May 09, 2008
Musings and Ramblings North Bay CALENDAR of Events
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Fri 5/9
1:00 pm-3:00 pm "Two Steps from the Blues" Fridays, 1-3 pm on KUSP http://www.kusp.org/
4:30 pm-6:30 pm 4:30pm-6:30pm Otis Scarecroe Happy Hour at Peri's, Fairfax
4:30 pm-8:00 pm Willy Holtom at The Juicery, San Rafael
6:00 pm-9:00 pm Raymond Victor Trio at Gracie's BBQ,--Sonoma Blvd and Virginia Street, Vallejo
6:00 pm-9:00 pm David Landon on the patio at Calistoga Inn, Calistoga
7:00 pm-10:00 pm Open Mic at Ace-in-the-Hole Pub, Graton
7:30 pm-10:30 pm Frederick Nighthawk at Villagio Inn & Spa, Yountville
7:30 pm-10:30 pm Linda Ferro Band at Northlight Books, Cotati
8:00 pm-10:00 pm Rhythm and Roots- on KRCB 91 FM http://www.krcb.org/listen/listen.html
8:00 pm-10:00 pm "The South Side" on KHUM Ferndale 104.7 / 104.3 FM http://www.khum.com/fsetstr
8:00 pm-12:00 am ***Roy Rogers & Delta Rhythm Kings & Jeffrey Halford at Mystic Theatre, Petaluma
8:30 pm-12:30 am ****Sonny Landreth Release Party at Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa -***Volker Strifler Band acoustic opens
8:30 pm-12:30 am ***Ron Thompson at Rancho Nicasio, Nicasio
8:30 pm-11:00 pm *Hellhounds at Murphy's Irish Pub, Sonoma
8:30 pm-11:30 pm Sonny Lowe and 100 Proof at Ruth McGowan's Brewpub, Cloverdale
9:00 pm-1:00 am Smokehouse at Spanky's, Cotati
9:00 pm-12:00 am ****"Crazy About the Blues" on KCSM San Mateo http://www.kcsm.org
9:30 pm-1:30 am Jinx Jones with Tom Bowers at Peri's, Fairfax
Sat 5/10
2:00 am-6:00 am Blues before Sunrise on KRCB 91 FM http://krcb.org/listen/listen.html
9:00 am-12:00 pm ****"Blues with a Feeling" w Byrd of Paradise KSZU 90.1 FM, http://kzsu.stanford.edu
11:00 am-2:00 pm Frederick Nighthawk at Mama's Royal Cafe, Mill Valley
12:00 pm-2:00 pm ****Tom Mazzolini's "Blues By the Bay" on KPFA 94.1 FM, http://www.kpfa.org
12:30 pm-8:30 pm *****Metro Fountain Blues Festival at San Jose State, San Jose website
1:00 pm-4:00 pm Open Mic w/ Richelle Hart at Ruth McGowans Brew Pub, Cloverdale
2:00 pm-5:00 pm Hellhounds at Blues and Jazz at the Plaz, Helen Putnam Plaza, Petaluma
4:00 pm-6:00 pm "Rollin' and Tumblin' Radio" on KUSP http://www.kusp.org/
6:00 pm-9:00 pm *Alvon on the patio at Calistoga Inn, Calistoga
7:00 pm-10:00 pm Gualala 2nd Saturday Blues Jam at Bones Roadhouse, Gualala
7:30 pm-10:30 pm Frederick Nighthawk at Villagio Inn & Spa, Yountville
8:30 pm-12:30 am Brother Cat at Healdsburg Bar & Grill, Healdsburg
8:30 pm-12:30 am ***Lavay Smith and Skillet Lickers at Rancho Nicasio, Nicasio
8:30 pm-11:30 pm *Bluesburners at Ruth McGowan's Brewpub, Cloverdale
9:00 pm-12:00 am Johnny Tsunami and the Hurricanes at Russian River Brewery, Santa Rosa
9:00 pm-1:00 am Phil Berkowitz & The Dirty Cats at Eat Restaurant, San Anselmo
9:00 pm-1:00 am *Alameda Allstars at Tradewinds, Cotati
Sun 5/11
2:00 am-6:00 am Blues before Sunrise on KRCB 91 FM http://krcb.org/listen/listen.html
7:00 am-11:00 am "Breakfast with the Blues" on KVRM, Eugene OR http://www.kvrm.org
12:00 pm-6:00 pm Hellhounds at Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol
2:00 pm-5:00 pm Blues and Jazz at the Plaz, Helen Putnam Plaza, Petaluma
5:00 pm-8:00 pm Brother Cat at Moshin Vineyards, 10295 Westside Road, Healdsburg
5:00 pm-7:00 pm Singer/songwriter showcase, Black Cat, Penngrove
