Music Fun begin. Wed. Sept. 23

Welcome Distractions

This week:  a return visit from Buddy Buck (he first showed up a week ago camped out at my back door).  And lovely Laura Mae (my daughter) in another attractive and fun frock that she just completed, with my grandpup Tino.  (check out Laura's blog lauramaedesigns aka Lilacs and Lace)





So very appreciative that I was able to get out for 4 nights (and a daytime) in a row for my MUSIC THERAPY.  The only time I can shift my mind from the complex and challenging situation with my brother that is ongoing in Philadelphia.
So for fun there was Matt Bolton--the very talented one-man-band--at Trek Winery; a high-energy party at Presidio Yacht Club with Before the Bang's "Prescription Strength Rockenrol"; a night of funky dancing fun at the Seahorse with my pals The James Moseley Band; a surprise gift of a Sunday matinee at the S.F. Opera for Sweeney Todd!; and the Sunday night Swing Dance at Hopmonk with Dan Brown joining the Full Moon Swing Band.  Whew and YAY! 

On tap?  Pop Fiction Friday night at Hopmonk.  There's also Danny Click at Rancho.
Saturday Freddy Clarke & Wobbly World is at the Seahorse -- and it's Mauro's Birthday!  Rick Kelly of The Chime Travelers does a solo gig at Trek Winery.
And Sunday fun in the sun at Mill Valley's Annual Community Block Party!  Plus a lot of other great music.

Click for links to the VENUES, so you can see who's playing where for each of them.

My suggestions for the week (still working on this, so check back before or during weekend):

Wed. Sept. 23: AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 1:21AM PDT

Hopmonk:  Open Mic ft. Untamed Creatures, 7pm, no cover.

Fenix:  Pro Blues Jam:  Slide Guitar, 8-11pm, $5-10.

Thurs. Sept. 24:

Seahorse:  James Moseley Jazz Quartet (James, Jack Prendergast, Doug Morton, Jimmy Hobson), 7:30pm, no cover.
Fenix:  Michael Barrett & Friends, 8-11, $10.
Presidio Y.C.:  Doggone Blues Band (Maria's Music), 7:30pm, $5.

Fri. Sept. 25:  

Hopmonk:  Pop Fiction, 9pm, $15.

Rancho Nicasio:  Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs!, 8pm, $15-20.  CD Release Party "holding up the sun".
Fenix:  The Cheeseballs, 8pm, $18-20.
Seahorse:  Full Tilt Band, 9pm, $10.
19 Broadway:  Grateful Bluegrass Boys + One Grass Two Grass, 9pm, $10-15.
Presidio Y.C.:  Bleeding Fingers & Bedrock Radio, 8:30pm, $8.

Sat. Sept. 26:

Hopmonk:  Kermit Ruffins, CANCELLED 8pm, $27 & up, lim. seating.

Seahorse:  Freddy Clarke & Wobbly World, 9pm, $12.
Trek Winery:  Rick Kelly of The Chime Travelers, Solo, 7:30-10pm, no cover.
Peri's:  Tommy Odetto Group, 9pm, $8?
Fenix:  Lionel Burns & The Maze Experience, 8pm, $20.
19 Broadway:  Pine Box Boys ("murder ballads"), 9pm, $10.

Sun. Sept. 27: SUPERMOON, FULL HARVEST MOON, FULL BLOOD MOON 7:50pm PDT

Mill Valley Community Block Party, 1-5:30pm, no cover, in front of Famous4, betw. Throck & Miller. The 85s, Lumanation, The Incubators, more.

Hopmonk:  Chuck Prophet Cook-Out Series, 5pm, $16-31.
Rancho Nicasio:  WHISTLESTOCK -- BBQ benefit for Whistlestop, feat. Sal Valentino, Lester Chambers, Linda Imperial, David Freiberg, Barry Melton & more, 3-6:30pm, $125-175.
Peri's:  Jitterbug Riot, 8:30pm, no cover.
19 Broadway:  Walt the Dawg, 9pm, no cover.
Seahorse:  Salsa, 4pm lesson, 5pm dance, $10.

Tues. Sept. 29:
Novato Farmers Market:  Miracle Mule, 4-7pm, free.
Ashenaz:  Zydeco Flames, 8pm lesson, 8:30 dance, $12.

