Carltone’s Corner was a twice-monthly Marin County music newsletter that I wrote and emailed out to over 1,000 subscribers from 2001-2011 in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the publication I covered as much local music that I could find that was often overlooked and unsupported by the Marin newspapers. It was a labor of love that came to end after ten years due to other personal obligations. Included here are the first and last issues as well as an example of a typical newsletter.
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Vol. 1, No. 1 CARLTONE'S CORNER January 15, 2001
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"All the music news the local media tends to ignore"
Dear Friend:
Welcome to the first edition of the Carltone's Corner!
For some time now I have been sending out email notes to you about various bluegrass, country and folk shows in and around Marin County. I do mailers for the Bluegrass Gold shows at Sweetwater, occasional related shows at Rancho Nicasio, the Marin bluegrass jam, and other noteworthy, non-mainstream music events that seldom get covered in the local press. Yet so many times I meet other people who say they did not know that any bluegrass or country stuff was happening in the North Bay. So my goal here is to help get the word out.
After years of frustration trying to get the local fishwraps (The Pacific Sun, The Marin Independent Journal, The Mill Valley Herald, the Marinscope, etc.) to mention these types of shows I have come to the conclusion that they never will, since they are more interested in big-name acts, while eschewing the local bands. Or they write about shows that take place outside of Marin. Geez, doesn't the Chronicle already cover these things? Willie Nelson or Backstreet Boys in town? You can count on their photo being in the local rags. You or some friends have a gig at the local bar or coffeehouse? Forget about even trying to get some publicity for such a small-time show.
And woe-be-tide you or any local band that has a gig on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, because the papers have decided that the only shows that count take place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. I guess they figure that real Americans stay home and watch TV on weeknights.
For almost two years now I have been writing a monthly column for a South Bay publication called Bluegrass By The Bay which covers mostly bluegrass events in the North Bay. The irony here is that most of you folks here are probably not members of the Northern California Bluegrass Society, so you have never seen the column. So what I am going to start doing here at the beginning of each month (I just got the idea the other day to do this, so consider this January edition two weeks late) is send out a similar version of that column to you. In each mailing I will tell you about any bluegrass, country, folk, or related events so you will know when stuff is happening.
If you are part of a band or are a singer/songwriter that would like to have your North Bay gigs mentioned here, please send me your info before the end of the previous month, as I plan on sending the news on the first of each month.
Most importantly, if you do not wish to receive this information, please let me know by simply sending a reply email saying “unsubscribe,” and I will take your name off this list.
In a world where big money and sex are used to tell the American people what kind of music they should be listening to, American roots music does not stand a chance in the mainstream media. It is my hope that these little mailers will help spread the word about the kind of music we are fans of.
Let me know what you think about this endeavor.
Cheers!
Larry
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Vol. 11, No. 121 CARLTONE'S CORNER January 15, 2011
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"All the North Bay music news the local media tend to ignore”
Welcome to the 121st, and final edition, of Carltone's Corner!
In one era and out the other. Besides being way late and shorter in length, this is an edition of the newsletter like no other. There are strung-out streamers, confetti, and empty Champagne bottles strewn about the Carltone World Headquarters here in downtown San Francisco. Not just because we are still commemorating (or, a bit more aptly, “crawling from the wreckage of”) the end of 2010, but also, as it turns out – at least for the time being – because the staff here has been celebrating the completion of the final edition of this esteemed publication. What began as an experiment on a tentative basis ten years ago to this very day has now run for a decade. But due to circumstances beyond our control, this is the last one, at least, for now. In short, real life has gotten in the way, and there is less and less time to write anymore, mostly due to day job commitments. It is possible that we may just be going on a hiatus, sabbatical, or whatever you want to call it. But for now, after hundreds of thousands of words and 217 editions (including mid-month updates, which did not come into being until January of 2002), this is the end. And, as luck (miracle or creative editing?) would have it, this issue has the exact same amount of words in it as the very first one. The FAX and telex machines have been unplugged, typewriters have gone silent, the transom has been shut, and the carrier pigeons have been set free. The end of an era has arrived.
On January 15, 2001, in volume one, number one, this is how the first newsletter began:
“For some time now I have been sending out email notes to you about various bluegrass, country and folk shows in and around Marin County. I do mailers for my Bluegrass Gold shows at Sweetwater, occasional related shows at Rancho Nicasio, the Marin bluegrass jam, and other noteworthy, non-mainstream music events that seldom get covered in the local press. Yet so many times I meet other people who say they did not know that any bluegrass or country stuff was happening in the North Bay. So my goal here is to help get the word out.”
Well, to quote a former U.S. president, “Mission accomplished!”
The first few editions of the CC were sent out to around 50 people. By word of mouth (and by hustling folks at Sweetwater) the number of readers at one point reached over 1200 people. The logo and layout have remained almost exactly the same, save for some minor tweaking and added links in the text. No paid ads were ever pursued or accepted, even though we were urged to do such many times in order to make some money with this thing. But making money was never our intent, and we feel that such would have compromised the integrity of the newsletter. In short, the Corner has been nothing less than a labor of love.
And labor we did. What began as a two-page publication eventually averaged 9-10 pages, and untold hours of hard work went into each edition. Hours that, unfortunately, we no longer have at our disposal.
