Music Fun Week of Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 2014

So HOW ABOUT THEM GIANTS?!  Wowza!  I’ve seen more baseball in the past 2 weeks than I’ve seen in my entire life! Guess we can call that Giant Fever.  We watched Games #1, #5, and #7 with Friends – all winners for The Giants and MadBum.  What do you do after a performance like that?  Has he peaked at 25?  Just sayin’ … Hope he can stay humble.  GO GIANTS!

How the week went:  

Inn Marin last Thursday.  Collected on the comp night prize I won at last year’s Halloween DJ Dance at Rickey’s.  Great location, quaint, cozy, clean, eco-friendly, super-comfy bed, generous continental breakfast, great Keurig coffee in room & lobby.  The luck of the draw: a neighbor who talked & coughed all night long.  Turns out the walls are thick, but ceiling is not, and somehow neighbors’ noise came through.  The Innkeepers are great folks – they will make it up to me at some point in the future.  I shall return (with earplugs, just in case)! 

Thanks to Doc Kraft & Band for last Friday’s fun at Presidio Yacht Club – always know there will be friends for a Doc party.

And on Saturday night Carlos & I were in for some bewitching entertainment at an over-the-top Halloween party at A & K’s haunted manse.  Apparently the guests out-do each other each year, preparing frightful and silly costumes for the occasion.

After that we headed to Finnegan’s for The Dead League, including Peter Harris.  Music now back on the schedule there every Saturday night.

On Tuesday evening a Mother-Daughter Night at the Marin Symphony, Beethoven concert.  Nothing quite like hearing a full Symphony performing Beethoven’s Symphony #5 – emotional and dazzling!  Pianist Navah Perlman also a hit, though Concerto #3 not my personal favorite.  And afterwards, the usual suspects at the Wrap Party at Gaspari’s – love this neighborhood tavern.

What’s comin’ up?

Halloween!!  Carlos & I will head to Hopmonk for PRIDE & JOY!  It WILL sell out, so if you want to be there, best get your tix in advance.  There are so many awesome parties that night, check out the listings.

Saturday? Sunday?  We shall see what lies ahead.

Meanwhile, friend, musician, creative genius Greg Johnson, along with Glass Brick Boulevard (Paul Hanson, Rob Fordyce, Celso Alberti) and Carlos Reyes have an Indiegogo thing happening, to fund production of a CD from their Epic Performance of February 22, 2014 at the Fenix.  Carlos & I were there, and it was indeed joy-filled and extraordinary!  Go here:  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/greg-johnson-glass-brick-boulevard-carlos-reyes#pledges to find out more.

Music Fun Week of Oct. 22-29, 2014

“Always in a hurry for a duck.”

That’s what Mrs. [Elizabeth] Terwilliger taught us all those years ago.  I was a Terwilliger Nature Guide when Laura was a youngster.  “Never in a hurry for a seagull, always in a hurry for a duck” has to do with how much they have to flap their wings to keep aloft.

Well, I’m feeling like a duck, always in a hurry to do this, finish that, get on to the next thing.  Mind-boggling how much there is to accomplish (or not) in one day.  Must … slow … down …  Keep breathing.  Aaahh …

So what keeps me going?  Of course! that’d be the FUN in the Music, Dancing, and Friendships! Just like for you, no doubt.

This past week we enjoyed the overwhelmingly FUN music of the James Moseley Band at the Presidio Yacht Club on Friday night.  James, Jack, Carrie, Haley, Jean, Marina, John, Doug, and Marlon – you sure know how to rock my world!  Get down on it, and boogie oogie oogie!

Carlos & I took ourselves to Hopmonk on Saturday night for a first-time with Bayonics—a 10-piece “Latin funk reggae hip hop” Bay Area Band – and I can recommend them highly.  Not enough of a crowd, though … where were you on Saturday night?

Sunday—didn’t get out to party, but had a great walk in the neighborhood.

Last night caught the action with friends:  GO GIANTS!

To come?  More GIANTS! 

Friday night more Presidio Yacht Club for Doc Kraft Dance Band—sure to be some merrymaking.  One of these days I'll catch Gary Vogensen's Ramble (this Friday at Rancho).  Saturday there’s a Halloween party to attend, so not likely to get over to Trek for Chime Travelers; and there’s a Danny Click Special at 142 Throckmorton; and Cathey Cotton & Company at 19 Broadway; and much more.

Sunday more GIANTS! if there’s not a shut-out.

The Marin Symphony Beethoven concert is Sunday before the possible game, but more likely will go to the Tuesday evening performance.

Check it all out below.

‘Til we meet again, take care of yourselves and each other, and get out and move it – and if you can’t, have fun inside your head! ♫♪♪

Music Fun Week of Oct. 15-22, 2014

Keeping My Cool, the Week in Review …

A phenomenal turnout for the S.F. Presidio Officers’ Club Dance on Saturday night, with the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, and hosted by Cynthia Glinka (“If you can walk you can dance”)!  This re-opening of renovated Moraga Hall, with its ballroom, museum, bar, and many corridors/galleries was attended by probably about 500 eager visitors, enjoying the 30’s style music!

