Music Fun Week of June 11-18 (Wed. to Wed.)

Endings and Beginnings …

This past week – YES, it was DEFINITELY HAPPENING at Northgate Mall with PRIDE & JOY!!  Way to start their season!  Then the FINAL Knut Kramer & Beth Reynolds Sunnbolt First Friday Jam – the Final One!!  Ouch.  Many great memories … (it's where I brought Carlos the first night we met.)

On Saturday the Special Party on Paradise (also a finale) was exhuberent and exceptional.  Mindy Canter and Fluteus Maximus rocked us plenty!  We never made it out of there to Hopmonk for Reckless in Vegas –what’s a poor party girl to do?

On Sunday we gathered at the home of special friends, the afternoon wore on, and oops I missed out on seeing a band I LOVE-- LUMANATION with Bobby G and Saxy Susan at Sweetwater!  But the company was wonderful – and it’s all about Friendship. Right?  ♫♪♫

Some of the peeps at Sunnbolt's "Final First Friday"!

Coming up:  Tonight hoping to get to the Ray Simpson Big Band Dance in Corte Madera!  A once-a-month treat.

Friday night SPECIAL:  I’ll be celebrating MY BIRTHDAY with the James Moseley Dance Band at Sausalito Seahorse – and there may be some special CAKE with that!  Not only that, it’s Friday the 13^th-- very auspicious!! and it’s a FULL “Strawberry” MOON (technically the 12^th at 9:11pm, but close enough).  My birthday is June 24, but when you get to my age it’s certainly OK to take the celebrating when you can get it!!!  C’mon out, all you June birthdays! And everyone I know, please.

Saturday I believe Carlos & I will be at the Novato Art Wine Music Festival, especially to see our friends LUMANATION at 12:30 at the Hopmonk Stage at 7^th; and Frobeck is at 4 at Redwood Stage.  Then if fortune ordains, we will do another Birthday celebration at the Presidio Yacht Club with Doc Kraft Dance Band!  More FULL MOON madness …

On Sunday, it’s the fabulous UNAUTHORIZED ROLLING STONES at Magnolia Terrace, Elks Club, San Rafael for Carlos & Ellen—and another chance to celebrate.  Yes, there’s the Novato and Fairfax Festivals happening as well – but this is a gem of a venue, festival-style, with the incomparable Rudy & the Guys.

Celebrate [something]!  ♫♪♫

Music Fun Week of June 4-11 (Wed.-Wed.)

Friends move away from the Bay Area, and tell me it makes them feel at home to read my blog, so I’ll keep on with my rambling …

With all the activity last weekend from which to choose, on Friday Carlos and I ended up at the Tiburon Turns 50 party (thanks to Larry and Sue!) and were recipients of the merry music of Wonderbread 5, the Fireworks, and then the Carlos Reyes Band—who could have been Pride & Joy … that kind of R&B Motown funky fun.

Saturday began with a disaster team training for my community, which I had to leave early to get to the Memorial for Glenn.  That stretched well into the afternoon: time well-spent with old mutual friends who celebrated our good fortune to have known Glenn during his brief time (53 years) on our planet.

The evening came, and our wine-tasting party stretched on into the night – so didn’t make it out to any venue, but danced around the house a bit with the gals.

Sunday I was pooped – Carlos & I went to Unity for some soul-inspiration.  Singing from Desiree that took us to another dimension …

Monday evening Laura & I worked the Marin Symphony Wine Auction Dinner event at Marin Country Club.  Always a fun event.

But I’m exhausted.  Fighting a chest cold, trying to keep on top of everything.  Recalling my bout with pneumonia last May … must rest up ...this too shall pass!

Laura & Ellen at Marin Country Club

Laura Mae at Marin Symphony event
http://www.lauramaedesigns.com/ 

Fireworks--or Giant Popcorn Ball--in Tiburon.
What my iPhone saw ...

This weekend?  Definitely happening on Friday, with PRIDE & JOY at Northgate.  THAT will be a party, folks!  Then we’ll on to Knut Kramer’s & Beth Reynolds’ Sunnbolt First Friday Jam – the Final One!!  I’m sure we’ll see many of you there.  That means in all likelihood we won’t make it to Doc Kraft at the Seahorse … 

On Saturday there’s a special party, and Reckless in Vegas at Hopmonk.

On Sunday, LUMANATION with Bobby G and Saxy Susan are at Sweetwater!

Next Wednesday the 11^th is the Ray Simpson Big Band in Corte Madera.

Who knows how it will all PLAY out.

Music Fun Week of May 28-June 4 (Wed. to Wed.)

Celebrations and remembrances.

Another Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone. 