Wed. Sept. 30:
Hopmonk:  Open Mic, 7pm, no cover.
Fenix:  Pro Blues Jam: Soul Train with Dee Coco Johnson, 8pm, $5-10

Thur. OCTOBER 1:
Presidio Y.C.:  Eddie Neon Blues By the Bay, 7:30, $5.
Fenix:  Stax City, 8pm, $10.

Fri. Oct. 2:
Sunnbolt/ Bandworks Studio, 150 Mitchell Dr., San Rafael:  Friday Night Jam! doors 8, jam 8:30, first band 9:30pm, $5.  BYOB.  Call/ text Seth if you want a slot to perform 415-531-2651. 
Presidio Yacht Club:  Before the Bang, 8:30pm, $5.
Seahorse:  Doc Kraft Band, 8:30pm, $10.

Sat. Oct. 3:
Marin Symphony Waterfront Pops (link):  Classical Mystery Tour! Beatles tribute, at Lagoon Park.  Gates 3pm, show 6pm, fireworks show at conclusion!  Food and drink available for purchase.  GA seating $35-55 adult, $20-25 youth, 415-473-6800; VIP tickets 415-479-8100.  
Sweetwater:  Foreverland, 
Fenix:  Iriefuse, 8pm, $15-18.


Sat. Oct. 10  Hopmonk:  Revolver
Fri. Oct. 16  Hopmonk:  AZ/ DZ
Sun. Oct. 18  Hopmonk:  Full Moon Swing Dance
Thur. Oct. 22  Fenix:  Miracle Mule

Click here: VENUES links (36 venues, mostly Marin, some Sonoma)

BEST WISHES ♫♪

Ellen Jane

Music Fun begin Wed. Sept. 16

Pause.  Reflect.  Refresh.

And so I make an attempt to get back to the Life of Ellen, if only momentarily.
I am finding that it's too easy to lose sight of what makes me happy, i.e. MUSIC.  Must - not - let - trials, travails, exhaustion - overcome - that core commitment to FUN that sustains and nourishes!

Thankful this past week for the people that pop in and out of my consciousness, encourage and understand.
And for the musicians:  Sunnbolt Friday Night Jam ft. The Original Millbillies, followed by the "tail-end" of the Miracle Mule party at Hopmonk.  And Saturday night at Twin Oaks -- The Mighty Groove!
Sorry to miss the Corte Madera Big Band for their start of a new season; and didn't get to the Line Dance lesson at Hopmonk. 

Busy week ahead, much available -- I'd like to be at Trek Winery on Thursday night for Matt Bolton's solo show; Before the Bang on Friday would be a treat if I can get myself down to PYC; Saturday James Moseley Dance Band at Seahorse; Sunday at Hopmonk for Full Moon Swing Band & Lesson, featuring Dan Brown on vocals! 
There's also the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival both Saturday & Sunday; and the Sound Summit on Mt. Tam [Mother Truckers at noon] on Saturday for those lucky enough to attend!

Click for links to the VENUES, so you can see who's playing where for each of them.

My suggestions fo the week:

Wed. Sept. 16:

Hopmonk:  Open Mic hosted by Dennis Haneda, ft. Hot Start, 7pm, no cover.

Fenix:  Pro Blues Jam:  BB King, 8-11pm, $5 (seniors)-$10.

Thur. Sept. 17:  

Trek Winery:  Matt Bolton, 7-8:30pm, no cover. 

Hopmonk:  Parcivilion + Skinny Guns + MOBB, 7:30pm, $6.

Presidio Yacht Club: Slim & The Fat Cats (Maria's Music), 7pm, $5? 

Fenix: Wine Tasting 6-8pm, $5; Pam Hawkins, 8pm, $10.  

Fri. Sept. 18:  

Presidio Yacht Club:  Before the Bang, 8:30pm, $5.

Sweetwater:  Petty Theft, 9pm, $27-32.

Fenix:  Reed Fromer Band, 8pm, $12-15.

19 Broadway:  Big Brother & the Holding Company, 9pm, $15-20.

Seahorse:  Overcommitments, 9pm, $12.
Terrapin Crossroads:  Moonalice + Doobie Decibel System, 8pm, $12-15 + service fee (even at door).

Sat. Sept. 19:  

Seahorse:  James Moseley Dance Band, 9pm, $15.

