of Western Held at the Antique Gas and Steam of 100 more. I’ve done radio shows Liking a certain houses and clubs would have old- music, Western swing, and Django Engine Museum’s 40-acre park in for over 30 years (I currently do two; kind of music also means getting time music nights but again, it Reinhardt-style gypsy jazz. Vista, the weather was perfect; the one of which has been running for involved in keeping that music in comes back to this giving back thing. food and vendors were great; the The highlight of the festival, over 16 years). I have been on the front of the public. Whether it’s Old-time music is an important part sound system was superb; and the though, had to be the show put on production end of 27 long-play where music has been (featured at of our heritage and you damn club Museum’s old tractors, farm house, by the headliners, California, com- records and some 32 CDs, all of the Adams Avenue Roots Festival) or and coffee house owners ought to blacksmith, weavers, etc. were out- prised of fiddle legend Byron which feature the kinds of music I where the music is going (like the realize that, too. It isn’t enough to standing. The San Diego Troubadour Berline, John Hickman on banjo, collect (vintage, country, blues, jazz, Adams Avenue Street Fair), you can have a two-chord singer/songwriter produced the programs for the Steve Spurgeon on bass, John rockabilly, gospel, and vaudeville). be a part of the preservation effort with a ten-person following while event and passed out information, Moore on mandolin, and Dan I’ve produced well over 200 concerts on just about any level you choose. I great San Diego traditional musi- might add to those of you who like and I even saw some Troubadour Crary on guitar. Not only did they and presentations. I’ve taught class- cians like Curt Bouterse, the New old-time music that there’s a hell of a shirts in the crowd. And the burn the house down with a great es at UCSD Extension on vintage Lost Melody Boys, Mimi Wright, lot more work to be done in that music? It may well have been the show, but Vista resident Mark country music and country blues, Wayne Brandon, and Clarke Powell area. Contemporary musicians are best bluegrass San Diego has heard O’Connor happened by and, for and I’ve owned a collector’s record never work anywhere except at the more pushy than old-time musicians in 50 years. those who were there, an unfor- shop for over 36 years. Roots Festival and occasionally the in getting their sound around. It’s Adams Avenue Street Fair. The clubs Campers began arriving as getabble and unprecedented (to Now you know where I’m com- ing from. One other thing you ought probably been 25 years since an old- on Adams Avenue ought to be early as Wednesday, and rigs were my knowledge anyway) moment to know is that except on a few time group had a regular coffee ashamed of themselves, too. noted from all over the western in bluegrass music occurred. occasions, I haven’t taken any house or club gig. As popular as the Well, I’ve spouted off at just U.S. Friday got things rolling musi- California called Mark O’Connor, money for doing what I do (except, festivals on Adams Avenue are, about everyone this time around, but cally with opening sets by San perhaps the greatest fiddler ever to of course, for the shop). Most of the there is yet to be a club in the you all deserve it. Now, get off your Diego’s own Virtual Strangers in pick up the instrument, and cases that I’ve taken money were in Adams Avenue neighborhood that butts and go down to the Adams one of the best shows they have Dennis Caplinger of Bluegrass Etc. the form of a grant. I have a couple books old-time music and promotes Avenue Street Fair. If any of you to the stage, and the crowd was ever done. Guitar legend Dan of research grants along the way it. We know there is an audience for think I might be right, drop by Folk treated to triple fiddling by three Crary left the crowd starry-eyed and the National Endowment for the it. The crowds at the festivals tell us Arts and I’ll tell you a few things you of the all-time best players on after a truly impressive solo set. Arts put together some touring that. I don’t think a week goes by might do to get involved. Go thou tunes that included “Panhandle Jamming was heard in the camp- troupes of old timers back in the that someone doesn’t ask me where and blow now. Rag” and an “Orange Blossom ing area ‘til the wee hours as ama- ‘70s. My payment has been mostly in they can hear some of the artists we Recordially, teurs and pros mixed it up playing Special” to end all “Orange terms of the great music I’ve had the present at our local festivals and Lou Curtiss some great old and new bluegrass Blossom Specials,” going on for at pleasure of hearing and take credit clubs. Except for the contemporary tunes. least 15 minutes! I am still floating for bringing to San Diego. So, to you artists, I can’t help them. You’d think Saturday saw a full line up, not after hearing that! other record collectors who actually some of the Adams Avenue coffee- only of great bands, but of great Sunday rounded out the festi- like the music you collect — and I’m workshops as well. Highlights val with great shows by Ron not talking about you guys who are included two great shows by Ron Spears, Bluegrass Etc., Cliff Wagner, in it purely for the bucks, since you Spears and Within Tradition, and others, with a great closing guys aren’t going to listen to me any- accompanied by the red-hot fid- show by California. No one want- way — it’s almost a duty to give dling of San Diego’s own Mike ed to leave when it ended, and something back. That means buying Tatar Jr. and the beautiful three- bands are already being recruited records and CDs and going to con- part harmonies led by vocal phe- for next year. If you missed this certs, but it also means, for those of nom Ron Spears. These guys really one, don’t miss Julian next, and us who collect music outside the mainstream, helping to expose oth- know how to present the classic mark you calendars for ers to that music. If you have rare traditional style. Bluegrass Etc., Summergrass 2004 next August! stuff that should be reissued, then comprised of three of the most tal- make your stuff available to those who’ll reissue it. Don’t think about getting rich doing it either. The music isn’t there for you to get rich off of. The guy who made the music probably didn’t get rich off it, so why should you? When I look at reissued CDs of country blues, jazz, old timey, cajun, or whatever, I see the same 15 or 20 collectors (fortunately my name is included as often as possi- ble) who donate copies of their rare sides for reissue. I know many other collectors who should be offering up