So it is time to get out the broom and vacuum cleaner, maybe recycle the bottles, put away the blinking lights, and try to start off the new year/decade with a clean slate. Maybe move on to other endeavors and, at the least, get some rest. Unlike disgraced politicos and over the hill athletes, we will not, however, be looking forward to spending time with our family. And contrary to rumors on Facebook and Twitter, we are not shutting down to attend the royal wedding in England, tour the world with Lady Googoo (or whatever her stage name is), and nor are we about to try out for Dancing With the Network Has-Beens.
We’d like to thank all of you for reading Carltone’s Corner over the years, and we are forever grateful to the many that helped spread the word about the newsletter. We have been sincerely humbled by the positive feedback that has come in along the way, as well as by some of the amazing stories about shows and such from people that we have met in person. It was these sorts of things that really kept us going well beyond the point of weariness and exhaustion. And special thanks go out to the countless musicians, artists, promoters, radio show hosts, club owners, etc., who have all worked to bring some fabulous shows and music to Marin and Sonoma Counties and beyond over the past decade.
As promised all along, your email address has never been used for anything other than this newsletter, and we will hold onto it in the event that, after a couple of months of idleness and debauchery, we decide to dust off the old Olivetti and fire up the old presses once again. Apologies to those who only recently signed on to our mailing list.
Some major events that came to pass over the past decade: The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival began in SF’s Golden Gate Park in October 2001; the 142 Throckmorton Theatre opened in Mill Valley in 2003; Murphy Productions has been producing shows in various venues in Marin since the early part of the decade; in Mill Valley the legendary Sweetwater and Village Music record store both closed in September of 2007; the Larkspur Café Theatre in 2007 changed hands, became Sweetwater Station for a while, and then went dark in September of 2008; the long shuttered New George’s nightclub in downtown San Rafael reopened a couple of months ago and is now simply called George’s; Saylor’s Landing in Sausalito closed in 2007 and recently reopened as The Sea Horse; Sean Saylor opened a new place in Sausalito in 2007 called Saylor’s Restaurant; The Black Rose Pub closed in Santa Rosa in the summer of 2010; The Woods opened in Mill Valley in the summer of 2010.
For events happening on a weekly basis in Marin County go to Marin Music Vibe. For up to date bluegrass news check out the California Bluegrass Association and Northern California Bluegrass Society web sites. And for the latest in Americana and twang news, go to the Hicks With Sticks site.
On behalf of the entire staff – both real and imagined – here at Carltone World Headquarters, it is with much melancholy that we offer you a fond farewell as well as lots of luck in this year 2011. From the look of things, you are going to need it.
Happy trails to you, until we meet again…
Larry
__________________________________________________________________________________________Vol. 6, No. 67 CARLTONE'S CORNER July 1, 2006
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"All the North Bay music news the local media tends to ignore"
Welcome to the 67th edition of Carltone's Corner!
While the mainstream media is busy falling all over itself drooling at the nude photos of a pregnant Britney Spears and the wedding pics of Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban, as well as offering up the latest Rush Limbaugh Viagra jokes (boy, has he ever fallen on some “hard” times lately!), the staff here at Carltone World Headquarters has been pecking furiously away at the old Olivetti (if you don’t know what this is, look it up!), trying to bring you the rest of the pertinent news that Fox, CNN, and your daily fish wrap overlooked. There is way too much fun to be found in the North Bay this month, so hopefully you are fit, rested and ready to get out and have some.
Speaking of which, the staff here at CWH is in need of a summer break, so the July mid-month edition of this newsletter will not be sent out until the 18th or 19th. So keep this one around longer than usual for a reference.
Fresh sounds on the air. There were some good music interviews recently on the National Public Radio show Fresh Air that you can listen to on line. Click the links here to listen to Dave Alvin and Kris Kristofferson. And there was a review of the new CD by SF singer/songwriter Jolie Holland.
Velocity Circus has a new show titled “1906! A Journey Through the Mythical City.” The show features show-stopping songs and hilarious sketches by Mill Valley’s Emmy Award winning composer/writer Rita Abrams, and it premiered at San Francisco's Theatre 39 in June. A talented cast of circus performers, musicians, and comic actors will sing you, dance you, fly you, joke you, and quake you through a power-packed tour of San Francisco's history. Read a story from the Marin IJ here.
Also in the IJ, Mill Valley singer Roberta Donnay was written up in the IJ recently.
There was another story about Vince Welnick in the SF Chronicle about the late keyboardist of the Grateful Dead on the 30th. Read it here.
Type casting? Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards will appear in the (boy, we can hardly wait!) Pirates of the Caribbean III. He was supposed to appear in the second installment of the movie series, as the father of Johnny Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow, but the Stones took their Bigger Bang tour around the world and Richards then fell out of a coconut tree in Fiji.
Petaluma blues man Dan Hayes has a new blues CD called California that is now available on iTunes and also at the digital label Blue Skunk Music.
Book report. The interns here at Carltone World Headquarters actually unplugged their iPods and turned off MTV long enough to read two relatively new books of note. The first book, by San Francisco Chronicle sports writer Bruce Jenkins, is called Goodbye: In Search of Gordon Jenkins. Bruce’s father Gordon was a writer, arranger, conductor and producer from the 1930s-70s who, among other things, worked with Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole. He put The Weavers on the map when he recorded their first record, and he conducted Harry Nilsson’s A Little Bit of Schmilsson in the Night. He also wrote a song called "Crescent City Blues" that Johnny Cash plagiarized back in the ‘50s with his hit song “Folsom Prison Blues.” The second book is called Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music by Chris Willman. Music writer Willman was inspired to write this book after covering the Dixie Chicks’ controversy in 2003. He interviewed countless country and bluegrass stars, and gives an in depth look behind the scenes of the politics that goes on in the music biz in Nashville.
