Music Fun Week of Jan. 7-14

TED O’CONNELL, R.I.P. 4/29/57-1/3/15. Beloved member of Soul Satellites, Treble Makers, pal of Bonnie Hayes, Frank Bohan, and so many of us.  Aaaww, Teddy.  Thank you for what you brought to the Music World of Marin. The World, period. ♫♪♪ 

Many of Ted’s friends posted on facebook, but it was Danny Click’s simple yet eloquent words that moved me to tears. In very brief part: “… every day we’re reminded that you just never know …”

Here’s the Marin I.J. article on Ted:  TedmarinIJ 010715

Last Friday night Carlos & I made it to Presidio Y.C. for The 7^th Sons (and a Daughter). Small but mighty crowd. Then Saturday Pop Fiction at Hopmonk, and they couldn’t have squeezed any more dancers in the place.  Sorry we did not make it down to Sausalito for Doc Kraft Band and Johnny Z ♫♪♪

 

I’ve picked up a little cold, so have been laying low – but working in a walk in the sunshine (when I can find it!) most every day.  Trying to make that a habit.  Resting up for this next weekend.

Friday coming up our local music is Cheeseballs at Hopmonk, and MSA Jazz Band at Trek Winery.  Or further afield there’s a Swing Dance + Lesson at Marin Theatre Company; and Petty Theft at Hopmonk Sebastopol.—along with a dozen other music events.

Saturday morning The Treble Makers will be at Coffee Roasters as usual, with an empty seat for Ted.  The Music will not die.

We’ll be at Trek Saturday evening for James Moseley Dance Band.  That’s an early show (7:30), so perhaps swing by Hopmonk afterwards for The Zins!  At WhipperSnapper earlier in the evening, you can catch Debra Clawson & Mario Lewin. 

On Sunday DJ Richard Habib is hosting a special Birthday Celebration at Sweetwater—would hate to miss it!  San Geronimo is at Rancho, Love Rockit at 19 Broadway, Lonestar Retrobates at Presidio Y.C. … and more.

I hope your week goes well. Take nothing for granted.  Be Kind.

Music Fun Week of JANUARY 2-7, 2015

WHAT’S NEW??  The year 2015, of course, what else?  Resolutions—do you make ‘em, do you keep ‘em?  Hoping we all have reasons for Gratitude, for overcoming the challenges we encounter ...  with LOVE, and FRIENDSHIPS, and MUSIC ♪♫♪ to help us along the way …

As I suspected, last weekend’s music was at HOPMONK for Carlos & Ellen:  on Friday night for B-Side Players, Saturday for a special Holiday Open Mic with Dennis & Ruthie, and Sunday for Fenton Coolfoot opening for Orgone. Awesome funkiness!  and they got quite a crowd on a school night!

And then came NEW YEAR’S EVE, for us at Seahorse to celebrate with the JAMES MOSELEY BAND – what would I do without them??  Thank you James, Jack, Carrie, Haley, Jean, Marina, John, KC, and Marlon!  Hope yours was Merry too.  James Moseley Band at Trek Winery on January 10.  ♫♪

Friday (tonight) hope to get to Presidio Y.C. for The 7^th Sons (and a Daughter).  Then Saturday Pop Fiction is at Hopmonk, and Doc Kraft Band (with Johnny Z) is at the Seahorse.

Maybe more … playin’ it by ear ♫♪♪

Friday, January 2 –  Happy Birthday, Clark P!  

New Year's Eve 2014

 

      New Year’s Eve 2014 

    

No particular order, but for Carlos & Ellen, likely James Moseley or Foreverland.  ENJOY!

[Please see other weekly posts for links to the venues.  Most of the Venues offer party favors & a midnight toast.  Some are SOLD OUT, so check ahead!]

Sausalito Seahorse, dinner 7, dancing 9:30pm, $25 (dancing only)-$95 (7:30 dinner):  JAMES MOSELEY DANCE BAND

Mill Valley Community Center, 9pm, $55-70:  FOREVERLAND   (Murphy Productions)

Rancho Nicasio, 9pm, $35-45:  ZYDECO FLAMES 

                                

Hopmonk, 9pm, $25-30:  Rock Candy

George’s, 9pm, $35:  Unauthorized Rolling Stones

Trek Winery, 8:30pm, $10:  “Light appetizers, The Chime Travelers, Midnight Bubbly”.