18 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour ramblin’

Hosing Down Radio Daze

by José Sinatra The winner: Autumn of ‘67, on by Jim McInnes location in England. Two of my all- “I’ve always done things on my time faves, actor Vincent Price and WHO KNEW? (The own terms,” explained the hot 22-year-old director Michael starlet to the table-hopping jour- Reeves (who would die by his own Accidental Creation hand within a year or two) are yet nalist. “I do what I feel is right. I’ve o f a Band) never cared about what anybody again at each other’s throats. else thinks about me or my craft. I “Young man,” booms Price, loud think that most radio listeners, mean, life’s too short to spend time enough for the entire crew to take The inimitable Mr. Sinatra when hearing a deejay talk notice, “I’ve made 70 motion pic- worrying about someone else’s I about being in a band, auto- tures in my career. What have you opinions.” runs. This is one wonderful game to matically assume that the band ever done?” Reeves locks himself Wow. How bloody strong, watch, sports fans . . . . stinks . . . or that the “real” musi- into immortality with his response: cians are hired guns along for the independent, intelligent. Until her SOON “I’ve made three good ones.” ride and a few bucks. In many cases, Jim McInnes dinner guests are revealed to be Halloween. Another Daughter/ her stylist, publicist, and personal Touché, as they say. that may be true, although during Daddy Dance with my lovely Elaina the 1980s, I enjoyed Phoenix rock- trainer. Since this is sort of a wrap-up In the spring of 1999 I happened at her private school, Mater Dei in jock Dave Pratt and his band, Sex Time to separate the bon mots column for our second year [of to be playing one of our jam session Orange County. Two-dollar specials Machine, as well as former San Diego cassettes during a break in my radio from the boners, I say. publication], allow me now to leave at the Hose-hosted Karaoke deejay Pat Martin’s incomparable show. the past for a glimpse of the pres- Perhaps the two classiest Tuesdays at Blind Melons (bartend- Black Oyster Priest. Both bands were Fate intervened when the sta- ent and future. deliberately put together as vehicles examples of the former have ed by the Ed Decker!). Java Joe is tion’s promotion director walked into NOW for their respective front men (both seared themselves into my heart; finally, really, and truly reopening at the radio studio, heard the cassette no amount of antacid will eliminate The title of Gregory Page’s lat- of whom, as singers, are great dee- and asked me, “Who’s that?” I told a lovely location for all Dads ‘n’ jays!). People probably think the their thrilling sting. est album, Love Made Me Drunk, is him about Boys’ Night Out and he Grads ‘n’ Grannies. The release of same of “my” band, Modern (I love and respect the dead, an excuse that would never stand asked, “Would you guys like to play my second EP, Knowing Me Again, Rhythm. at Sky Show?” I said, “Are you kid- but where they are concerned I up in any court of law for any rea- Touching Me Again, to coincide ding? Of course! We’ll do it for free!” son, but the music itself is solid We Had No Plan!!! won’t hesitate to name names. Why with our performance at some The newest edition of Modern I absolutely love playing guitar in I respect the living enough to with- defense against any suppositions Rhythm debuted at Qualcomm kinda Street Fair on Adams Avenue Modern Rhythm, but it’s not my hold their identities is a mystery. that Page isn’t among the finest Stadium in June of ’99. We went over in September. People say it’s band by any means! Let me explain Okay, it’s not; I do have concerns of songwriters and performers of our pretty well as a group, and I was absolutely great, but as you know, (in less than 400 