Music Fun Week of Mar. 25-APRIL 1, 2015

The Phenomenon Continues …

Despite the chills, spills and other thrills that you and I experience throughout our week -- the wealth of musical talent available to us in the neighborhood continues to amaze and encourage me!

My [musical] experiences this week:

Firewheel & Key Lime Pie at Hopmonk on Thursday.  Loveable, danceable.  Thanks Christine and Laura; Evan, Erik, Angie, Ivica, Art, Keith and the rest of the guys!

On Friday back at Hopmonk for Lumanation along with Infinite Frequency.  Chops to Bobby G, Saxy Susan, Tom and the others for shaking it up and getting down--but mostly up ;-)

Saturday at 19 Broadway for my intro to Soul Ska, with an all-star lineup: Jonathan, Gardner, Tommy, Lex, Jethro--and the rest from Vinyl, Monophonics, Fenton Coolfoot & The Right Time!  Joyful funk!  And a pleasure to hang at the “new and improved” 19 Broadway. ♫♪♪

with Key Lime Pie at Hopmonk

Bobby G! Lumanation

About to happen this week:

Friday: The 85s at Hopmonk; Chime Travelers at Trek Winery; “The Wrecking Ball” documentary (that excited our late friend Nick Fitch) opens at the Rafael—I’ll try to catch this during its run through Apr. 2.

Saturday there’s Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs! at Rancho; Music Showcase (includes Mojo Rising at 9) at Hopmonk; some surprises ...

Sunday? Might be fun to check out Jeffrey Halford & The Healers at Rancho – or Paul Smith’s solo piano recital at College of Marin … and lots more happening!

Rehearsals are going very well with Marin Symphony Chorus for upcoming Masterworks concerts with the Symphony on April 12 & 14.  We are singing the  Poulenc Gloria—a joyous and beautiful piece that is so much fun to sing!  Other works by Strauss, Sibelius, and a new one from Mason Bates.  Please contact me about discounted tickets (30% off, e.g. $21 instead of $30, and on up).

Wednesday, Mar. 25  – Happy Birthday, Dave R!  Happy Birthday, Bonnie C! Happy Birthday, Kimberly B! Happy Birthday, Drew! 

Music Fun Week of Mar. 18-25

This week, all on Friday, March 20:

• Vernal Equinox 3:45pm PDT.  Longer days until June 21!
• New Moon
• Total Solar Eclipse (visible North Atlantic, Arctic) 

Baby Jack Rabbit sighting today at my front walkway

Greg Johnson and Glass Brick Boulevard with Carlos Reyes: their new CD “Crystalline Thrilled” -- what a sublime treat to listen to this CD. I was there at the Fenix in February 2014 when they recorded it, and now can rediscover the magic they created whenever I want.

Nick Fitch memorial celebration last Saturday afternoon …

What can we say about Nick?  Loved music, lived life on his own terms, had a heap of friends!  A lovely memorial, touching (and funny) stories shared.

His friends and family at San Rafael Elks have established the Nick Fitch Music Fund to benefit the Music program at San Rafael High.  Those of us attending had the opportunity to select from Nick’s CD collection in return for contributions to the fund.  I’ve happily been enjoying Donald Fagen, Ottmar Liebert, Ricki Lee Jones, Acoustic Alchemy, the Pointer Sisters, Funkadelic – thanks for sharing and touching our lives, Nick!  ♫♪♪

If you’d like to contribute to this fund, please make checks payable to “Nick Fitch Music Fund”, and send to Bank of Marin, 4460 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael 94903.

This account # should be on all donations:  #03140589.

Contributions also accepted via www.youcaring.com/.

 From the Marin I.J. obit:  “In Nick’s memory please take time to listen to some of your favorite music, share your favorite song or playlist with a friend, e-mail a joke or a funny story, reach out to an old friend and let them know you love them, laugh and enjoy life!”

This past week?  danced, pranced at the monthly Big Band Dance at Corte Madera Community Center.   Next one is April 8. 

Hopmonk visits both Friday and Sunday, for Wonderbread 5, and then Dan Hicks & Bayside Jazz.

Saturday’s Memorial for Nick Fitch.  And a St. Paddy’s Day (Night) party with friends.  Thank you, Kristie!

Ongoing rehearsals with Marin Symphony Chorus for upcoming concerts April 12 & 14 — you’ll be hearing more!

And the NAMI class continues … helping.

My choices for the coming week?

Thursday back at Hopmonk for two great bands:  Key Lime Pie and Firewheel sharing the bill.