Hopmonk:  Duran Duran Duran, 9pm, $15.

Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, 10-5, $5-10.  www.mvfaf.org for Music Schedule.
Presidio Yacht Club:  The Original Millbillies, 8:30pm, $8.
Novato City Green (DeLong at Sherman):  Ridgeway Space Station, 5-7pm, free.

Fenix:  Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, 8pm, $15.

Sweetwater:  Fleetwood Mask, 9pm, $17-22.

Mt. Tam:  SOUND SUMMIT (Tedeschi Trucks, Dr. John, Mother Hips, Portland Cello Project -- and THE MOTHER TRUCKERS with Josh & Teal!) 11am-7pm, $45-100.  soundsummit.net  [Important to check website: parking sold out, must take dedicated bus.]

Sun. Sept. 20:  

Hopmonk:  Swing Dance lesson & Dance with Full Moon Swing, with Dan Brown vocals, lesson 7, dance 8-10pm, $15.

Rancho Nicasio:  Tommy Castro & The Painkillers + Stompy Jones, 4pm, $20.
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, 10-5, $5-10.  www.mvfaf.org for Music Schedule.
San Geronimo Valley Community Center  Moonalice (4pm) w/ Doobie Decibel System & Knights of Saturn, noon-8pm, free.  International Day of Peace Festival: art, speakers, Wavy Gravy.

Marin Humane Society:  Woofstock ft. WonderBread 5, noon-5pm, $12 (child) - $35 (includes food ticket).

Fenix:  11:30-1:30, no cover:  Diamond Jazz; 6:30-9:30, $12-15: Harley White Jr. Orchestra.

Tues. Sept. 22:

Hopmonk:  Roger Clyne & The PeaceMakers + Scary Little Friends, 8pm, $20.

Fenix:  Billy D, Jesse Brewster, Stefanie Keys, Darren Nelson, 7-9:30pm, $10.

Wed. Sept. 23: AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 1:21AM PDT

Hopmonk:  Open Mic ft. Untamed Creatures, 7pm, no cover.

Fenix:  Pro Blues Jam:  Slide Guitar, 8-11pm, $5-10.

and coming up ...

Thurs. Sept. 24:

Fenix:  Michael Barrett & Friends, 8-11, $10.

Fri. Sept. 25:  

Hopmonk:  Pop Fiction, 9pm, $15.

Rancho:  Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs!, 8pm, $15-20.

Sat. Sept. 26:

Hopmonk:  Kermit Ruffins, CANCELLED 8pm, $27 & up, lim. seating.

Seahorse:  Freddy Clarke & Wobbly World, 9pm, $12.
Trek Winery:  Rick Kelly of The Chime Travelers, Solo, 7:30-10pm, no cover.

Sun. Sept. 27:
Mill Valley Community Block Party, 1-5:30pm, no cover, in front of Famous4, betw. Throck & Miller. The 85s, Lumanation, The Incubators, more.

Hopmonk:  Chuck Prophet Cook-Out Series, 5pm, $16-31.

VENUES links

BEST WISHES ♫♪

Ellen Jane

Music Fun beginning Tues. Sept. 8

Struggling.  There's been a hitch in my giddy-up. We all go through this at some time or another.  Tribulations of poor brother eating away at my time and psyche.  Planning on several trips to Philadelphia beginning in October.  

But as a diversion, I will cobble something of a Calendar together for those of you who are inclined to check this website.  And I have to get out for MUSIC 🎸🎤🙆👏 myself, so will share some highlights.

Co-incidentally, google is giving me grief over my extensive email list -- and at some point I will have to investigate a mail service -- but my brain can do only so much in this trying time.  So I am not sending a blast, but hoping that many of you will still check this website for my suggestions.

Ergo, a limited calendar, but the VENUES [click] link I provide will let you do some of the work! 

But first, a brief joyful shoutout to the music/ musicians that have helped sustain me for the past couple weeks:

Where did I leave off? 

Did I tell you about fun with The Mother Truckers, with Teal and Josh, at 19 Broadway?  And Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at the final Marinwood outdoor concert?  Treble Makers at a party a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon, then the following Wed. night at Peri's for TwangFest, including Frank Bohan, Erik Schramm, Jeb Harrison, Kevin Hayes, Lloyd Meadows, Danny Uzi, Dan Petrozelli, Michael White, Bowen Brown, -- I should have written them down to remember all.  Amazing talent, music that makes me get down, jump and shout!