words . . .). time. The cover photos aren’t bad, now playing at a level approaching personal safety and ugly lawsuits.) My first band in San Diego was what do other people’s opinions post-mediocrity! Since then, Modern First runner-up happened over either. Land Piranha. I played bass because really amount to? Rhythm has played well over 100 two decades ago during a stadium I’ve been watching Fox Rox on nobody else was willing to try. The For now, my love, a sweet gigs at popular venues like XETV and am proud that our little Piranha played all of 11 shows (ten filming of concert scenes for a adieu. Humphrey’s Backstage, the Cannibal were awful; one was great) between mega-buck Hollywood musical. The town has its own pop/variety show. Bar, 4th and B, and Dick’s Last 1979 and 1981. After our last per- producer grabbed a mic on stage It’s a blast; one of the most thor- Resort, as well as performing at many formance I sold my bass and took up oughly enjoyable half-hours cur- large outdoor events. and publicly warned the co-star to my new pastime: watching television. rently on broadcast TV. But If you see Modern Rhythm show more respect for the star Over the next 18 years I’d often advertised as “featuring Jim (who happened to be the produc- why . . . why the letterboxing on a see my guitar standing in a corner, McInnes,” remember these facts: er’s “laydeh”). Not about to be cas- pallet that is, after all, the dimen- gathering dust. Sometimes I’d wave 1. I’m not featured, except for a few sions of a (frigging) television at it and think, “I really should pick tigated in front of several thousand guitar solos screen? (Obviously, I’m no stranger that sucker up one of these days”. extras in the audience, the co-star, 2. the other guys are top-notch That day came in early 1999. I grabbing his own mic, replied, to the word “pretentious.”) singers and players rang up my friend Don Story, former- Fahrenheit gets a little better, 3. I am honored to be on the same “Hey, man, if I want any (crap) ly of Land Piranha, who I knew the Reader a lot more troubling, stage with them outta you, I’ll squeeze your head.” jammed on Tuesday nights with 4. they aren’t my band! I am their Waytago, Kris! (Oops!) and City Beat keeps hitting home three other guys: Johnny Gun on guest! bass, Andy Vereen on guitar, and drummer Jack Pinney. After inviting It beats watching TV, even if I’m myself to their studio, I sat in for a now DEAF! couple of hours, making hideous Jim McInnes can now be heard Monday noises that sounded like rabid badg- through Friday, 2-7pm, and Sunday, 4- ers trapped in a wood chipper. (I had 8pm, on 103.7 The Planet. figured that, just like riding a bike, playing music would come back to The Modern Rhythm band makes their me in the blink of an eye.) Adams Avenue Street Fair debut Sunday, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! September 28 at 1:30pm on the 94.9/ I was so awful that even I was CityBEAT DiMilles Stage (35th St. & Adams laughing at myself behind my back. Avenue). Nonetheless, it was so much fun Please visit www.modernrhythm.com that Tuesday evenings became www.jimmcinnes.com known as Boys’ Night Out,” which www.planetfm.com was as much a break for our wives as www.misteak.com for ourselves. We soon added singer Dave Stanger after my wife saw him win a karaoke contest prior to a taping of “Friends” on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. Percussionist Paul Kater is both John and Andy’s personal physi- cian. He likes to hit stuff with sticks and, let’s face it, it’s comforting to have a doctor in your band! I eventually became competent enough to assume the role of “color” guitarist, augmenting Don and Andy. We began to record our jams on cas- sette, mainly so we could listen to them during our frequent beer runs and toilet breaks.