Congratulations to Bay Area country singer Valerie Jay. On June 4th, she and her husband Dylan Carp arranged and produced their first child, a baby girl, 6 lbs., 3oz., and 18 inches long. Her name is Ava Lauren Carp.
Congrats to the Donner Mountain Band, who won the National Bluegrass Playoffs in June at the Huck Finn festival in Victorville, CA. They've been invited to the IBMA event in Nashville in October to showcase, jam, schmooze and not sleep for a whole week. Look for them at Sweetwater in Mill Valley in August.
When talking heads go wrong. There is a horrendous singing performance by news anchor Connie Chung making the rounds on the web that is so bad that at first glance it is hard to tell if it was intentionally funny. Check it out here. But, according to Chung, it was meant to be the way it is, since it is a parody. You be the judge. Thanks to Tim Van Raam for the tip.
Killer tour bus. If you go the Marin County Fair (details below), whatever you do, stay out of the way of Ricky Skaggs’ tour bus. Last month it ran over an attendee of the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee. Read the story here. Of course, according to one devotee of the mandolin player, “There are worse ways to go than to be hit by Ricky Skaggs’ tour bus.” Now, how is that for a positive spin on things? Get this gal a job in politics at once!
Nice story in the SF Chronicle recently about Hawaiian ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro. Read it here.
The Alhambra Valley Band has released their first studio recording. Formed in 1986, and now celebrating 20 years of bluegrass picking, the band is proud to announce that Willow Pass Road is now available. They will be at the Scott’s Valley Bluegrass festival on the 15th or you can go to their site for more info.
Plan way ahead. The Weirbacks (Grateful Dead guitarists Bob Weir and The Waybacks) will be playing at the Hardly Strictly Festival in October in SF. Speaking of the Wabes, there was a great story by Paul Liberatore about Stevie Coyle in a recent Marin Independent Journal. Read it here fast before it is gone from the paper’s web site.
Paul Knight & Friends monthly gig at The Station House in Pt. Reyes Station will be skipping July. Last month featured Avram Siegel, Ray Burl and Buddy Craig. Paul will be back on August 20th with some very special guests playing the songs of Vern & Ray.
Morning jolt. “Would you like a little Gene Simmons with that double-decaf/non-fat/mocha latte?” The make-up-wearing band KISS has opened their first coffee house in South Carolina. Watch out Starbucks!
Police log. George O’Dowd, otherwise known as erstwhile pop singer “Boy George,” may have found a new career. He has been sentenced to five days of trash duty after pleading guilty in March to filing a false police report over a non-existent burglary in New York City. Also, a South Florida HIV and AIDS community care organization is suing him over money they said he owes after a drug arrest prevented his appearance at a fundraising event.
Life’s railway to heaven. Kool & The Gang co-founder and lead guitarist Claydes Charles Smith died on June 23rd after a long illness. He was 57. Johnny Jenkins, a guitar player in Macon, GA, who hired a young Otis Redding to sing in his band in 1960, died of a stroke at age 67 on the 28th. Arif Mardin, a Grammy-winning arranger and record producer who recorded Aretha Franklin and The Bee Gees, to name a few, died on June 25th in New York City of pancreatic cancer. He was 74.
Onward to the calendar…
Fair game. The Marin County Fair started on June 30th, and it runs through the 4th of July. You can see Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Beausoleil, Preservation Hall, The Rowan Brothers, The David Thom Band, and lots more. The fair will also host its 34th Annual Old-Time Fiddle contest on Saturday the 1st. For complete listings for the Marin Arts Council days at the fair, go to their site.
Sweetwater in Mill Valley. Besides the Bluegrass Gold show mentioned below on the 12th you can also attend the open mic each Monday night, which is hosted by Austin deLone. And, most Tuesdays it is Local Musicians night. On the 1st see The Heather Combs Band, Left Hand Smoke on the 7th, The Mark Hummel Blues Harmonica Blowout on the 10th, Boys Gone Wild on the 15th, Quicksilver on the 20th, Best Intentions (Motown) on the 22nd, New Monsoon on the 28th, and more. Plus Bayside Jazz with Dan Hicks most Saturday afternoons, with no cover.
The Summer Sun Festival, presented by James Taylor Jones and Area 101, is a virtual Lorin Rowan fest, and it will be happening on the 1st in Laytonville. You can see Lorin with Lonely Hearts, Rattlebox and The Rowan Brothers, and also see acts such as Corry Hannah, The Hogan Vance Project and Plum Crazy.
Bluegrass comeback. Two of Sonoma County's finest bands, The Bluegrass Irregulars and HiJinks, will be playing a show together on the 1st at 8 p.m. at the New College of California in Santa Rosa. The Irregulars, whose last gig was about 20 years ago, are Layne Bowen, Ted Dutcher, Mark Hogan, Kevin Russell and Gerry Schoztak. Headlining the show will be HiJinks, a well-loved institution in Sonoma County. They play bluegrass, swing, country & modern folk music. The band is Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher, and Sara Winge.
The Cash Magnets will be playing at McGrath's Pub in Alameda on the 1st from 8-11 p.m. This will be an evening of great honky-tonk and classic country music, both well-chosen covers and originals. The Cash Magnets feature the vocals of Richard and Julay Brandenburg and Mike Stadler, supported by Mike's fiddle and mandolin, Dave Magram on pedal steel, and Pat Campbell on bass.