142 Throckmorton, 8pm, $40-70:  Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs!  Jude Johnstone opens.

19 Broadway, 9pm, $35-40:  VINYL feat. Cathleen “Sweetie Pie” Riddley

Presidio Yacht Club, dinner 6:30pm $45 adv.; separate (9pm, band only=$20):  Ray Simpson Big Band Swing Dance

Fenix, various times & tix, dinner & show $75-145: The Purple Ones—Prince tribute

Smitty’s, 9pm, no cover:  The 7^th Sons (and a Daughter)

Sleeping Lady, 9:30pm, $10:  Tom Finch Group

Sweetwater, 9pm, $47-102:  Pimps of Joytime with B Majic

Peri’s, 9:30, $20:  Beso Negro – infectious gypsy dance beat.

Twin Oaks, 9pm, $25:  The Pulsators  [8-9pm appetizers; includes food, champagne, party favors]

Rickey’s, 9:30, no cover:  Brad Bann—Sounds of Sinatra.  Special New Year’s Eve Dinner Menu.

Bio French Bistro, 8:30, $15-20:  Singles Bash, DJ Darryll K

Whipper Snapper, 9pm, no cover:  DJ Nate the Great, dancing. [Dinner 5-10pm]

Ghiringhelli’s, 9pm, no cover:  DJ Music & Dancing with Spinmaster O

Rossi’s, 9pm, $20 dancing only; 7:30 prime rib dinner $65:  Backtrax

Music Fun Week of Dec. 25-31, 2014! + JAN. 1

A Happy and Blessed Holiday Season to You ♫♪♪

Soulful Solstice Sky

My tributes to last week’s musicians:  GROOVTOWN at Hopmonk on Friday – what a great party of 60s R&B grooviness!  On Saturday The Chime Travelers always upbeat at Trek Winery, then up the road to Twin Oaks for The Sorentinos for more rock & roll.

On Sunday delighted to party with Nancy and friends, then to Fairfax to check out Voodoo Switch at 19 Broadway—good & funky; next door at Peri’s the opening act for La Mandanga: Servantes, and Magdalena of Djiin—took me on another ride.  Both from Montreal, their brand of French gypsy music is intoxicating!

To come:  Carlos & I may spend the whole weekend at Hopmonk … Friday night for B-Side Players, Saturday for a special Holiday Open Mic, and Sunday for Fenton Coolfoot opening for Orgone.

SO MUCH MORE musical wonderfulness going on in Marin, on Calendar below … ♫♪♪

Music Fun Week of Dec. 17-25, 2014

Amidst the Grinches, the Grind, the holiday chaos, 

may you find Giggles and Glad Tidings! ♫♪♪

Santa, I've been Good! 

My past week of musical pleasure—thanks to the Marin Symphony again, for the Holiday Pops Concert Tuesday evening, in which I sang.  I’ve been singing with the Marin Symphony Chorus & Chamber Chorus for … hmmm … must be about 35 years now!

We sing again with the Symphony in April – I’ll be sure to let you know!

The weather cut into dance plans last week, but Carlos & I made it to Beso Negro at Hopmonk, so I did get my exercise.  And on Saturday 2 holiday parties, plenty of eating and happy connecting J

On Sunday we drove down to Mill Valley to cheer on Josh & Teal, Erik & Bagel and Susan Z for some rockin’ tunes at Larry the Hat’s Famous 4. I had to leave early to get to my rehearsal, but they were going strong when I left …

Coming uP:  (I left the blog hang for Whole Foods entertainment with Chime Travelers last night.) 

On Friday there’s a dilemma with too much great music … but will most likely make it to my hometown club Hopmonk for GROOVTOWN.  Craig Caffall, Phillip “Roscoe” Gallo, Robin “Nigel” Zickel, Patrick Campbell, and Julie Medeiros (what a set of pipes!) play 60s R&B and really rock it.  My pals The 7^th Sons (and a Daughter)—Jake, Mark, Bruce, Debra ♥ are at Elks Club.  How can we manage to be in two places at once?? 

Saturday there’s Chime Travelers again at Trek Winery, and … check out the calendar!  Not sure where we’ll go from there for a late show.  Maybe the new Soul Ska band at 19 Broadway with Jonathan Korty, Gardner Goetze (Fenton Coolfoot), Inkx Herman …

Sunday—perhaps we will make the drive to our northern neighbors at Twin Oaks: Mitch Woods is in the house.

Remember in this season of merrymaking, to be responsible about intake!  Take care of each other ♪♫♪

Music Fun Week of Dec. 10-17, 2014

FROG-SONG

Attended a meditation Tuesday evening, in our community clubhouse, with the surround-sound of hundreds--perhaps thousands of frogs.  The meadow below is a seasonal wetlands, and at this time is well-ponded.  The frogs produce a cacophony of sound!  Lovely!  They, at least, are looking forward to the incoming storm.  Not so for me. 