7:00 pm-10:00 pm ****KRSH "Blues with Bowker" 95.9 FM http://www.krsh.com/listen.html
8:00 pm-11:00 pm Goose's Blues Jam at Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
8:00 pm-12:00 am Open Mic with Chris Brown at Smiley's Schooner Saloon, Bolinas
Mon 5/12
6:00 pm-9:00 pm *Blue Monday with Sonny Lowe and Phil Ajioka at Sonoma County Golf Park, Cotati
7:00 pm-11:00 pm Open Mic at Pink Elephant, Monte Rio
7:00 pm-11:00 pm *Billy Dunn's Blues Jam at Sausalito Cruising Club, Sausalito
8:00 pm-11:00 pm *Pro Jam hosted by Donny Mederos at Tradewinds, Cotati
9:00 pm-1:00 am Open Mic at 19 Broadway, Fairfax
9:00 pm-1:00 am Open Mic at Cafe Amsterdam, Fairfax
9:00 pm-1:00 am Open Mic at Peri's, Fairfax
Tue 5/13
7:00 pm-9:30 pm Jon Popenoe Blues Band at Murphy's Irish Pub, Sonoma
7:30 pm-10:30 pm Frederick Nighthawk at Villagio Inn & Spa, Yountville
9:00 pm-12:00 am Open mic at Jasper's, Sebastopol
Continue reading "Musings and Ramblings North Bay CALENDAR of Events"
Posted by Rolfyboy6 at 11:59 PM | Comments (7)
April 06, 2008
Just some ramblin' by mo....(4/08)
I hadn't been out to hear the blues on a regular basis like I used. Lots of personal crap goin' on in my life so I have been just staying home and trying to regroup. I do venture out every so often but it's almost as if I've gotta force myself out the damn door anymore. The excitement of it all doesn't seem to exist for me anymore either. The passion gone. For now anyway.
I do listen to the blues at home all the time but to get out and face the public has proven difficult. But, I've been enjoying my time at home alone. Fixing up "Mo's Palace" , working, and just learning to be alone is what I've been up too. It has indeed been a learning experience.
I never worried about missing out on anything on the live blues scene because it's like I always say....it'll always be there when I'm ready to get back out there. That's the one thing in life that is always dependable- The Blues.
And if I do get out, I haven't been writing about it. I haven't felt like putting myself out there to be honest. When you share your feelings, it's out there for others to blast and I just felt too weak to deal with the lashings.
But I do have the urge to share a few things right now about a couple shows so here they are;
Continue reading "Just some ramblin' by mo....(4/08)"
Posted by Mo at 11:01 AM | Comments (1)
March 11, 2008
Sonny and Phil at the Golf Club, and Donny's Pro Jam
By Anne Exton
March 11, 2008
I stopped in to hear Sonny Lowe and Phil Ajioka playing Monday night at the Sonoma County Golf Club in Cotati. It's a low key, early in the week gig. The regular customers at the bar loved the music. I heard countless murmurs, even declarations of, "Really good music", and "This is great!"
Sonny was in very good form; his harp licks are refreshing and brimming with feeling. It's so good to hear him again! It was great to hear him, and he'd playing well and he looks to be woodshedding increasing his chops.
He's sharing leads with Phil whose virtuosity shines. Phil's slide guitar work is a real stand out, very authentic and full of integrity.
Continue reading "Sonny and Phil at the Golf Club, and Donny's Pro Jam"
Posted by Rolfyboy6 at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2008
A month or so in review....by:Mo (1/08)
Wow!
What a month it has been too!!