19 20 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour ‘round‘round aboutabout

RANTHOUSE THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE (WELL, MOSTLY) by Gus T. Williker town, but the scenesters are a real drag well, most of time. Occassionally I score disc CD changer. man. If you read last month’s column, you drink tickets, but you get my point.) Anyhooooo, ironies of all ironies, but might remember a mention of me rushing So I dance, and the CCC stares at West is hosting Resurrection Sunday ( CCC off to see Sin Sin 77 at the Casbah. Well, me coldly. I feel like Ozzy Osbourne cut- 6am to noon) and just like Freddy vs. Some people are wallflowers, others I like the band a whole lot, and I like to ting a rug at a Billy Graham concert, but Jason, he’s come back from the dead don’t like to dance, and still more are just dance. I make an ass of myself with my I’m the one dressed in cargo shorts and a one too many times. Oh sure, Steve really shy. But what is up with the uncoordinated shuffle boogie, but it’s my plaid shirt, and they have the tattoos! could be a swell guy for all I know, but Casbah Cool Crowd? right as a paying customer. (Okay, I’m Now, I don’t expect everyone to love my he just bugs the warm brown stuff out of Our man fer all seasons, Gus Williker DON’T EVEN GIT ME WRONG, the usually on the guest list, but I buy my favorite band, but this happens to a lot of me. Maybe it’s that smug desperation of Casbah is absolutely the best club in own damn drinks, thank you very much ... bands. The CCC just stands in the shad- a man who thinks he’s ten times the dee- ows like Deep Throats waiting for a jay of anyone else on the air staff, or Wanna e-torch Gus? reporter. Breathing is considered exces- maybe it’s…oh yeah…I know what it is: [email protected] sive expression by the CCC. The only way that frickin’ ridiculous English accent!!! P.S. The SD Troubadour won’t be out in you can tell if the CCC likes a band is if C’mon, don’t you think after 20 years time to promote the benefit concert for they come inside from the smoking sec- of living in So-Cal that some of the pomp Alejandro Escovedo at the Casbah on tion and lean against the wall. No, I’m not would have faded off his puss? No way, August 28. Money is needed to help him Richard Simmons for every set, every and I’ll tell you why: it’s his crumpets and fight Hepatitis C. If you didn’t make the band, but it’d be real neato if a few more butter. When Steve yaps about Duran benefit show, you can help out here: people would sling a nasty pigfoot with Duran, listeners feel like they are getting www.alejandrofund.com or, you can try: me from time to time (dance that is). it right from the band manager. PLUS, the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ GO BACK WEST big payoff: chicks. He’s like an Italian alejandroescovedo/ Hasn’t Steve West’s visa run out casanova looking for fresh American yet? meat at Aeroporti Di Milano. Shouldn’t someone contact “Ahh, Signora, bienvenuto, how you immigration?! say, beautiful American flower?” Maybe you didn’t know, but that He knows women are fools for it, so blimey deejay is still on the air in he works it like cheap wine on a fresh- San Diego. I discovered that cruel man. I dare say he has made a career of fact while driving home from my poi- faking a real accent! son ivy study in Rancho Bernardo Am I jealous cuz I’ve never been the other day. (Yup, Gus has fallen suave with the ladies? Am I bitter cuz I on hard times and even considered never graduated from college radio into plasma donation to scare up some the commercial big leagues? Yes. cash.) I don’t usually tune in the Goodbye. radio on Sunday morning, but my xoxo, stock ‘97 Escort didn’t include a 50- Gu$

