Music Fun Week of April 2, 2013

UPDATES (since Tuesday) in RED
I get knocked down—but I get up again. Way to go!

(Thanks for that sentiment, Chumbawamba.  I am speaking metaphorically.)

Not sure I got all my dancing in for the week:  Wednesday taken with a Toastmasters event, then Thursday some mellow jazz at Trek with the Herb Marshall Group and the lovely Susana Crofton.  Probably made up for a few days’ worth on Friday with Johnny Z and TRENZ and guest Rolando Morales—they really kicked it up a notch.  Carlos & I double-dipped that night, getting over to Peri’s for Soul Satellites and some passionate rockin’ funk!  Thanks Frank & Bonnie & Lloyd & Timm & Ted & Dave!   On Saturday we meant to go to PYC for Mystery Dance with Bonnie Hayes & Friends—but the weather and the lateness kept us local at Hopmonk for some Rock Candy – apparently a local group of police & firefighters who hammed it up (the lead singer thought he was Bret Michaels) and brought along a sold-out entourage. Not a lot going on musically, but amusing to see adoring fans for such a group!  Another Sunday at Unity in Marin for some inspiration; then some relaxation …

Said Goodbye last week to special friend Dee, who's returned to her roots in Santa Barbara.  Missin' you, Dee!! XOXOX  But I know we'll see you again soon--road trip to Santa Barbara in the cards? 

This week?  Dumpstaphunk sounds like something I should experience—at Hopmonk on Wednesday nite!  Friday looks like Zydeco Flames! at Hopmonk—there may be a Sunnbolt First Friday Jam, and we’ll have to miss Pocket Change at the PYC and Key Lime Pie at Seahorse and Purple Haze at George’s …  Saturday we expect to take in The Tickets Band for their “shovel-ready” rock & roll at the Seahorse.  Hope to at least stop by Vasco for The Treble Makers.  Good shows too at George’s (Stephanie Teel) and Fenix (Reckless in Vegas), and Rancho (Stompy Jones).  Sunday?  Maybe we’ll rest? Or just play it by ear, ‘cause there’s a lot going on!  Have a delightful musical week!  ♫♪

Coming up:  I’m performing with the Marin Symphony Chorus in the Brahms’ German Requiem on April 14 (Sun. 3pm) and April 16 (Tues. 7:30pm).  This is one of the things I do in my other life—off the dance floor--and I’d love to have you there to experience this breathtaking piece. Please contact me if you’re interested in discounted tickets. Full prices $29-70:  http://www.marinsymphony.org/music-events-2/60th-season-series-concerts/remembrance-and-renewal/

You can bookmark my website, and check back regularly for UPDATES as the week progresses:  www.ellenjanesmusic.com.  And for fun, take a peek at my PHOTOS and VIDEOS.

Listen to the Music, and Dance (like nobody's watching)!!  ♫

And remember to TIP our wonderful and talented MUSICIANS!  Also please support all the gracious venues that support MUSIC.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 

PanamaHotel, 7-10pm, no cover:  Swing Fever – “Happy Birthday, Billy Holiday”.  457-3993 for reservations & info.

Hopmonk Novato, Vintage Oaks, [Nothing on calendar for Session Room, but tavern & restaurant open.]   Note: Meals are not served in the Session Room, so reserve a table in the Tavern or Beer Garden before the show. 415-892-6200 reservations & info.

Terrapin Crossroads, 6:30, no cover:  Trivia Night.  8:30pm, no cover:  American Jubilee.  Info 415-524-2773.

Peri’s Bar, Fairfax, 9pm, no cover:  Bedrock—blues/rock, funky/swampy.

Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo (at Gilman), Berkeley, 8pm lesson, 8:30 music, $10:  Tri Tip Trio

Sweetwater , doors 7, show 8pm, $15: Nothing listed as of April 1.   388-3850 for info.

Music Fun Week of March 26

Breathe … In and Out. Sometimes it’s about keeping it simple.

In the spirit of simplicity, here’s my tribute to this past week, with Carlos by my side.  Thursday another bluesy Pro Jam at Hopmonk with The Blues Defenders & Johnny Rawls; Friday amazing funky get-down music with Cathey Cotton & Elliott’s Evil Plan & Guests & Radical Ron’s Birthday at Peri’s; Saturday a beautiful memorial service for a community member, a bodacious Birthday party for Dave—then on to another fab party at George’s with Pretending & Fleetwood Mask; Sunday at Unity in Marin for inspiration, and Goodwill for some outrageous deals.  Whew.  Simple.