Not just musically speaking either. Although, I did manage to get a few blues shows in and for starters it was Craig Horton at the Saloon about four weeks back on a Tuesday night. I can't even remember who I went with, it was so long ago.
I do remember one thing though and that was that Steve Gannon on second guitar was most excellent! I don't recall Steve sounding so damn good. He's always been good but I don't remember that good.
It was great to finally catch up to Craig again too. He was soundin' pretty good. His singing always sweet.
One other thing I remember too and that was the drums on that night were way to fast and loud for Craig's style. It seemed to be drowning him out and even seemed to be throwing him off, or distracting him, if you will.
Just a personal observation.
Craig has a pretty laid back style. I for one....love it.
It was great to be back in the city at the Saloon.
Continue reading "A month or so in review....by:Mo (1/08)"
Posted by Mo at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2007
Ramblin'/Guitar Shorty/The Aces! by:mo (11/07)
Yep....I'm still here.
I tell you what....I've been busier these days then when I was rearin' kids!
I think I'm doin' it intentionally just to keep my mind from chatterin' too much.
Lots has been goin' on around here though.
I've got my fence almost done with the help of a friend from work. Pretty cheaply I might add. I'd say it's the best damn fence on the street!
Been workin' on the rooms one by one too. There's some cool old Oak floors under the ratty old carpet. I have come to really hate carpet. So far, the floors that have been "exposed" aren't in too bad a shape. Definitly need to be refinished one day when all the carpet is out of the house.
Gettin ready for my soldier to come home from Iraq next month. This is very exciting!! Yep, it's been almost 15 months already. He's not out of the Army yet, about half way through his enlistment, and will probably do another tour before gettin' out. He has no regrets, never complains about it (even with the pathetic pay they get), but he's pretty sure he's not re-enlisting.
I worry about the readjustment but....I worry about everything.
Continue reading "Ramblin'/Guitar Shorty/The Aces! by:mo (11/07)"
Posted by Mo at 04:46 AM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2007
Little Johnny Taylor/Blues Bud Lenny. By:Mo (9/07)
I was at my blues buddy, Lenny's, house the other day. I visit him every now & then. I should more often, no excuse really, but I promise to more often from this point on.
You see....this guy has turned me on to so much blues I would of never discovered on the national blues scene.
Locally? I think I've done pretty good. I keep him updated on that scene for he doesn't get out at all anymore. Health problems and disabilities, seclusion, you know....life.
I just love this guy and take his friendship for granted.
He's full blood Italian, grew up in South Philly, 50 something years old, you get my point. Hard core blues fan. Some thrills from Doo-Wap too.
First time I met him, maybe ten plus years ago, he was workin' the production line, I was workin' the cafeteria.
I'm down doing something behind the counter, he's walkin' in with the lunchtime crew singin' "Boom, Boom, Boom..." and I pop up and respond, "Gonna shoot ya right down..." and that was all she wrote.
At that time I was dabblin' in the blues gettin' my feet wet on the local scene and he introduced more national stuff. He had subscriptions to all the blues magazines at that time, buys lots of CDs, religiously listens to what blues radio shows he can get......That's Lenny.
Sure wish he had a computer!!
Man, a whole new blues world would open for him.
Oh my god.....look out. You think I'm bad!
He's the one that made me what I am. It's all Lenny's fault. As a matter of fact...Lenny was the one to turn me onto Nick Moss for the first time. You want to talk about a Nick Moss fan??!!
Continue reading "Little Johnny Taylor/Blues Bud Lenny. By:Mo (9/07)"
Posted by Mo at 07:43 PM | Comments (0)
Just Some Ramblin'.....by:Mo (10/21/07)
It's been a few weeks since going out to hear some blues. Lots of stuff came up but mainly, I just tire of the blues scene sometimes and need to take a break. I think I tire mostly of the baby-ass whiners that always complain about what I say but yet, I don't see them writing anything or attending any shows. No, I haven't gone away "forever" as one person requested in an anonymous hate email I received. It was such a chicken shit act to sign up under a fake yahoo user name (loser MO) and then close it out after sending me their regards. Yes, I would've emailed them personally, and tried, but it came back. That wouldn't be the first of those sort of things and I'm sure it won't be the last. So here's to you and all you whiners......GET A LIFE!!!