Friday—hmmm, there’s a pattern here … Lumanation and Infinite Frequency at Hopmonk!  Also highly recommended:  Murphy Productions’ Parisian Cabaret; Vinyl at Sweetwater; Stompy Jones at Rossi’s …

Saturday:  could be at 19 Broadway for Soul Ska—been wanting to hear them.  Also DJ Richard Habib’s bash at Seahorse; and Craig Caffall Band at the Cruising Club, and Cheap Therapy at PYC …

Sunday – Blues & BBQ at Twin Oaks tempts … but there is that drive :-0

Hope you get out and move it … And if you can’t, have fun inside your head! ♫♪♫♪

Music Fun Week of Mar. 11-18, 2015

Oh my, oh my!  Another great music week on this planet we call Marin County!

The Thursday “33-1/3” twice-monthly showcase at Hopmonk:  we heard 2 of the 3 bands presented:  Soulshine Blues Band (from Santa Rosa), and Loose Blues (Walnut Creek area) – and both got the crowd on their feet.  I’d totally recommend these groups if you like the blues and see they’re around.

Friday night at Hopmonk again—for plenty of Pride and Joy—and of course it was wall-to-wall fun and non-stop movement.

On Saturday the toss of the coin led us to 19 Broadway for the debut of Mojo Rising (Teal Collins, Josh Zee, Denise Martin, John Varn, Tommy O’Mahoney) – and another OH MY!  They packed the place, and are surely destined for great things.  Some folks just have a lucky charm (well, there’s work and talent involved too), and Teal and Josh and companions have it!  BTW, 19 Broadway is looking real good—lots of changes, spiffing up, added comfort level for both the musicians and appreciators.  Good job, Jonathan K. et al.!

Sunday – I must have stayed home and rested up after springing ahead! ♫♪

Golden Girl and Hubby too--with Teal & Josh, 19 Broadway, Mojo Rising!

Coming up for this week:  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wednesday the 11^th (tonight!) hope to be at the monthly Big Band Dance at Corte Madera Community Center – hope I see you there too! 

Thursday, I’ll likely stay at home if I make it out on Wednesday!

Friday my choices are Wonderbread 5 at Hopmonk; Doc Kraft at PYC; Foreverland at Sweetwater; Joe Tate Blue Monday Band at Seahorse – aaw, way too many good choices.

Saturday there is a daytime Memorial for Nick Fitch.  After that a St. Paddy’s Party at a friend’s.  But if I were out dancing, it could be Wall Street at Fenix; or Revolver at Rancho; or Before the Bang at PYC …

Sunday hope to hear Dan Hicks & Bayside Jazz at Hopmonk!

Hope your week is fantastic, full of great music and friendship!  ♫♪♪♫

Music Fun Week of Mar. 4-11, 2014

COMING UP this week: 

FULL MOON on Thursday morning 10:05am.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins 2AM Sunday.  Spring Forward!  We lose an hour (to be made up in the fall), but isn’t it worth it for the extra daylight!?  :-)

Huzzahs for last week’s music/ fun … another double-Hopmonk weekend!

Friday night Carlos & I dropped in for Rhythm Drivers – and though the crowd was sparse, the music and energy were awesome funky blues.  The lead vocals & harmonica guy is Brad Wilson, brother of Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds (which also featured Jimmy Vaughn, brother of Stevie Ray Vaughn).  Rhythm Drivers – thumbs up!

And Saturday night back at Hopmonk for our own Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs!  Danny and company know how to throw it down and party.  He’s on his way to L.A. to record with a great producer—wishing him the best!!  Also great to have Lynn Asher back in the house and onstage where she belongs!  (Missed you, Don!)

Danny Click, after the Hopmonk show--Hell Yeah!

[Lest you think I’m slowing down … Monday nights I rehearse with Marin Symphony Chorus; Tuesday nights ongoing NAMI class; Sunday mornings Unity in Marin; other evenings running around to various financial seminars--or something … so MUSIC not on my calendar every day! And once in awhile good to take the night off! :-0 ]

This weekend some tough decisions on where to have my dance party(ies) …

If we get out on Thursday, I’ve heard Loose Blues is worth it – at Hopmonk’s local Showcase.

On Friday quite likely to be at Hopmonk again (!) for Pride and Joy!!   There’s also Doc Kraft at the Seahorse, Lumanation at Peri’s, lots more …

On Saturday there’s that choice with two new bands making their debuts, both with powerful female vocalists I love:  Mojo Rising at 19 Broadway (Teal Collins, Josh Zee), and DC in the Rock Garden with Debra Clawson.  Plenty more on the calendar too, like Chime Travelers at Trek Winery, Freddy Clarke at Seahorse, Treble Makers at their weekly Marin Coffee Roasters gig …

Sunday – well, take a look!

Wednesday the 11^th hope to be at the monthly Big Band Dance at Corte Madera Community Center – hope I see you there too!  ♫♪

Music Fun Week of Feb. 25-March 4, 2015

I did some work, in hopes that you will go out to play ... ♫♪♪

Thanks for last weekend’s fun:  Friday PETTY THEFT at Hopmonk; Saturday Revolver at Presidio YC; and Sunday Lumanation and Caribbean Bleu at Sweetwater … 

Wowza!  I guess that’ll hold me until this Friday night – when it may be Rhythm Drivers at Hopmonk, or Soul Section at Twin Oaks, or Olive & the Dirty Martinis at Presidio Y.C., or ??