Jammin’ in Sebastopol. The place to go on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, from 2-5 p.m. On the 1st and 8th it will be bluegrass, on the 15th swing music, and on the 22nd and 29th it will be pickers’ choice. John Youngblood is the host. Also, there is an open stage session there on Wednesday nights from 6-11 p.m.
The Sweetspot Lounge in Santa Rosa has a lot of music coming up. On the 1st see Phatty, Robert Herrera on the 6th, Ancient Mystic on the 13th, Soul Shine on the 22nd, and more.
Good things are happening at Peri’s in Fairfax. Every Monday is acoustic open mic night hosted by Mike McShea. See The Little Wheels Band on the 1st, Foxtail Thos on the 4th, Acoustically Cool on the 6th, The Bar Association on the 8th, Sexy Sunday Women Who Rock on the 9th, Buddy Owen on the 11th, Ruckus on the 12th, Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations on the 14th, French Kiss on the 19th, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys on the 22nd, Rahman's Songwriters in the Round on the 27th, Honey Dust on the 29th, and Krickie's Songwriters' Night on the 30th, plus more.
Music in/on the air. The Mighty Crows will be playing live on Peter Thompson’s Bluegrass Signal show on KALW (91.7 FM) on the 1st from 6:30-8 p.m., and then they will head over to the Riptide at Ocean Beach to play from 9:30-midnight.
Saylor’s Landing in Sausalito has a full lineup of music. Every Sunday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. see Eugene Huggins & Chris Goddard on harmonica and guitar, and every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. it is the Don Bennett & Chris Huson jazz duo. Music time on Fridays is 7:15-10:15, and on Saturdays it is 7-10 p.m. On the 1st see David Jeffrey, WE B-3 on the 7th, Ralph Woodson on the 8th, Lauralee Brown & Company on the 14th, Jazz Philosophy on the 15th, Alex Markels on the 21st, Connie Ducey on the 22nd, Dale Polissar & Bart Hopkins on the 28th, and John Brite & Paul Robinson on the 29th.
The David Thom Band will be picking bluegrass at The Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach on the 1st and 22nd, at the Sebastiani Winery on the 2nd, Marin County Fair on the 4th, Point Richmond Music Festival on the 7th, the Good Old Fashioned on the 9th, and at Murphy’s on the 22nd.
On the 1st at 8 p.m. Keystone Crossing will be performing at Murphy's in Sonoma. The Marin County duo of Carltone and Claudia Hampe sing the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass music – The Delmore, Louvin, and Everly Brothers – as well as songs from contemporary duos such as Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum. There is no cover charge at Murphy’s and the pub offers great food and drink at reasonable prices. Come for the music, stay for the mushy peas! Children are welcome.
Other events at Murphy’s this month are the Celtic jam on the 2nd, Trio Bravo on the 3rd, Megan McLaughlin on the 6th, The Sonoma Mountain Band on the 7th, The Tonewoods on the 8th, Kimrea and Joe Lococo on the 13th, Elaine Dempsey on the 20th, Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue on the 29th, plus more.
The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has some smokin’ shows. Red Elvises on the 2nd, Tommy Emmanuel on the 20th, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks on the 22nd, Tommy Castro on the 29th, and more.
At Rancho Nicasio you can see Mitch Woods on the 2nd, The Hacienda Brothers on the 3rd, the subdudes on the 4th, Stompy Jones on the 8th, Maria Muldaur on the 22nd, Doug Adamz & Bravo on the 28th, and others.
Schoenberg Guitars. Besides being a wonderful acoustic guitar shop on Ark Row in Tiburon, Eric Schoenberg also has concerts and workshops there from time to time. See Michael Gulezian on the 2nd at 8 p.m., and Doug McLeod on the 23rd at 8:30. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is limited. Call (415) 789-0846 for more info.
Rosie and the Railroaders will be playing at the Sand Dollar Restaurant in Stinson Beach on the 2nd from noon to 3 p.m. All train songs, all the time! The band is Ingrid "Rosie" Noyes, Danny Carnahan, Paul Knight, Jon Mitguard, and Paul Herzoff.
Sonoma County singer/songwriter Adam Traum has a few gigs of note in the North Bay this month. On the 2nd he will be at Soho in Petaluma with fellow songwriters Steve Brian and Joni Davis. The show starts at 8:30. On the 6th it will be the Calistoga Inn in Calistoga, and then on the 7th you can see him at Smiley's in Bolinas. Besides playing music Adam is a wonderful photographer as well. Check out his work here.
At the Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station go and join the American Song Fest & Picnic on the 2nd at 2 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Dance Palace and West Marin Music Festival, there will be a program of American music performances and a sing-along outdoors on the lawn. Bring a picnic, blanket, and chairs. This is a free event.
Fourth of July. Just about every little town in the North Bay has some festivities to take part in on Tuesday the 4th. The SF Chronicle has a listing of places to go and see fireworks. Corte Madera has a parade and party in the park with live music. Charlie Deal and The Toilet Seat Band will be tooling down the boulevard amongst the revelers. The band includes Kimrea and the Dreamdogs, Lisa Kindred, Charlie Deal, and Matt Lax. The town of Sonoma has a big parade, and then afterwards everyone will be heading on over to Murphy’s Irish Pub, where Trio Bravo will be playing country, bluegrass and Celtic tunes from noon to 3 p.m. with no cover. The band for this occasion will be Doug Adamz, Don Rich, and Carltone. In Sausalito in the park after the parade you can see the Unauthorized Rolling Stones play. The town used to have a great mix of Americana, blues and bluegrass played by southern Marin based bands. How the faux Stones band relates to the 4th of July is beyond comprehension…
77 El Deora will be playing their original oblique Americana music at the Todos Santos Plaza in Concord on the 4th, The Ivy Room in Albany on the 16th, and at the Black Cat in Penngrove on the 29th.