Shoutouts for my musical celebrations to Pop Rocks at Hopmonk on Friday; on Saturday the FABULOUS James Moseley Band -- James, Jack, Carrie, Hailey, Jean, Marina, Doug, Steve, KC, Luis – all 10 of them! at the Seahorse (and the best tiramisu/ cake I’ve ever eaten from Mauro, in honor of Hailey’s birthday); Larkspur Food & Flower Festival on Sunday, with Doc Kraft and his Band—the Higgins twins John & Patrick, and Tucker; then Reckless in Vegas, and topped off by Maria Muldaur and her Blusiana Band!  The weather cooperated all weekend.  Great to see so many of you out there happy and dance-y.  Kudos also to Murphy Productions—Erma and Daniel--for their involvement with this outstanding Festival.

Hard to believe that may have been the last LF&FF—because of funding!  Hope there’s a miracle and that they’re back next year, or the year after that.  ♫♪♫

Larkspur Food & Flower Festival was happening!

Not quite sure about this week’s activities for Carlos & Ellen … quite a selection.

Friday there’s indie rock at Hopmonk, Danny Click at Sleeping Lady, Chime Travelers at Trek Winery, Zigaboo and Gene Washington & Ironsides at 19 Broadway, the Tiburon Turns 50 party with Wonderbread 5 and Carlos Reyes and fireworks (expecting thousands of partyers) and more …

Saturday Carlos & I have a Memorial in the early afternoon for friend Glenn Emge who left us far too soon—at the age of 53, while working out, doing what he loved!  
There’s also a wine tasting party in the evening – don’t think we’ll be able to get to San Rafael for some May Madness …  For Sat. nite there’s plenty of funk in the county, with Pulsators at Fenix; Fenton Coolfoot at the Lady; Frobeck at Rancho – and Chrome Johnson at 19 Broadway.  And a whole lot more: see below!

Sunday: I see the Town Center Summer series has begun; 17 Strings are at Rickey’s; Tracy Blackman at Sleeping Lady – always something going on in Fairfax!  And more.

I leave you with this thought:  Celebrate while you can, with whom you can!

Music Fun Week of May 21-28 (Wed.-Wed.)

Does anyone have enough time?  I didn’t think so!  :-0

Do what you have to do, but be sure to set aside some “me-time”, i.e. “you-time” to treat yourself right.

Carlos & Ellen, Twin Oaks for faves THE MIGHTY GROOVE

How sweet it is!  Grateful for the ability to get out and shake what my momma gave me … and realizing that perhaps it will not always take this form.

Friday night went beyond my comfort zone and into Sonoma County(!) for THE MIGHTY GROOVE at the fun and funky Twin Oaks Tavern in Penngrove.  It’s the same distance for Carlos & me (in southern Novato) as it is to Presidio Yacht Club—so it was a go!  Thanks to Neil, Lyn, Saxy Susan, Chick, Jimmy, Greg, and Conga Bob!  The Mighty Groove moves me, and if you don’t know them, make an effort next time they’re around—they’re sure to get you groovin’ too!

Saturday we took in our first dance at 142 Throckmorton to hear the beloved Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs! with Danny, Don Bassey, Lynn Asher, Kevin Hayes, Adrienne Biggs, and a couple of swell guys on pedal steel & keyboards.  I haven’t set foot in 142 for years, and was pleasantly surprised at the elegance.  However, wish the seating had been set back from the stage a bit more – though of course the dancing crowd managed! Soulful, bluesy rockin' Americana from Danny and Friends!

On Sunday another wonderful service at Unity in Marin—about HEALING.  And in the afternoon, though my body told me I was too tired to dance, we wandered down to our Clubhouse, where Inga and Charles put together a wonderful free movement hour or more each Sunday.  The magic sounds that Charles gathered as DJ convinced my body that moving was effortless and transformative – and so it is!

Where to go??  Some of it will be obvious from my calendar – Doc Kraft (Seahorse) or Pop Rocks (Hopmonk) on Friday; James Moseley Band (Seahorse), followed by (if we have enough juice): The 85s (Hopmonk) on Saturday; the 25^th and Final Larkspur Food & Flower Festival on Sunday!  Hope to see you too!  ♫♪♫

Music Fun Week of May 14-21

Happy night at Hopmonk, with Pop Fiction, Carlos & Trish!

Lovely surprise to see you, Trish!

Wrapped up another fun weekend, and a heap of thanks for Pop Fiction at Hopmonk on Friday, then Rudy Colombini and the Unauthorized Rolling Stones at Sweetwater on Saturday!  Great to cheer on new personnel Kevin Russell and Cole Tate, with Rudy, Kenny Crampton, Eddie Berman and Mike Davis holding down the fort and making for some explosive fun.

Hope you had a Happy Mothers’ Day!

