Music Fun Week of Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 2014

THANKSGIVING?  Each of us has something to be thankful for!  For me, one thing is having connected with each of you, because connections (especially, for me, via music!) are what the human experience is all about.  Add some love and laughter and there you go!

Attended a Memorial on Saturday for Les Lizama RIP – and heard about a life well-lived, and these apt words, from Maya Angelou:

“My mission in life is not merely to Survive, but to Thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”  I found this website and kept reading for many more pearls.  If you’d like, check it out:  Maya Angelou quotes

And whither did I wander, with Carlos at my side?  THANKS for the music from Groovtown at the Seahorse Friday night:  GREAT crowd enjoying the 60s R&B from Craig Caffall, Philip “Roscoe” Gallo, Robin “Nigel” Zickel, Steve Evans and Julie Medeiros—wild woman vocalist!  Plenty of action on the dance floor …they rocked it for us!  I heard that Lost Dog Found at Hopmonk was also a lively event …

On Saturday our lovely community Thanksgiving dinner, then down to Presidio Y.C. for the Eldon Brown Band party … plus a Bulgarian a cappella women’s chorus, as well as 2 more bands—Retro Rockets was one, putting out the classic rock and keeping the dancers happy …  

Hoping to get to Fairfax tonight (Wed.) for the Soul Satellites—Frank Bohan, Lloyd Meadows, Timm Walker, Ted O’Connell, Dave Burns—and who knows who else will show up!  These guys are always totally groovy and put me in the dance zone!

Thanksgiving with Friends, sharing the bounty, praying for those less fortunate.

Friday the intent is to check out Mustache Harbor at Hopmonk.  And there’s Fenton Coolfoot & The Right Time at Sleeping Lady, as well as Lumanation, Zydeco Flames, Band of Gypsies and so much more.

Saturday there’s a couple of Browns I’d like to hear:  Dan Brown with Country Steem at Twin Oaks, and Eldon Brown Band at the Old Western.  Doc Kraft is out that way too, at Penngrove Pub.  Petty Theft is at Sweetwater (sure to sell out), Jose Neto Band at 19 Broadway, and crazy Bud E Luv at Rancho – plus all them other goings-on!

And for you?  Many Thanksgiving Blessings! ♫♪♪

Music Fun Week of Nov. 19-26, 2014

What’s new?

Shoutouts, kudos, gratitude for the past week’s musical joys:  Ray Simpson Big Band at Corte Madera on Wednesday evening; the College of Marin Big Swing Band at Seahorse on Thursday, enjoying vocals by Vicki Marinko & others, and swing dance lesson from Al & Mary; James Moseley Band—James, Jack, Carrie, Haley, Marina, John, KC, Marlon—at the fab Fenix on Friday; the eccentric, eclectic, and very entertaining magic carpet ride from David Lindley at the JCC on Saturday, thanks to Murphy Productions' Erma, Daniel--and Larry the Hat; Sunday at the West End Celebration with Danny Click, San Geronimo, Pop Rocks … yeah, it was a pretty full week!!

It takes a few days of resting up after that.  Last night Carlos & I took in Birdman – what did you think??

Coming up, perhaps Hopmonk on Thursday for Instru-Mental, James Harman, and Stacks – not too far a hop for us.  Looking forward to a new band: GROOVTOWN at the Seahorse on Friday, playing 60s R&B; however that means I’d miss Lost Dog Found at Hopmonk , California Honeydrops at 19 Broadway, Zydeco Flames at Rossi’s … And on Saturday we have a community dinner, after which we may get to Presidio Y.C. for the Eldon Brown party or what follows … or try out another new-to-us band at Hopmonk: Kingsborough. And there’s Revolver at the Rancho, Wonderbread 5 at 19 Broadway, etc. etc.!  Sunday? We’ll get there!

Have a good week—enjoy yourselves, and I’ll try too ♫♪♪

 From the Sublime to the Ridiculous -- for your enjoyment!

http://player.vimeo.com/video/58611141?autoplay=1

Ode to Joy, rock version, Ana Rucner cello

Parliament Funkadelic -- Dr. Funkenstein

Music Fun Week of Nov. 12-19, 2014

Good to be Alive! ♪♫♪

The week in review, and kudos:

Carlos & I doubled up (well, on Saturday quadrupled-up) on Friday -- began at Elks Club with Flanelhed for some head-banging at its finest.  You just gotta feel it once in a while – a great release!  And then back north to Hopmonk for Pop Rocks, plenty of energy on the dance floor, and a young man who picked me up onto the stage to join several good-lookin’ young women.  Of course I just had to go with the flow, carry on with the show … heh heh.