If you’d like to see another such dance, please let them know:  email Mira Bieler, Program Director, at mbieler@presidiotrust.gov.  I for one would like to return.

Here are a few videos from the evening:

So Long But Not Goodbye

Zonky

Irving Berlin Waltz Medley

Carlos & I also enjoyed dancing to LOVEFOOL at Hopmonk on Friday night; and on Sunday drove out to Rancho to finally hear San Geronimo – another great conglomeration of musical talent (Jeremy D’Antonio, Darren Nelson & Friends).  Highly recommended!

Big highlight for this week will be the major PARTY on Friday night at Presidio Yacht Club for the debut of the James Moseley Dance Band!  ♫♪

And I want to give a special shout-out to Erma Murphy and Daniel Patrick of Murphy Productions, who will be honored on Sunday evening at the 20^th Annual Milley Awards, for their contributions to the Marin art and music scene.

A little brain-dead at this time after many phone calls and emails back East on behalf of Jay, so don’t really know what else I have planned this week for my Music Therapy!  ;-)  But trusting that it will revive my Spirits ♫♪

Music Fun Week of Oct. 8-15, 2014

WHEW!  That about sums up my current life …

I won’t grouse on about my difficulties attending to East Coast baby brother Jay’s dementia and related issues – but it does consume much of each week.

Meanwhile, shoutouts to the healing Magic of Music and Dance, and those who facilitated it for myself and Carlos this past week:

Thursday last at Hopmonk for S’Cream – and I did!  Danced a bunch too.

Friday the JAMES MOSELEY DANCE BAND at Seahorse.  Always a special treat!

Saturday the 1^st annual Fairfax Wine Stroll. Then Carlos & I took in a movie: Skeleton Twins. Rare occurrence for us!   Watched SNL with host Sarah Silverman, and Maroon Five.

Sunday morning Unity, and in the early evening up to Twin Oaks for The Blues Defenders & Levi Lloyd.  Funky roadhouse where almost everyone gets up to shake it!  ♫♪♪

POWER MOON

Missed the Big Band Dance in Corte Madera last night – just couldn’t muster enough steam to get ourselves there.  Powering down.  Wah.

There is the COM Big Band tonight at Seahorse, but I’m not sure I’ll get it together for that either.

Friday Lovefool is likely for us at the Hopmonk—for some high-energy dancing.  The 7^th Sons are at Taste of Rome, and lots more on the calendar.

Saturday it’s in my mind that we can get over the bridge to Presidio Officer’s Club for Cynthia Glinka’s shindig … And finish the night at Hopmonk with Achilles Wheel.  If that doesn’t work out we may start at Trek for The Chime Travelers.  And there’s an incredible lineup of wanna-sees for the night:  Mighty Groove at Redwood Café; Miracle Mule at Rancho; Lavay Smith at Fenix; Lydia Pense & Cold Blood at 19 Broadway …oh, my—and there’s more!  Have a look!

Sunday?  We still haven’t heard San Geronimo—and they’re out at the Rancho.  Many more offerings… we’ll see/ we’ll hear ... ♫♪

Music Fun Week of Oct. 1-8, 2014

May your JOYS outweigh your sorrows.

YES! For another fine week of Music in Marin!! 

The recap:

Last Wednesday night Hopmonk for Open Mic hosted by Dennis Haneda, along with Ruthie.  Friday night merry-making at Presidio Yacht Club with The 7^th Sons (and a Daughter)—Jake Baker, Debra Clawson, Mario Lewin, and Bruce Wilmott.

Saturday night SPECTACULAR at the Marin Symphony Gala “Fete Fantastique” with daughter Laura Mae, and the unveiling of her newest gown.  Follow her blog to learn of her design and construction techniques, and eventually (later this week?) her posting of the gown:  lauramaedesigns.com.

After the Gala, rushed over to HOPMONK for the debut of James Moseley Dance Band – and thrilled to see a wonderful crowd dancing it up!

On Sunday got myself over to the Mill Valley Block Party for major fun with Lumanation and all the wonderful celebrants!  Lost car keys, keys found, returned to me!  Fairy godmothers exist.  Back to catch some of Big Bang Beat ... then off to help celebrate 1^st Wedding Anniversary of Carroll & Howie.

Tuesday night (last night) the magical Marin Symphony concert "French Reverie"!!! with Birthday Boy Carlos, and daughter Laura Mae.

Coming up: what I know, where I’ll be:

Thursday at Hopmonk for S’Cream

Friday the JAMES MOSELEY DANCE BAND at Seahorse.

Saturday quite probably REVOLVER at Fenix.

Sunday?

Wednesday next: Big Band Dance in Corte Madera.

Let’s get there … ♫♪♪