Pacheco Plaza for their final Friday evening summer offering:  Zulu Spear!  Then on to Hopmonk to check out American Honey -- and imagine my delight at finding the lovely, effervescent, and extremely talented Ms. Teal Collins Zee holding down the fort as their new female vocalist!

Back at Hopmonk the following night for Vinyl-- always good and funky.

This past week at Hopmonk investigated the country, bluegrass, and Americana sounds of Frankie Boots and The County Line from Santa Rosa with their fun brand of easy-to-jump to tunes; opening with McCoy Tyler Band up from Santa Cruz, and bluegrass country.  A young crowd, but fun dance partners.

Saturday night was back  in Fairfax, 19 Broadway, for Rick Lenzi & The Roustabouts, from Arizona.  Fabulous Elvis (and Buddy Holly) tribute.  Rick has the voice, gestures, stance of The King -- but I missed that he had no interaction with his (albeit small) audience.  It really helps when you play with your audience, guys! 😉🙋

Coming right up:  Wed. night's Big Band Dance in Corte Madera; Thursday there's Country Line Dancing (not just country-- the also play R&B, funk) at Hopmonk; then Friday Night Jam at Sunnbolt/ Bandworks; also Friday night Hopmonk has Miracle Mule.

Saturday night The Mighty Groove is at Twin Oaks; and a special party at Trek Winery -- barrel tasting, Big Jim's BBQ, and The Chime Travelers: closed to public, but open to you for $55-65.

Nice writeup from Paul Liberatore's on Matt Bolton & his one-man band -- who'll be onstage at Trek Winery on Thurs. Sept. 17.

What's on my radar:

Tues. Sept. 8:  Novato Farmers Market:  The Four Teardrops -- 4-8pm, Free!

Wed. Sept. 9:  Corte Madera Community Center:  Ray Simpson Big Band Dance -- 8-10pm, Free!

Hopmonk:  Open Mic hosted by Dennis Haneda, ft. Wild Mint, 7pm, Free!

Thurs. Sept. 10:  Hopmonk :  Country Line Dance -- 7pm, $10.

Fri. Sept. 11:  

Sunnbolt/ Bandworks (150 Mitchell Bl.):  Friday Night Jam -- 8pm Youth Bands, 9pm Adult jam + Original Millbillies, The Hanger Band, The Quorum, $5, Byob.

Hopmonk:  Miracle Mule, 9pm, $10.

Seahorse:  Billy Love Express, 9pm, $10.

Rancho Nicasio:  Gary Vogensen with Rusty Gauthier, Big John Main, Gary Silva, Sean Allen. 8pm, no cover.

19 Broadway:  Afrolicious, 9pm, $12-15.

Sat. Sept. 12

Twin Oaks:  The Mighty Groove, 8pm, Free!

Trek Winery:  The Chime Travelers, Trek 3rd Year Anniversary & Harvest Party, Crush Demo, Barrel Tasting, Big Jim's BBQ dinner, 4-10pm, $55-65.

142 Throckmorton:  Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs! -- CD Release Party, 8pm, $20-30.

Hopmonk:  The Lady Crooners + Laura Benitez and the Heartache, 8:45pm, $10.

Sun. Sept. 13

19 Broadway:  Walt the Dawg, 9pm, no cover.

Hopmonk:  New Monsoon + Aaron Redner -- Cookout Concert Series, 4 doors, 5pm show, $16.

Rancho:  Marcia Ball + Angela Strehli Band -- BBQ on the Lawn, 4pm, $25-30.

"And then some" ...

Thur. Sept. 17:  Trek Winery:  Matt Bolton, 7-8:30pm, no cover. 
Fri. Sept. 18:  Presidio Yacht Club:  Before the Bang, 8:30pm, $5.

Sat. Sept. 19:  Seahorse:  James Moseley Dance Band, 9pm, $15.

Sun. Sept. 20:  

Hopmonk:  Swing Dance lesson & Dance with Full Moon Swing, 7pm, $15.

Rancho Nicasio:  Tommy Castro & The Painkillers + Stompy Jones, 4pm, $20.

Fri. Sept. 25:  Rancho:  Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs!, 8pm, $15-20.

BEST WISHES ♫♪