21 San Diego Troubadour • September-October 2003 ‘round‘round aboutabout

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER CALENDAR Earl Thomas, Cafe Sevilla, 3050 Pio Pico Lisa Sanders, Lestats, 9pm. monday • september 1 Dr., Carlsbad, 9:30pm. friday • september 19 sunday • september 28 friday • october 24 Big Easy, Metaphor Cafe, Escondido, Skelpin, Dublin Square, 554 Fourth Ave. Adams Ave. Street Fair, Normal 6:30pm. thursday • september 11 Neal Young & Crazy Horse, SD Sports Heights, 10am-6pm. Dan Connor & Little Big Men/Peter Zrazy, Claire de Lune, 2906 University Arena. Sprague/Cici Porter, Dizzy’s, 8pm. Ave., 8pm. Slam Buckra, Patrick’s II, downtown. tuesday • september 2 Darryl Purpose, Normal Heights Gato Papacitos/Earon Rein, Twiggs, Community Ctr., 4649 Hawley Blvd., 8pm. Tim Flannery & Friends, East County 8:30pm. saturday • october 25 Performing Arts Ctr., 7pm. Peter Sprague & Pass the Drum, Dizzy’s, monday • september 29 8pm. Halloween with the Storytellers, San Earl Thomas, Cafe Sevilla, 3050 Pio Pico John Hiatt & the Goners/Robert Cray Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Dr., Carlsbad, 9:30pm. friday • september 12 Peggy Watson, Bookworks, Del Mar, Band, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, 7:30pm. Info: Tim Flannery & Friends, East County 8:30pm. Shelter Island, 7pm. 858/566-4040. thursday • september 4 Performing Arts Ctr., 6:30pm. Tristan Prettyman/Alicia Lockett/Jack Steve White/Cat Mary, Music Mart, 122 Zrazy, Grace Lutheran Church, 3993 Park the Original, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Solana Beach, 8pm. WEEKLY All Girl Acoustic Indie Night, Music Blvd., 7:30pm. Mart, Solana Beach, 8pm. Scott Wilson/Leigh Taylor Band, Twiggs, saturday • september 20 thursday • september 11 Kevin Tinkle/Gato Papacitos/Hugh 8:30pm. every sunday Gaskin, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Julian Bluegrass Festival For tickets & Wendy Bailey/Berkley Hart/Matthew Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing 7th Day Buskers, Hillcrest Farmer’s info, call 909/678-0831. Steart/Alpha Ray, Music Mart, Solana Market/DMV parking lot, 10am-1pm. Orchestra, Croce’s Top Hat, 9pm. Beach, 8pm. Sue Palmer, Martini’s, 3940 4th Ave., Steve White, Elijah’s, La Jolla, 11:30am. friday • september 5 7:30pm. Sage Gentle-Wing, Tower Two Cafe, Radio Free Earth, Golden Goose, 10001 saturday • september 13 Earl Thomas, Metaphor Cafe, Escondido, friday • october 3 Maine St., Lakeside, 7pm. Ocean Beach, noon-3pm. Latin Harp Night, San Dieguito United 8pm. Carlos Olmeda, Lestats, 8:30pm. Irish Dance, 3pm/Michael McMahon, Roxie CD Release, Metaphor Cafe, 8pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Peter Bolland & Broken Hills/Rob Encinitas, 7:30pm. Info: 858/566-4040. 7pm, Dublin Square, 554 Fifth Ave. Baja Blues Boys, Patrick’s Irish Pub, Carona/Hugh Gaskin, Twiggs, 8:30pm Poway, 8:30pm. Atom Orr, Bamboo Yoga Studio, 1127 saturday • october 4 Traditional Irish Music, Tom Giblin’s Loma Ave., Coronado, 8pm. Pub, 640 Grand Ave., Carlsbad, 3pm. Vienna Teng/3 Simple Words/Holiday & sunday • september 21 Train Song Festival, Old Poway Park. Call Celtic Ensemble, Twiggs, 4pm. Adventure Pop Collective, Twiggs, Anya Marina, Millie’s by the Bay, 8pm. 858/566-4040 for information. 8:30pm. Call 858/273-1880 for information. Sea Chantey Festival, Star of India, Irish Music & Dance, The Field, 544 11am-5pm. Call 858/566-4040 for info. Radio Free Earth, Golden Goose, 10001 Carlos Olmeda, Lestats, 8:30pm. José Sinatra & Troy Danté Inferno/ Maine St., Lakeside, 7pm. Fifth Ave., 5-6:30pm. Bushwalla, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Street Scene, downtown, thru Sunday. Michael Glambicki, Victors by the Bay, Jazz Roots w/ Lou Curtiss, 9-10:30pm, tuesday • september 23 7:30pm. KSDS (88.3 FM). sunday • september 14 Earl Thomas, Cafe Sevilla, 3050 Pio Pico The Bluegrass Special w/ Wayne saturday • september 6 Dr., Carlsbad, 9:30pm. Rice, 10-midnight, KSON (97.3 FM). Earl Thomas, Winston’s 25th Anniversary, sunday • october 5 Blackwaterside, San Dieguito United Ocean Beach, 5pm. Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Tina Malia/Sasha Butterfly/Al Torre, 101 Encinitas, 7:30pm. Info: 858/566-4040. thursday • september 25 Artists Colony, Encinitas, 7:30pm. every monday Open Mic Night, Lestats. Call 619/282- In the Moment, 101 Artists Colony, monday • september 15 Slam Buckra, Coyote Bar & Grill, Acoustic Alchemy/Gerald Albright, Encinitas, 8pm. Carlsbad. Call for info. Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, Shelter 0437 for info. Skelpin, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, Island, 8pm. Deboarh Liv Johnson/Wendy Waldman/ Shelter Island, 7pm. Pancho Sanchez, Belly Up Tavern, 8pm. Cradle, Rosie O’Grady’s, Normal Kenny Edwards, First Lutheran Church, Heights. Call for info. 1420 Third Ave., San Diego, 8pm. Gato Papacitos/Earon Rein, Twiggs, 8:30pm. tuesday • october 7 Vienna Teng/Daves Son/Will Edwards tuesday • september 16 every tuesday Band/Satish, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Earl Thomas, Cafe Sevilla, 3050 Pio Pico Rookie Card, Casbah, 9pm. Open Mic Night, Casa Picante, 10757 Peter Bolland/Grant Langston, Hard Rock Dr., Carlsbad, 9:30pm. friday • september 26 Cafe, La Jolla, 10pm. Woodside Ave., Santee, 7:30-9:30pm. Radio Free Earth, Red Barn at Wynola wednesday • october 8 Traditional Irish Music, Blarney Stone, KEV, Lestats, 8:30pm. Pizza, Julian, 6pm. wednesday • september 17 Angela Patua, Lestats, 9pm. Clairemont, 8:30pm. See Spot Run, Metaphor Cafe, Traditional Irish Music, The Ould Sod, Neville Brothers/Marcia Ball, Escondido, 8pm. sunday • september 7 Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, Shelter Normal Heights, 8:30pm. Island, 7pm. Queens of Boogy Woogy w/ Sue Palmer saturday • october 11 Tim Flannery & Friends, East County & Wendy DeWitt, Dizzy’s, 8pm. Performing Arts Ctr., 7pm. Rookie Card, Casbah, 9pm. Colin Grant-Adams, San Dieguito United Saba/Holiday & Adventure Pop Methodist Church, 7:30pm. Call 858/566- every wednesday Collective, Twiggs, 8:30pm. 4040 for information. Open Mic Night, Metaphor Cafe, tuesday • september 9 thursday • september 18 Earl Thomas, Croce’s Top Hat, 9:30pm. Escondido, 8pm. Lucinda Williams, Humphreys Concerts Gato Papacitos/Brian McKnight, Twiggs, friday • october 17 Open Mic Night, Twiggs, 6:30pm. by the Bay, Shelter Island, 7pm. 8:30pm. saturday • september 27 KEV, acoustic guitar wizard w/ special Peter Sprague & Friends, Dizzy’s, 8pm. guest artists, The Living Room, Old Adams Ave. Street Fair, Normal Town, 7:30-9:30pm. Heights, 10am-9pm. saturday • october 18 Skelpin, Dublin Square, 554 Fifth Ave., 8:30pm (also on Saturday night). Gemini, Old Poway Park, 7:30pm. Call John Prine/Chris Smither, Spreckels 858/566-4040 for information. Theatre, 8pm. Brehon Law, Tom Giblin’s Pub, 640 Grand Ave., Carlsbad, 9pm (also Wed. Saba/Mermaids Journey/Randi Driscoll, Earl Thomas, Metaphor Coffeehouse, & Sat. nights). Twiggs, 8:30pm. Encinitas, 8:30pm. Hatchet Brothers, The Ould Sod, 9pm.

every thursday Will Edwards’ Music Show, Twiggs, 8:30pm. Bitty Bums Showcase, Lestats, 9pm. Hot Rod Lincoln, Tio Leos, 5302 Napa St., Call for info. Celticana, Dublin’s Town Square, Gaslamp, 9pm. Sue Palmer/Candye Kane, Calypso Restaurant, Hwy 101, Leucadia, 8pm (except on Sept. 4). Aliah Selah, Miracles Cafe, Cardiff, 8pm.

every friday Sage Gentle-Wing, Kensington Coffee Company, Adams Ave., 8pm.

every saturday Open Mic Night, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 9015 Mira Mesa Blvd., 8pm.

22 September-October 2003 • San Diego Troubadour thethe locallocal seenseen P h o P t h o o :

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Les & Lou Preston at Cuyamaca College Folk Festival Marc Twang & Derek Duplessie at the Firehouse

23