On Saturday, I KNOW where I’ll be:  Hopmonk for Danny Click & The Hell Yeahs!

Sunday?  Harold Jones and The Bossmen at San Geronimo Golf Course will be packed—maybe we’ll squeeze in …

Find something to tickle your fancy ♫♪♪♫

Music Fun Week of Feb. 18-25

By the Light  ♫♪♫♪ of the Golden Gate Bridge
Presidio Yacht Club on Valentine's night, Doc Kraft

Under the weather -- I think they call this the flu …

This week: last Wednesday I escaped my computer dysfunction for the Big Band Dance in Corte Madera – an interesting crowd, lots of new people.  But where were YOU?  This monthly dance is one of the best-kept secrets in Marin, and a fun social.  Hope you try it out some time.

Friday at Presidio Yacht Club for Before the Bang (and members of the former Tickets Band); and on Saturday again PYC for Doc Kraft Band -- where the joint was jumpin’, just like old times.

Sunday Carlos and I joined the Artista fundraiser/ party at Zodiac’s:  Achilles Wheel, Luvplanet, Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs!, Linda Imperial & David Freiberg, Alice Stuart, Harvey Mandel … and more who took the stage after we left!  ♫♪

Coming up:  I’d like to think I will be ALL BETTER by Friday.  And PETTY THEFT is right down the road at Hopmonk.  There’s also 7^th Sons and a Daughter at Presidio Y.C., Volker Strifler at Fenix, Rick Kelly (of Chime Travelers) doing it solo at Trek Winery …

Saturday looking at Revolver at PYC, Groovesession at Hopmonk, Uncle Wiggly at Twin Oaks, Firewheel at Seahorse …

Sunday there’s the CD release party for Greg Johnson & Glass Brick Boulevard feat. Carlos Reyes at Fenix; and Lumanation and Caribbean Bleu at Sweetwater …

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

Music Fun Week of Feb. 11-18, 2014

SAY IT ISN'T SO! 

NICK FITCH passed on Friday afternoon, February 6, after a severe illness of several months.  Nick was the mastermind behind the last several years’ music renaissance at the San Rafael Elks Club, and particularly the summer series at Magnolia Terrace.  Like so many of us, he LOVED Music, and wanted everyone to partake.  I’ll miss you, Nick!

Memorial celebration to be held March 14.  Details will follow.  

NICK FITCH

Another friend in my community, Jamie Schoen, passed on January 28––way too soon.  She was beautiful, youthful, vibrant.  Life ... take nothing for granted.

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live.” – Dalai Lama  [thanks, Teri!]

Just saying …

My calendar:  something is wrong with blogger.  I cannot import my calendar without everything re-formatting:  everything goes in as BOLD and I have no control over spacing!!!  Bah!  This is taking LOTS of time.
(I am going to the Corte Madera Big Band Dance shortly, and will deal with this tomorrow.  Plenty of good shows happening for the coming week!!  Stay tuned ... )

Lots of running around this past week – but only 2 music events – and both were extraordinary and totally different!

Friday night the James Moseley Dance Band at Hopmonk …a packed house in spite of the rain, and they totally rocked it!  One of the best shows ever, and some very happy dancers -- food for the soul, R&B and funk lovers!

On Saturday night (how about that great weather!?) Carlos & I made it to the Seahorse for DJ Richard Habib’s extravaganza:  Gimme Shelter clothing drive, Aquarian birthdays, and a special celebration honoring Steve Sodokoff’s years of donating his time and considerable energy to run this event.  Those fantastic samba dancers, driving rhythms, dancefloor continuously filled … I’ve never seen the Seahorse that packed ♫♪♪♫

This week: last night (Wednesday) I escaped my computer dysfunction for the Big Band Dance in Corte Madera – an interesting crowd, lots of new people.  But where were YOU?  This monthly dance is one of the best-kept secrets in Marin, and a fun social.  Hope you try it out some time.

I’ll be taking the night off, then looking at the weekend … possibly Presidio Yacht Club on Friday for Before the Bang (I haven’t yet heard them play, but have heard they make a joyful noise); and on Saturday again PYC for Doc Kraft Band (I keep missing them because of other commitments—and I know there will be a fun crowd). 
ALSO, hope to attend the Marin Symphony Concert on Tuesday evening.

But plans change, surprises arise, who knows what the “future” will bring.  My best to all of you!  ♫♪

SORRY THE APPEARANCE OF THIS CALENDAR IS SO MESSED UP!  BLOGGER PLAYING TRICKS ON ME!!