Music is brewing at the Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Bands play on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. No cover, and great beer, food and music. On the 5th it will be South Bend, David Haskell Ensemble on the 12th, Jelly on the 19th, and Wagon on the 26th.
Some shows of note at the Larkspur Café Theatre, besides Caren Armstrong’s show listed below, are Peter Rowan (Chris & Lorin Rowan opening) on the 6th, Jamie Clark on the 8th, The Boulder Acoustic Society on the 9th, Big Band Beatles on the 21st, Jenna Mammina on the 22nd, Jimmy Dillon on the 28th, and others.
At the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa you can see Nickel Creek on the 6th, Linda Ronstadt on the 10th and Lyle Lovett on the 17th and 18th.
Marin bluegrass jam. On the 6th and the 20th the jam will take place at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, from 7:30-10 p.m.
Stinson Beach singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera will be joined by Nina Gerber and special guest Kenny Edwards at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on the 7th. Then on the 22nd Audrey and Nina will play Bill Wagman's House Concert in Davis.
Schaef-Abel Productions is hosting Michael Gulezian (gu-LAY-ze-in) on the 8th at Studio E in Sebastopol. If you enjoy the artistry of musicians such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges, then you will love Michael. Concert starts at 8, with the doors at 7:30. And on the 28th don’t miss Laurie Lewis and Nina Gerber. Tickets are available at the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, or info is available on the site
The North Bay folk trio known as The Farallons will play in Santa Rosa on the 8th at the Black Rose Pub and then at Aroma Roasters on the 21st.
The 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley will be closed from the 1st-7th for a break. Otherwise, there is a variety of entertainment on the calendar. Besides hosting comedy night every Tuesday (but the 4th) Mark Pitta will also be there on the 8th, French Cabaret on the 14th, Starduster Sundays on the 23rd, plus a lot of other great stuff.
Marin guitarist Kurt Huget is as busy as usual. He will be with Namely Us on the 9th and 23rd at Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax; as part of the Fifth Annual "Salute to the Beatles" on the 21st at Larkspur Cafe Theatre and the 22nd at Creek Park in San Anselmo; and he will play solo in the morning at the Fairfax Coffee Roasters on the 29th.
Bluegrass Contraption will be playing a free show at the Piccolo Pavilion in Corte Madera on the 9th from 5-6 p.m.
The Sons of Emperor Norton, with San Anselmo’s Gary Bauman on lead guitar, will be doing the Sunday hoedown at The Baltic in Pt. Richmond on the 9th, at The Bistro in Hayward on the 13th, playing "twang" Sunday at Thee Parkside in S.F. on the 16th, at The Black Cat in Penngrove the 22nd and at The Hydro in Calistoga on the 29th. The Sons play vintage rockabilly and, besides Gary, also feature "Sourdough" Joe Kaline on vocals and rhythm guitar, Eva Maass and Scott Hoover on bass, Ed Randol on sax, Dale Gutridge on trumpet, and George Smeltz on drums.
Mill Valley artist and musician Kimrea plays with her band Dreamdogs every Monday night at the No Name in Sausalito, and players are invited to sit in with the band.
On the 11th at 7:30 p.m. The Celebrating Songwriters is proud to announce its One Year Anniversary at The Larkspur Café Theatre. In the past year Caren Armstrong has hosted over two dozen of the top singer/songwriters around, and they have ALL been invited back for this special show to commemorate the occasion. Suffice to say that there will be a ridiculous abundance of talent on the stage for this event. Multi-instrumentalist Kevin Russell will be bringing his stellar accompaniment chops and playing "on the side" for most of the evening. Some of the very talented songwriters that might be taking the stage for the show are Caroline Aiken, John Haley-Walker, Jerry Hannan, Doug Adamz, Dana Hubbard, Larry Potts, Christie McCarthy, Denali, James McVay, Kimberlye Gold and Claudia Russell with Bruce Kaplan.
Country jam. Join the country band Train Wreck (led by Kathi Kamen Goldmark) at their jam venue. The location is the El Rio in San Francisco. On the second Tuesday of each month (this month it is the 11th) you can play with a full band. To participate in the jams, all you have to do is show up and sign up. Bring in easy, familiar songs. Originals are discouraged. The band knows a lot of songs, but it never hurts to bring a chord chart if you’re in doubt. Bring your axe. Drums, PA, amps, and keyboards are there already.
On Wednesday the 12th the next edition of the bluegrass series Bluegrass Gold will take place at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. The show is produced by Carltone Music and co-sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Headlining the bill will be Poor Man’s Whiskey, and opening will be Four Year Bender. Poor Man's Whiskey is the hottest bluegrass band to emerge from Sonoma County. Young, talented, and engaging, this septet has a knack for creating a hoedown wherever they go. Born in the backwoods of the Wine Country, the band formed as a side project among old friends. They are now playing to rave reviews up and down the West Coast. PMW plays with an original style that fuses the bluegrass tradition with thick vocal harmonies, jazz runs, and improvisational jams. They played at the Strawberry Music Festival in 2005, and have performed multiple times at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. Their new CD is titled Roadside Attraction. Since it’s inception in early 2002, Four Year Bender has been one of the most talked about country bands in the Bay Area, garnering lavish praise from music fans and critics alike. They have played every major venue in San Francisco including The Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Their most recent CD is titled Lucky.