This week’s possibilities include a Toastmasters event on Wednesday; TREK Winery on Thursday for some jazz with Herb Marshall Group; Friday either Soul Satellites or Johnny Z & TRENZ; Saturday some Mystery Dance at PYC, or Rock Candy at Hopmonk; Sunday we’ll just have to see!  Have a delightful musical week!  ♫♪

Listen to the Music, and Dance (like nobody's watching)!!  ♫

And remember to TIP our wonderful and talented MUSICIANS!  Also please support all the gracious venues that support MUSIC.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 

Music Fun Week of March 5, 2013

UPDATES (since Tuesday) in RED
I get by with a little Help from my Friends  ♪♫

Remember to Spring Forward before you go to sleep Saturday night—set your clocks ahead an hour, and welcome to Daylight Savings Time!

Carlos and I did make it as far as Fairfax this past week—but otherwise had a green week out partying!  Wednesday nights at Iron Springs Pub are often a delight—this week we had Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire (along with his son Danny Uzi with some mean guitar, and the fit and fab Bonnie Hofkin on harp!) 

On Thursday we heard Herb Marshall Group with Joan Getz and Mark Peabody for some jazz at our favorite winery: TREK. 

Friday found us at the monthly SUNNBOLT Jam—a tradition for us, as that is the very first venue where I took Carlos along for some music in February 2012! We planned on staying awhile and then moseying down to the Presidio Yacht Club for some Doc Kraft, but the bands at Sunnbolt (including Rumors) were so good we could not leave.

We stayed local again on Saturday at our fave HOPMONK, for Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs! They totally rocked the full-to-capacity crowd.  Thanks to Don Bassey, Bonnie Hayes, Kevin Hayes, Adrian, as well as  Shana Morrison, and the other awesome guest musicians and dancers!

Hope you too had a great week of music, and there’s so much more to look forward to …

**This week … I’m just guessing! … Wednesdays at Hopmonk always fun with Dennis Haneda’s Open Mic. Thursday we’ll likely be there for the Pro Jam with The Blues Defenders and Leah Thysse— you’re in for a treat if you show.  Also on Thursday, if you’re Fairfax way, stop by Peri’s for Eldon Brown Band for some great boogie-woogie.

Friday maybe Linda Imperial & David Freiberg at Hopmonk, but the Wild Child show at George’s surely tempts!  And what a night for zydeco fans!  There’s Zydeco Flames, Andre Theirry, and Tom Rigney at 3 different venues, same night.  Revolver is also playing both on Fri. and Sat. 

Saturday night I must check on my pals The Tickets Band at PYC with their “Mannequins in Space Tour”.  More tasty treats at George’s (Stephanie Teel) and Sweetwater (Tommy Castro).  The Fenix is also presenting some great shows. If you’re up north, enjoy The Mighty Groove in Cotati!

On Sunday we may get to Big River at COM; there’s also the Marin Symphony concert—maybe we can take in the Tuesday performance.  And we love the Sunday afternoon music at PYC—this week Lonestar Retrobates.  Freeway Frank is at Deer Park Villa; Alex Markels and Jack Prendergast at Ghiringhelli’s—and the list goes on and on.  Where will you be enjoying music?  ♫♪♫♪

The College of Marin production of BIG RIVER opened March 1 and runs through March 17. This is a musical version of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn., and involves friends Phillip Percy Williams (starring as Jim the runaway slave), and Paul Smith as Musical Director. Here’s the info:  http://www.marin.edu/News/press_release/01242013.htm. 485-9385. Sounds like Fun!

You can bookmark my website, and check back regularly for UPDATES as the week progresses:  www.ellenjanesmusic.com.  And for fun, take a peek at my PHOTOS and VIDEOS.

Listen to the Music, and Dance (like nobody's watching)!!  ♫

And remember to TIP our wonderful and talented MUSICIANS!  Also please support all the gracious venues that support MUSIC.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Hopmonk Novato, Vintage Oaks, [Nothing on calendar for Session Room, but tavern & restaurant open.]   Note: Meals are not served in the Session Room, so reserve a table in the Tavern or Beer Garden before the show. 415-892-6200 reservations & info.

19 Broadway, 9:30pm, no cover (2-drink min.): Core Tuesdays with Danny Uzilevsky

Terrapin Crossroads, 6:30pm, no cover:  Trivia.  8:30pm, no cover:  American Jubilee aka Terrapin Family Band.  Info 415-524-2773.