I’m afraid I’ll be missing the Big Band Dance tonight in Corte Madera – as I’ve developed another case of HIVES!  This time I have no idea what caused it – no new lotion at least.  I think that episode in March over-sensitized me, and now my auto-immune response to allergens is overblown.  So is it the pollen?  the kitty? the shellfish? or my neighbor’s toxic stinky dryer sheets??  Face swollen again, and I’m in no hurry to get to the doctor when they’ll again put me on prenisone.  Trying power of positive thinking (without too much luck so far—but I’ll keep hoping).

I know I’ll be better by Friday:  Hoping to travel north to Twin Oaks in Penngrove to get it on with our friends The Mighty Groove.  There’s also Doc Kraft at Presidio Yacht Club; Kevin Russell at Fenix; and rock group Factor 11 at Trek Winery; and the triple-header in Fairfax, fundraiser for Deb Hubsmith (who’s battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia) at 19 Broadway, Peri’s, and Sleeping Lady.

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Saturday: REVOLVER at Fenix; Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs at 142 Throckmorton; Zydeco Flames at Eagles in Alameda; Chime Travelers at TREK Winery;  Afrofunk Experience at Hopmonk – and of course all the other music I’ve listed in the calendar below!

Sunday?  I don’t know yet … Remember, there’s free music now in the Hopmonk Beer Garden on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and Sunday afternoons.  (I’ve listed below.)  Always a musical treat available—how lucky are we!

Scroll down to see all the music events listed for this week!  ♫♪♫

Music Fun Week of May 7-14, 2014

Meet my friend and neighbor, Jacques.  Actually, he’s a stand-in, since I never have my iPhone ready to snap when Jacques is around. Plenty more like him in my ‘hood.

Another very full and wonderful week has passed.  Carlos and I didn’t get out until Friday night, and chose the Elks Club for The 7^th Sons and Shima’s birthday party.  Well-played!  We missed out on the fun at Sunnbolt and at Hopmonk (heard Sambada was sinfully good), but enjoyed the band and the folks celebrating Shima’s shindig.

Saturday found us at a friend’s Tres de Mayo party in the San Rafael hills, where we met many more new friends looking for a chance to dance.  After that we wandered over to Hopmonk for some jam.  We only heard the last number of THUGZ (The Hippie UnderGround Zone), then Boris Garcia Band – a trumpet joined them and turned the jam into jazzy funk!  Crazy!  Never know what fun we’ll find at the Hopmonk!

On Sunday we boated to Angel Island with new friends from the party.  Beautiful afternoon on the Island, and some music from Victor and Penny—20s-style swing with uke & guitar.  Of course I danced along.  A chance to be Silly!

We’ve got Mothers’ Day coming on Sunday, and a FULL FLOWER MOON on Wednesday.

Ellen & Carlos have big weekend plans:  Friday:  Hopmonk: Pop Fiction!  Get your party on and join us!  There’s also Doc Kraft at Seahorse, and rock group Factor 11 at Trek Winery, and all of that other good stuff below.

Saturday: Sweetwater:  Unauthorized Rolling Stones with Rudi Colombini, and featuring Cream of Clapton's Kevin Russell!  This may very well be a sellout, so get your tix in advance if you can.  (We’ll miss the big Fairfax event put on by Cathey Cotten for St. Rita’s, with Pacific Mambo Orchestra, as well as Cathey’s Atomic Beat Society and more– sure to be a fabulous event.)

It’s also the final weekend for the Marin Open Studios—check it out Sat. & Sun. below for link to what’s offered.

Scroll down to see all the music events I’ve listed!  ♫♪♫

Music Fun Week of April 30-MAY 7, 2014

May Day! May Day!  That’s the way I felt last night and today, struggling to guide my challenged brother in PA with his leaking windows. 
And so a Repeat, meant especially for me (and some of you will no doubt relate) ... One of Life’s Lessons:  When something’s going on that you can’t change … maybe you can change your attitude about it.  ♫♪♪

Too many choices last week, as usual, on a Friday night!  Carlos and I made it to the remarkable happening at the Fenix with the James Moseley Dance Band – a real party and full of fun and frolicking dancers.  Thank you James, Jack, Carrie, Hailey, Steve, Jean, Marina, John and Doug!  ♫♪♫

Saturday we made it to the fabulous Preview Gala for Marin Open Studios, hosted by Erma and Daniel of Murphy Productions.  Our little taste of Hollywood (well, not quite, but sure was fun) at Bon Air Center in Greenbrae!  Two weekends of Open Studios coming up … see Calendar below.

After that, on to TREK Winery for some fun with The Chime Travelers; then to Hopmonk for Sorentinos – a night of rock & roll.

On Sunday we headed to The Rafael for “The Wrecking Crew” – but (as I had forewarned)—they were sold out!  Friends Larry & Sue, Peter & Patricia were also shut out, so we all had a drink at Broken Drum.  Bet it was fun!

Coming up?  I don’t know – the World is full of Possibilities!