Mill Valley’s Elaine Dempsey will play at The No Name Bar in Sausalito on the 12th at 8:30 p.m. with Jim Bitter, and then at Murphy’s in Sonoma on the 20th.
All roads lead to Hollister. On the 13th-15th is where the Bay Area bluegrass crowd will be converging for the 13th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival. Some of the bands to see are Grizzly Peak, REO Haywagon, Barefoot Nellies, Homespun Rowdy, Mighty Crows, Houston Jones, Sidesaddle & Co., David Thom Band, Stay Tuned, Harmony Grits, and lots more.
Mill Valley singer Lauralee Brown has a busy month. She and her band will be at Saylor's Landing in Sausalito on the 14th and at the McInnis Park Golf Center in San Rafael on the 21st. Lauralee will sing with The David Jeffery Fourtet at the Emerald Garden in Alameda on the 15th, and with The Jon Steiner Trio at the Left Bank in Larkspur on the 25th. And on the 29th from 8 p.m. to midnight she will be the mistress of ceremonies for the Repair! Rebuild! Renew! New Orleans Benefit Concert Series at the Presidio Yacht Club in Fort Baker in Sausalito. There will be rockin' blues from the bayou with the Creole Belles with Andrew Carrier, Curtis Lawson, Eugene Huggins & Friends, and The Fiver Brown Band.
The Ruminators will be playing the Black Rose in Santa Rosa on the 14th at 9 pm. and then at the Sonoma County Fair on the 29th on the Park Stage from 1-5 p.m.
The Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival will be held on the 15th and 16th at the Etna city park in Etna. See The Kathy Kallick Band (with Laurie Lewis filling in on bass), Alan Bibey & BlueRidge, Frank Ray & Cedar Hill, The Alhambra Valley Band, Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band, Siskiyou Summit, and Don Maddox.
Drew Pearce puts on house concerts in Marin just about every month. He’ll be hosting Joe Rathbone and Brindl on the 15th in Sausalito. The open mic begins at 7 p.m., and the featured performers begin at 8:30. To attend, call (415) 706 3800.
Besides the county fair, there are two other shows of note at the Marin Civic Center this month. The Temptations are there on the 15th, and the Texas Guitar Show on the 29th.
The next West Coast Songwriters Association open mic will take place at Sweetwater on the 17th from 7-9 p.m. You must be a member to perform, but anyone can watch. Stop on by and check out the stars of tomorrow. If you are a singer/songwriter this is a wonderful organization that can help you get feedback on your songs as well as offer you info on networking with other writers. Industry judges award recognition for best song and best performance. Best Song wins three hours recording time. For more info contact Jan White at janwhitemusic@sbcglobal.net.
Under the Radar will be playing their eclectic mix of bluegrass, swing, blues, country & folk at a free concert on the Sebastopol Town Square on the 20th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The band is Chip Dunbar, Ted Dutcher, Kendrick Freeman and Kevin Russell.
Ain't Misbehavin' performs acoustic swing and more at the Station House Café in Pt. Reyes Station on the 21st at 7 p.m. in the bar area. The café serves great entrees and desserts and the best burgers in Marin. The amazing Chris Goddard on guitar and lap steel will be substituting for Phil Richardson this night.
Marinwood Music in the Park. On the fourth Sunday of these summer months there are free concerts in Marinwood Park in San Rafael from 1-3 p.m. On the 23rd see the Miller Creek Middle School Summer Jazz Combos.
They’re pickin’ up in Sebastopol on the 23rd. It is a gospel, bluegrass and old-time gathering, and it takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Avenue, in Sebastopol. Len and Jeanie Carl are the hosts, and you can email them at lencarl@comcast.net. Bring acoustic instruments and your favorite gospel songs to sing.
Johnny Dilks and His Country Soul Brothers will have your boots a scootin’ at the Fourth Street Tavern in San Rafael on the 28th.
Mill Valley’s Matt Lax has a new web site. And his band will be at McGrath’s in Alameda on the 28th at 8 p.m., and then at the Station House in Pt. Reyes Station on the 30th from 5-8 p.m.
Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds will be playing McGrath's in Alameda on the 29th from 8-11 p.m. The Nightbirds are Julay Brandenburg (vocals/guitar/dobro), Thomas Wille (vocals/mandolin), Larry Cohea (vocals/banjo), Tom Lucas (vocals/fiddle), and Pat Campbell (bass).
Ed Neff and Friends continue to play bluegrass every Thursday at the Willowbrook Ale House in Petaluma from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The address is 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. Call (707) 775-4232 for more info.
Music Television. There is some good music stuff on TV on KQED-Channel 9, public television, in the SF Bay Area:
SHERYL CROW, WILDFLOWER – A SOUNDSTAGE SPECIAL EVENT 7/01 11:30 p.m.: “This dynamic special features Sheryl Crow, accompanied by a 16-piece string orchestra, in an intimate performance taped live at Lincoln Center.”
ROBERT PLANT AND THE STRANGE SENSATION 7/02 12:30 a.m.: “For almost three decades and counting, Robert Plant has rocked the world with his distinctive vocals that defined the heavy metal style for which all singers in the genre hope to emulate. Whether it was fronting the legendary group Led Zeppelin to his critically acclaimed solo work, Plant will remain a permanent and welcome fixture in rock 'n' roll. Along with other legendary groups of the era, like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Robert Plant are synonymous with Classic Rock. His Soundstage performance is a must-see for longtime and novice fans of rock 'n' roll alike.”