Hope you are all safe, and that the dire predictions for this super storm are overblown!

Absolutely wonderful—and yes, soul-satisfying--to sing with the Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus at our annual Holiday Candlelight Concerts at St. Raphael’s on Saturday and Sunday!  I saw some of you there – thanks so very much for sharing the experience!

Oh, and I’ll be singing again, with the full chorus and Marin Symphony, on Dec. 16 at Veterans Auditorium in another completely different Holiday program.  Call 415-473-6800 for tickets (Marin Center Box Office).

On Friday night, after my rehearsal, stopped at Fenix for Bohemian Highway, new to me--and pleasantly surprised to see the joint was packed, dancefloor in motion, and much fun pop r&b funky music grooving on into the wee hours!

On Saturday evening after my concert, stopped by San Rafael Joe’s to catch the last bit of the always-entertaining Phillip Percy Williams.  He’s there every Saturday evening.

Sunday, as predicted, partied with the other choristers at the beautiful home of one of our own in Strawberry.  Sorry to have missed Key Lime Pie & Firewheel at Rancho – hope to see them next time!

This week coming:  looks like I’ve missed the Ray Simpson Big Band Dance in Corte Madera tonight (Wednesday)  L

Thursday there’s the College of Marin Jazz Swing Dance at Seahorse, with a lesson beforehand from Al & Mary.  Hopefully the weather will not be as dire as predicted! 

Friday highlights: there’s Beso Negro at Hopmonk, and Tie Dye Blues Band at Presidio Y.C.  Also The Mighty Groove Holiday Party at Aqus, and Olive & The Dirty Martinis at 19 Broadway.

Saturday Carlos & I have a community dinner, and then on to a party – so pretty sure we won’t get out on the dance floor.  There is a daytime “Let It Snow” Festival in downtown Novato …

Sunday no definite plans, but I see Lonestar Retrobates is at Presidio Y.C. for their monthly afternoon dance party.

Stay Safe, and in this season of merrymaking, please don’t get stoo-pid—don’t drink & drive.  ♫♪♪

Music Fun Week of DEC. 3-10, 2014

RAIN!!! Allright, already.  Wanted, needed, but quite messy.  There’s a hole in the roof where the rain comes in L

The week in Review, my attitude of gratitude:  THANKSGIVING, of course! Spent with wonderful friends, low-key, comfortable, and very filling!  The night before at Peri’s in Fairfax for SOUL SATELLITES – they deliver, absolutely!  Thanks Frank, Lloyd, Ted, Timm, Dave—and John Varn sitting in on keys.  There’s no place like Fairfax for staying out late!

Last Friday Carlos & I hit Hopmonk for Mustache Harbor—lots of giggles and wiggles for their take on soft rock.

Saturday we drove up to Penngrove in the storm to hear Country Steem [aka Full Steem, doin’ country] with Dan Brown and Company at Twin Oaks.  And then on to Penngrove Pub for Doc Kraft Band (including Johnny Z!) and a small but lively crowd.

Sunday – I guess we stayed in! 

"Mustache Harbor" at Hopmonk (or is that Super Mario?)

This week I’ll be onstage at the Mission St. Raphael’s with the Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus, both Saturday evening (7:30) and Sunday afternoon at 4pm--our yearly Holiday Candlelight Concerts!  Food for the Heart and Soul--I’d love it if you were there! 

On Friday night, after our rehearsal, perhaps I’ll wander down the road to Fenix for Bohemian Highway—the jazz pop one (not the country band playing at Twin Oaks).  There’s sure to be a lot of fun at Sleeping Lady for Danny Click’s Birthday Bash! And out at Rancho for the Stompy Jones crowd.

Saturday apres-concert:  possibly The Bobs at Fenix, or back on the home turf to Hopmonk for Buck Nickels ...  and Danny’s still partying at Sleeping Lady!

And on Sunday evening will party with the other choristers!  Check out your options on the calendar below.

I want to point out that next week—Wed. Dec. 10 there’s the Corte Madera Big Band Dance, and on Thurs. Dec. 11 is the COM Big Swing Band & Dance at the Seahorse.  Hope to be at one of those. 
And on Dec. 16 (Tues.) I'll be singing again, with the Marin Symphony Chorus for the Holiday Pops Concert at Marin Veterans Auditorium!