There....I'm done with that now.
Continue reading "Just Some Ramblin'.....by:Mo (10/21/07)"
Posted by Mo at 07:38 PM | Comments (0)
September 24, 2007
Joe Bonamassa-My New Guitar Hero! by: mo (9/20/07)
Made it half way through the work week and man did it fly by!
All day Thursday at work, my blues buddy, everytime he'd see me, he'd look at his watch and point, signaling he was counting down to....Joe Bonamassa time!!
He's a huge fan of Joe's and Joe is in fact his guitar hero of all time.
I had heard a couple of his songs here & there, and yes, the guy is good but he really didn't grab me. I even watched his DVD of a concert in Budapest, awesome but still I wasn't feeling the excitement.
We loaded up the van and made awesome time to the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. What a beautiful venue. I had never been there before. It was a decent house. After the opener, we finally got our seating arrangements right and what great seats they were. Six rows back and centered.
He has quite a following this guy, Joe. Just turned 30 years old, I heard. Yep, just a baby.
Continue reading "Joe Bonamassa-My New Guitar Hero! by: mo (9/20/07)"
Posted by Mo at 06:07 PM | Comments (0)
Nick Moss & the Fliptops/SCBS Jam by:mo (9/19/07)
I didn't do anything on Tuesday after work but some errands, packages for the kid overseas, and tying up some other loose ends.
But Wednesday night was the show I've been waiting for. I was so excited that he was in our neighborhood.
I decided to go early to check out the Sonoma County Blues Society Jam before Nick came on.
They had a featured band on stage, whatever that meant, and they were pretty darn good. There was a fourteen year kid playing guitar and singing and he was really good for his age. His singing is what caught my ear. Real mature soundin' and a blues feel to his voice.
Everyone was in awe, watching and cheering for him, but while all that was going on, I was paying close attention to the other guitarist, John Andersen. He was incredible over on stage left and not getting much attention. That guy can really play!!
The whole band sounded tight but waaay too much jammin' for me. Oh wait....that's right, it was a jam.
Continue reading "Nick Moss & the Fliptops/SCBS Jam by:mo (9/19/07)"
Posted by Mo at 06:03 PM | Comments (0)
Eric Johnson at the Mystic & Ramblin' by:mo (9/17/07)
What a busy week I had last week. All weeknight blues, while going to work as well and I wasn't late 'cept for once. It's taken me all weekend to catch up on rest and also getting caught up around my house.
I was so fried by Friday night, that after work I did absolutely nothing after I got home that evening. Yep, a netflix night. I didn't even make it through the darn movie before I was passed out on the couch!
I awoke, once again, to the critters wanting breakfast. And man....that couch don't do your back no good either, that's for sure.
Continue reading "Eric Johnson at the Mystic & Ramblin' by:mo (9/17/07)"
Posted by Mo at 05:58 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2007
Let's Hear It For Johnny Rawls........by:mo (9/15/07)
....Ladies & Gentlemen, give it up one more time for Mr Johnny Rawls.....!!
What a great night that was!
I was wonderin' if maybe too much of a good thing is a bad thing but not in this case.
Johnny Rawls is just so good that it's never too much. In fact....it's never enough!
I love his guitar work. It's so gentle and sweet. It's delicate and intricate. It caresses my soul, my body, and is downright tantalizing.
He just plays that thing and never looks at it. He just strolls the stage area, looking about, all the while just playing that thing so effortlessly.
It's real sweet and I could've made love to that stuff all night long. Yes, I make love to the blues, so what. It's safe, almost always satisfying 'cept if it's a bad show, and no complications or heartaches. Loyal and always there for me when I need the companionship.
Continue reading "Let's Hear It For Johnny Rawls........by:mo (9/15/07)"
Posted by Mo at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
Just A Few Shows-Rawls, Dudek, Pulsators.... by: mo (9/15/07)
Just some reflection on a few shows I've been to this past week......
First off, I just gotta say that it took me all week to recover from that Levi Lloyd Trio show last Saturday Night (9/8) at the Tradewinds. It's gonna be hard to top that show!!