GLENN MILLER'S LAST FLIGHT 7/02 noon: “During World War II, Glenn Miller and his band entertained the troops in Europe. On a flight to Paris, bandleader Miller's plane disappeared without a trace, fueling wild speculation about murder and conspiracy. This documentary examines events of the night of Miller's last flight and tries to resolve what really happened. The program features interviews, archival footage and re-creations.”
JOSH KORNBLUTH SHOW – MICHAEL FRANTI 7/03 1:30 a.m.: “Musician Michael Franti is known for writing songs with socially progressive lyrics paired with a mixture of hip-hop, funk and reggae melodies. Over the years he and his band Spearhead have gained an international following – playing sold- out concerts from Alaska to Australia. Two years ago this peace-loving musician embarked on the most life-changing trip of his career – a journey to the war-torn Middle East. His experiences on that trip are now the subject of a fascinating documentary entitled ‘I Know I'm Not Alone.’ Franti shares his most vivid memories of the trip and performs a brand new song for Josh. And Josh wanders to Berkeley to jam with the legendary ‘Fatdog’ - owner of Subway Guitars, where Franti had one of his first jobs before making it big.”
CAPITOL FOURTH (2006) 7/04 8 p.m.: “Jason Alexander hosts this musical extravaganza - topped by a dazzling display of fireworks over the Washington Monument - as the July 4 festivities air live from the West Lawn of the US Capitol. America's biggest birthday celebration will feature some of the country's best known and award-winning musical artists performing with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Erich Kunzel. The nation's premiere Independence Day celebration will also include a special birthday tribute to America by everyone's favorite red muppet from Sesame Street, Elmo! Capping off the show is a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's ‘1812 Overture,’ complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now A Capitol Fourth tradition.”
BOB DYLAN – NO DIRECTION HOME Part 2: 7/05 9 p.m.: “Bob Dylan participates for the first time in an exclusive, full-length film biography. From his explosive arrival on the downtown New York City scene in 1961 - with a raspy voice, pounding guitar and stunning lyrics - through his near- fatal motorcycle accident in Woodstock in 1966, no one had more of an impact and no one changed the landscape of contemporary music more profoundly. Private, almost reclusive, disdainful of customary forms of publicity, Dylan has now agreed to make an appearance in his own story, illuminated in particular by this remarkable five-year period. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this intimate and incomparable film includes an archive of never-before-seen footage from childhood, from the road and from backstage, as well as unreleased interviews conducted over the past 15 years with other seminal figures from those times - some of whom, like Allan Ginsberg, are long dead.”
LIVE AID – THE DAY THE MUSIC CHANGED THE WORLD 7/05 11 p.m.: “Live Aid, the unforgettable global event staged in London and Philadelphia on Saturday, July 13, 1985, was watched on television by more than 1.5 billion people worldwide. These concerts led to pledge donations and royalties of over $140 million toward the famine in Africa. Billed as ‘The Global Jukebox,’ this one-hour special features some of the most memorable performances of Live Aid.”
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - THE SEEGER SESSIONS 7/06 10pm, 7/09 1:30 a.m.: “Recorded at St. Luke's in London's East End, rocker Bruce Springsteen performs an intimate concert of songs selected from his new album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, a collection of folk standards and spirituals popularized by folk legend Pete Seeger. The Boss' UK concert performances have thrilled the critics, with The Independent raving ‘an astonishingly rich evening - his music has rarely sounded more spontaneous or vitalizing than this.’”
SOUNDSTAGE – GARBAGE 7/09 12:30 a.m.: “Soundstage is proud to present Garbage. Their set includes select songs from their repertoire -ranging from its impressive mega-hits to fan favorites. Garbage was formed in 1993 by consummate producer/drummer Butch Vig and producers/ multi-instrumentalists Steve Marker and Duke Erickson. One year later they added the beguiling and sultry Shirley Manson to front the band. Garbage is one of the most respected groups of the '90s alterna-scene and its trademark sound aptly marries electronic loops with rock 'n' roll. The band's unique style spurred many other bands to follow suit throughout the 90's. The new millennium saw two new Garbage albums, 2001's refined Beautiful Garbage and the long-awaited rocker, 2005's Bleed Like Me.”
WOODY GUTHRIE – AIN'T GOT NO HOME 7/12 9pm, 7/15 3 a.m.: “Originally blowing out of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s Depression-era America, Woody Guthrie blended vernacular, rural music and populism to give voice to millions of downtrodden citizens. His prolific and uniquely patriotic music was central to generations of folk music and has been recorded by everyone from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to the Irish rock band U2. The program explores Guthrie's creative energy and complex life.”
BILL LASWELL – AXIOM SOUND SYSTEM7/16 midnight: “Throughout three decades, Bill Laswell has been a constant innovator, fusing seemingly disparate genres into a whole new sound. Touching upon everything from Worldbeat, funk, rock, hip-hop and jazz, there are no limits to his experimental approach. No matter what the project, one thing remains a constant – Laswell's pretty bass lines provide a rhythm to which all sounds connect beautifully. The Grammy winner is one of the most prolific artists in modern music, fronting his own band Material and serving as producer, label owner and performer on other's albums.”