Panama Hotel, 7-10pm, no cover:  Swing Fever – “Romancing the mic” music of Frank Sinatra. 457-3993 for reservations & info.

Ashkenaz, Berkeley, 8 lesson (Cheryl), 8:30 show, $10:  BluesBox Bayou Band

Sweetwater , closed for renovations.  388-3850 for info.

Music Fun Week of Feb. 26, 2013

UPDATES (since Tuesday) in RED
If you can stretch your legs, your arms, your neck, your smile, your mind, your heart, your spirit – take every opportunity to do so!  ♫♪

What did we do this week?  The Pro Jam with the Blues Defenders and guests The Revivalists at Hopmonk—over-the-top dance music, under-attended for this great band from New Orleans.  I spoke with one guy who had come over from Oakland because he’s heard The Revivalists a handful of times before, and will go anywhere to hear them, and one fella who came up from Santa Cruz for the same reason!  Hopmonk again on Friday for Afrofunk Experience with plenty of shaking going on.  Saturday night we made it to George’s for Stompy Jones and found a lot of our crowd swingin’ & stompin’ along. They’ve done something wonderful with the dance floor at George’s—yay!  Hope to be back soon.

Did you watch the Oscars?  Loved the musical bits—especially Charlize Theron & Channing Tatum putting on their Fred & Ginger act. 

This week … we’ll be at TREK Winery for the Herb Marshall Group jazz with Joan Getz & Mark Peabody.  If it’s not too late, may swing by Fenix for Le Jazz Hot.  On Friday there’s the monthly SUNNBOLT Jam, and perhaps we’ll get down to the PYC for Doc Kraft—sure to be a good dancing crowd.  Also on Friday—Miles Schon, New Monsoon, Tim Hockenberry, Jose Neto, The 7^th Sons, ELP, and more—see below.  On Saturday I’ve been chomping at the bit for Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs! to appear at Hopmonk Novato.  That means we can’t be there for Mitch Woods, Pocket Change, It’s a Beautiful Day, Bhangra at the JCC, and all that other great music for a Saturday night.  Maybe Sunday with Freeway Frank…so much fun out there!

The College of Marin production of BIG RIVER opens March 1 (preview Feb. 28). This is a musical version of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn., and involves friends Phillip Percy Williams (starring as Jim the runaway slave), and Paul Smith as Musical Director. Here’s the info:  http://www.marin.edu/News/press_release/01242013.htm. 485-9385. Sounds like Fun!

One more bit of fun – for those who came to the Luau Party at Sunnbolt last November with Doc Kraft Band, the video is finally available on YouTube.  David Bushey has moved to Tucson, and the crew had some initial editing difficulties with sound, but they’ve put together this silly show with bits of the party, old surfer movies, scantily-clad women, and cartoons. Thanks, Boys!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me-1fj65PhQ&list=UUsw6ymrsm1d5T-qqQCx0Mtg&index=1  [about 55 minutes long]

You can bookmark my website, and check back regularly for UPDATES as the week progresses:  www.ellenjanesmusic.com.  And for fun, take a peek at my PHOTOS and VIDEOS.

Listen to the Music, and Dance (like nobody's watching)!!  ♫

And remember to TIP our wonderful and talented MUSICIANS!  Also please support all the gracious venues that support MUSIC.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013

Panama Hotel, 7-10pm, no cover:  Lorin Rowan – solo acoustic guitar & vocals, featuring music of The Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Bob Marley, John Denver, and Lorin’s originals. 457-3993 for reservations & info.

Hopmonk Novato, Vintage Oaks, [Nothing on calendar for Session Room, but tavern & restaurant open.]   Note: Meals are not served in the Session Room, so reserve a table in the Tavern or Beer Garden before the show. 415-892-6200 reservations & info.

19 Broadway, 9:30pm, no cover:  Kore Tuesdays with Danny Uzilevsky

Terrapin Crossroads, 8:30pm, no cover:  American Jubilee (aka Terrapin Family Band).  Info 415-524-2773.

Ashkenaz, Berkeley, 8 lesson, 8:30 show, $10:  Tom Rigney and Flambeau

Sleeping Lady, Fairfax, 8-11pm, no cover:  Todos Santos – Wendy Fitz, Jack Pribble & Gary Bauman.

 485-1182 reservations.

Sweetwater , nothing scheduled.  388-3850 for info.