On Saturday it was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.  Rode with Larry & Sue up to Twin Oaks for Soul Section—excellent 8 or 9-piece band with horns.  A little surprised to arrive to an over-capacity crowd of probably 300 squished into every square foot of space, including out on the patio.  Hot, crowded, but FUN!  When they finished up, Larry took us over to Penngrove Pub for another band Four Bye Four for some country rock.  Then headed back to Novato and made it in time for some Blue Bandits at Brown’s Binyerd, with friends George (aka DJ Hewy Dawg) leading the pack, and Chris Carpiniello on drums—more FUN.  Never heard of Brown’s – but NOW I KNOW!  And while there, since I had never set foot in the Viking, we scoped it out—and I have to say it did not meet my expectation of degradation. :-0

On Sunday Carlos and I made it to Unity, but laid low for the rest of the day …

Twin Oaks, Soul Section, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

And what’s coming?  Looks to be a busy week.  Some highlights:

Tonight, Wednesday, must go to Corte Madera for the Ray Simpson Big Band Dance.  This is an undiscovered, under-appreciated monthly gift to the community.  Great tunes, plenty of room to move, friendly crowd.  Give it a try next month (2^nd Wed.)!

Thursday hope to get down to Seahorse for the College of Marin Big Swing Band.

Then comes Friday, and WAY TOO MUCH CHOICE!  James Moseley Dance Band at Fenix is in the lead; and there’s also Linda Imperial Band at Elks, Dennis Johnson & The Mississippi Ramblers at Hopmonk, The Mighty Groove at Presidio Y.C., and early in the evening The Chime Travelers at Trek Winery.  Whew!  That’s not to mention all the other great music I’ve listed below for Friday.  Who knows how this one will play out!

Saturday plans? Not yet committed—but there’s Danny Click at Rancho, David Lindley at the JCC, The 7^th Sons (and a Daughter) at Redwood Café … and another 20 or so musical events listed.

Sunday:  plenty going on, like the West End Village Celebration, John Korty film (Benefit for Novato Theater) at Trek Winery, Tri-Tip Trio at Rossi’s … and so on!

Take care of each other, embrace your humanity, and have a great week! ♫♪♪

Music Fun Week of NOVEMBER 5-12, 2014

Shifting Focus …

Attempting to allow the forces of good to outweigh the other stuff.  For me it’s about trying harder to overcome the frustration/ despair I feel when trying to problem-solve for my “challenged” baby brother.  Perhaps next time you ask how I’m doing I will not launch into what difficulties I had today with Jay.

As always, Keep Breathing.  Aaahh … And on with the Show! ♫♪

Hope you had a Happy Halloween – at the very least an amusing one.  And basking in the Afterglow of The Giants triumph!  This is actually the first year I’ve ever been involved.  Happy for their previous 2 World Series, but this time truly participated.  Unfortunately it has meant that I’ve been compelled to also read the Sports pages … as if I have time.

Friday night it was Hollywood  at Hopmonk with Pride & Joy!!!  Killer show, crowded of course—but that’s part of the party.  Sorry we couldn’t make it to all the Halloween wonderfulness all over the county!

 

Saturday night Carlos & I returned to Hopmonk for Dgiin – and their Dia de Los Muertos show.  Magical gypsy vibe, much of the music sung in French.  A group of French folks there, dancing free and wild, just how I like it. (Of course I joined them.)  And also Eden, the Fan Dancer – WOW!

Sunday a wonderful service at Unity, then later to Sweetwater for the Barbara Borden documentary film, and some live drumming.  Wonderful that they sponsor such events (this one for Mill Valley Village, to benefit seniors in the community, and supported by Mill Valley Rotary).

What’s comin’?

Friday there’s Pop Rocks at Hopmonk, Flanelhed at Elks Club, 7^th Sons (and a Daughter) at PYC – and another baker’s dozen musical events nearby.

Saturday we’ve got Soul Section (with Rich Armstrong & Ray Clement) at Twin Oaks, Cheap Therapy with Dan Brown at PYC, Olive & The Dirty Martinis at Seahorse, Lane, Uzi, Korty at 19 Broadway – and again, another dozen options.

Sunday there’s Lonestar Retrobates at PYC, Chime Travelers at Rickey’s, San Geronimo at Rancho, Blues Defenders at Twin Oaks, and on and on!

Check the calendar below for all my listings.  And I hope you Dance ♫♪♪