CHICAGO IN CONCERT –A SOUNDSTAGE SPECIAL EVENT 7/16 1 a.m.: “In 1967, five musicians had a dream to integrate all of the musical diversity of their city and weave a new sound: a rock 'n' roll band with horns. Since then, Chicago has written, recorded and performed some of the most popular and best-loved songs in rock history. Through it all, they have remained a working band, releasing 27 albums and touring on a continual basis.”
CALIFORNIA'S GOLD – PHOTOPLAYER 7/19 2 p.m.: “Huell meets Joe Rinaudo whose passion is a 1926 Fotoplayer, which uses music rolls like those for player pianos to provide music and sound effects to silent films. Joe spent thousands of hours restoring his Fotoplayer and although the ‘talkies’ made them obsolete in the late 1920s, Huell discovers there is still no better way to enjoy a silent movie than with Joe, his hand cranked projector and his Fotoplayer.”
THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS AND FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE 7/23 1:04 a.m.: “Power pop is arguably one of America's greatest gifts and Fountains of Wayne and The All-American Rejects are champions of the genre. Fountains of Wayne had its genesis long before the band made waves across the charts with the wonderfully catchy and hilariously MILF-themed ‘Stacy's Mom.’ Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, the singer-songwriting duo who comprise Fountains of Wayne, began collaborating while in college in 1986, but the duo went separate ways before reacquainting in 1996 to form Fountains of Wayne.”
VICTOR BORGE – THE GREAT DANE OF COMEDY 7/27 8pm, 7/29 5:58 p.m.: “This special features some of the greatest routines Borge ever performed such as his classic Clare De Lune with a ‘twist,’ his hilarious version of Tea for Two, rare footage from the Russia Opera routine with Marylyn Mulvey, as well as Moonlight Sonata. The program will also contain a never-before-seen look at the Borge family, his famous ‘Rock Cornish game hens,’ and Victor caught off stage.”
KT TUNSTALL 7/29 11:30 p.m.: “The Scottish-bred KT Tunstall may have a diminutive frame, but she packs a wallop with her big voice, which slides from earthy alto, soulful charm to bluesy grit, often in one song. Her stunning debut, Eye to the Telescope, offers catchy songs alongside touching ballads, with musical influences touching upon blues, country and gritty rock. KT's Soundstage appearance features selections from her debut, along with new songs ‘Dirty Water’ and ‘One Day.’”
ELTON JOHN AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE 7/30 12:30 a.m.: “Rock superstar Elton John has been one of the world's most prolific and successful singer-songwriters since his first Top 10 hit, ‘Your Song,’ more than three decades ago. Now, with a recent concert at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, John has established the ‘Elton John Scholarship Fund’ at Britain's Royal Academy of Music, where he himself once attended on scholarship. With a 90-piece orchestra, a five-piece electric band and a choir of Royal Academy students conducted by acclaimed film score composer James Newton-Howard, John performs rousing renditions of many of his greatest songs.”
And on the A&E Network:
TOM JONES 7/4 8-9 a.m.: “One of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the British Invasion, Tom Jones has defined male rock star sexuality to the point of self-caricature. His rags to riches story began in the slums of Wales, took him to London and then all the way to sold-out Vegas concert stages. Along the way there have falls from grace, betrayals, incredible peaks of popularity and whole new generations of fans.”
THE DIXIE CHICKS 7/8 8-9 a.m.: “The story of the three women from Texas – sisters Martie and Emily Erwin and Natalie Maines – who shook up the country music scene with the release of their first CD in 1998, and caused a storm of controversy when Natalie made a critical remark about President Bush before a sold-out crowd in London in March 2003.”
ABBA 7/15 8-9 a.m.: “The Swedish pop group ABBA (Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad) had a string of hits in the 70's and 80's before breaking up in 1982. Throughout much of the world, especially Europe and Australia, the ABBA phenomenon never went away, with repackaged hits compilations and live collections continuing to hit the charts long after the group's demise. Their music was revitalized and introduced to a new generation yet again with the premiere of Mamma Mia, a global smash-hit musical based on their catchy tunes. It remains a top draw on Broadway today, proving that truly outstanding music never loses its charm.”
As always, shows, dates and times are subject to change. Please contact any venue listed above to confirm appearances.
If you are part of a bluegrass or acoustic band or are a singer/songwriter that would like to have your North Bay gigs mentioned here, please send me your info before the end of the previous month, as I send the news out around the 1st and 15th of each month.
Most importantly, if you do not wish to receive this information any longer, please let me know by simply sending a reply email saying “unsubscribe,” and I will take your name off this list.
Cheers!
Larry Carlin
Resources
Marin Bluegrass Jam, Northern California Bluegrass Society, California Bluegrass Association, Sweetwater, Hicks With Sticks Twang Newsletter, North Bay Music Listings, North Bay Concerts, Petaluma Folk Music Concerts, Schoenberg Guitars, Murphy’s Irish Pub, Country Music Television, Rancho Nicasio, The Alpha Acoustic Concert Series, The Sweet Spot Pub and Lounge, The Black Rose, Gordyo, San Francisco Folk Club, SF Bay Area Radio Stations, Larkspur Café Theatre, SF Celtic Music, 19 Broadway, Café Amsterdam, Peri’s Silver Dollar Saloon.
Links
Dave Wellhausen Recording, Allen Lam/Professional Audio, Sound Reinforcement and Location Recording, Hot Buttered Rum, Kimrea, Poor Man’s Whiskey, Amazing Grace Music, Bay Area Bluegrass Radio Shows, Lauralee Brown & Company