I went to the Forestville Club the following Sunday (9/9) afternoon for more Johnny Rawls. I got word that it was a start up of 5pm so that was good enough for me. I'm just not gonna attempt to go down to the City for any afternoon shows at least until winter gets here and people are staying home more. The traffic is just too much to bare. I wish winter would hurry up and get here though 'cause I'm sure gettin that "Apple Jack and Blues Power" itch. They play at the Saloon on Sunday afternoons and well worth the hassle.
The turnout at the Forestville Club for Johnny was awful. I felt bad for the poor guy. Talkin' with people afterwards at other shows about it, no one knew about it. It wasn't promoted, publicized well or nuthin'. All the same, he sounded pretty good. He did lots of soul numbers and his singing was the highlite on this night. Man....can he sing some sweet and very soulful songs!!
His band, The Blues Defenders, sure are soundin' tight these days. Really good band.
Johnny and band are gonna be at the Tradewinds here in a few hours, it's close to home, and so I'll be there. I really don't feel like traveling too far tonight.
Continue reading "Just A Few Shows-Rawls, Dudek, Pulsators.... by: mo (9/15/07)"
Posted by Mo at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)
Levi Lloyd Trio! by mo (9/8/07)
So, I wasn't sure if any band was going to be there at all after the DJ thing the Friday night before but I went anyway.
I drove past the Tradewinds and sure enough, there was Louie, bass player extraordinaire, hanging out in the front. As I was walkin' up I said hello to Dee Wills. Soundman and the soulman of Sonoma County, and he says "Mo, good to see you and I think you're gonna love tonight".
I says, "I hope so and I'm sure I will" but to be honest, I wasn't sure of the latter.
He says, "No, really, we've got Willy Jordan on drums and tonight is gonna be a treat!".
His enthusiasm was infectious and I was pumped!.
The band started and it took me well into the first song to realize that we had ourselves.... The Levi Lloyd Trio!
I got really excited and then it hit me and I became worried - I don't think I've ever seen Levi in the trio format and I was wonderin' if he had it in him. "Aaah, don't worry", I said to myself, This is Levi is his purest form. The moment I've been dreaming of. No distractions, no fillers, just pure Levi. And Willy backing him and pushing him, and Louie doing the same, there was nothing to worry about, right?
Continue reading "Levi Lloyd Trio! by mo (9/8/07)"
Posted by Mo at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)
Friday Night Letdown/Ramblin's by: mo (9/07)
I was gonna go down to Biscuits & Blues to check on Joe Louis Walker lastnight. He has been sounding great the last two times I saw him, he's always been one of my favorites, and I was just hopin' that he still had that momentum going.
Things were bad there for awhile for him. At least that's how his shows were sounding. Ever since he came back from France, he's been sounding really good. I'm hopin' it sticks. I never made it down there. I was wiped, too expensive to park, gas, tolls etc....
I also noticed that Tradewinds had a band I never heard of. I googled them, "Lane Coker & Big Delta" and their website came up. I think what got my curiosity was the "Delta" part.
Read their bio and it sounded interesting enough, their calendar said they were scheduled for the Tradewinds too so that was a plus.
So that was that.... I was staying close to home to check out this band from the south bay area that I've never heard of.
Continue reading "Friday Night Letdown/Ramblin's by: mo (9/07)"
Posted by Mo at 01:08 PM | Comments (2)
Now That's What I'm Talkin' About, Daniel! by: mo (9/1/07)
I woke up this mornin', really early like clock work, thinking I was late for work. I hate when I do that. I couldn't go back to sleep. Not because I wasn't tired, I was, but because of what had happened lastnight came back to my head once the cobwebs cleared a bit. As I was laying there still sticky with sweat, and I was wonderin' if what I witnessed lastnight was a dream or if it in fact was real. Once I realized it wasn't a dream, my heart started poundin', my head spinnin', thinking of just how awesome that real show was!
I truly couldn't go back to sleep. My adrendiline is still pumped!
I will be getting lots done around hear today.
I'm not gonna try to go out and hear any music today to try and fulfill that need because I have been satisfied.
Talk about a real show. It just don't get any better than that there lastnight. For me anyway.
Continue reading "Now That's What I'm Talkin' About, Daniel! by: mo (9/1/07)"
Posted by Mo at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)