The Reel, Friday, July 20, 8:30p.m.

Also appearing in the July 20 edition of the Sonoma Index Tribune

The Sidemen

The Reel, Friday, July 20, 8:30p.m.

Veteran horn player Peter Welker, a North Bay fixture for many years, is bringing his band The Sidemen to The Reel Friday, July 20 for an 8:30 p.m. show. The Sidemen have been wowing crowds for a little over a year now, and this promises to be a pretty magical musical event.

Welker, a Petaluma resident, will have his personally selected band perform two sets Friday night. Their first set will be “ ...a bit mellow, not too rockin’. The second set, we’re gonna cut loose.”  

During his tenure as sideman-to-the-stars, Welker has played behind Santana, Malo, Jerry Garcia, Tom Waits, and Narada Michael Walden, to name but a few.  The new band is called The Sidemen because they have all played behind some pretty well-known acts.

A listing of some of the players includes Sonoma resident Cliff Hugo, who played with Supertramp, plays bass in the band.  Steve Carter, from the George Benson band, plays keys.  Morris Azevedo, from the Berklee College of Music, handles the guitar duties. Steve Steinberg was the sax player for many years for Natalie Cole. Todd Tribble (Michael McDonald) will sit behind the drum kit, having punched out earlier in the day from his job as leader of the SWAT team in Vallejo. Johnnie Bamont delivered the musical news with Huey Lewis.

In a very unusual move, Welker and the band decided not to be fronted by a vocalist. After rehearsing for a week or two, they realized that they “ …have our own sound, and don’t need a vocalist.”

Welker was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, to parents who were professional musicians.  He began playing at a very early age. By 1959 he was playing in the Catskill resort area of New York state, entertaining people waiting to laugh at the jokes of Jackie Mason, Shecky Greene, Myron Cohen, and a young Woody Allen.

Welker heard a million jokes during those years, and he apparently still remember them all. During our conversation, he told no fewer than seven knee slappers.

But his talent lies in his musical mind and is expressed with his horn. Welker, a vibrant 77 year old cat, is known to sit in a local coffee house and write musical scores that will be turned into full blown arranged pieces that eening at practice. “Twenty hours a week, that’s what I try to spend writing,” Welker said. 

Their song list for the night will be primarily originals, but there will be a few recognizable covers. Perhaps a David Sanborn song, or maybe one by Tom Scott and the LA Express. “It’s challenging stuff. But these are all hand-picked players, and they are A1 musicians.”

In 1962, Welker came out West on a Greyhound bus. On Friday night, he will drive just a few miles East. He will be sure to pack that musical magic into his horn case before he leaves Petaluma.

Always...Patsy Cline!

Originally published in the Sonoma Index Tribune, July 13, 2018.

The United States of America did a lot of growing up in the years after World War II. By the mid-fifties, America was humming right along; moving West, building interstate highways, and watching TV, among other new-fangled things.

The musical soundtrack of those boom years includes the many hit records by Patsy Cline. Cline first appeared on TV on the “Grand Old Opry” in 1955.  She went on to record “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “She’s Got You”, and many other hits, all of which made her a huge star.  Cline was the first female country music star to headline her own show and receive billing above the male stars with whom she toured.  She was also the first female solo artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A story of her life, created by Ted Swindley and directed by Michael Ross, is called “Always… Patsy Cline”. The Sonoma Arts Live Theater Company is presenting this musical at Andrews Hall in the Sonoma Community Center, beginning July 13 through July 29.

This true story is told through the letters and remembrances of Louise Seger, a fan who met Cline outside a honky tonk.  Louise became one of Cline’s closest friends. During the ten years of their friendship, which ended with Cline’s tragic death in an airplane crash, the two spent many hours sitting at Seger’s kitchen table chatting about life and love. The two were so close, and Cline trusted Seger so, that Seger became President of the Patsy Cline Fan Club.  And those kitchen table chats were so important that a kitchen table is the focal point of the production at Andrews Hall.

“Always…Patsy Cline” stars Danielle DeBow as Cline, and Karen Pinomaki as Louise Seger. DeBow will be familiar to attendees as she portrayed Gypsy Rose Lee is last summer’s “Gypsy”.  Pinomaki also appeared in “Gypsy”, as well as “Spitfire Girl”.

DeBow has said that this is a dream role for her. “This amazingly talented woman left a legacy with just 8 short years in the industry. You could hear her heart when she sang. She was taken from us far too early.  My goal is to let her truth and raw emotion come through in this show.”

Pinomaki says, about the chance meeting of the two women, “That it would lead to such a meaningful and caring friendship is the heart of this story.”

Cline met Elvis Presley in 1962; she had long been a great admirer of The King, whom she called “The Big Hoss”. She often recorded songs using Elvis’s backup singers, The Jordanaires. A new incarnation of the Jordanaires, featuring Sean O’Brien, Michael Scott Wells, Ted von Pohle, and F. James Raasch, will round out the vocals for the Sonoma production. Of the quartet, Sonoma Arts Live Theater Company Executive Artistic Director, Jaime Love, says, “These guys are super talented and we are thrilled to feature them on the Rotary Stage.”

Much of the dialogue between Cline and Seger will take place at a kitchen table in the center of the floor of Andrews Hall.  A live band, fronted by DeBow, will be on the stage and will perform 26 songs, some done in medley style.  The cast has been rehearsing the production for about six weeks, and there will be a total of eleven shows over the run.  

Sonoma resident Moira McGovern has an important role in the production, that of Stage Manager. She worked on a show three years ago, and fell in love with the task of being a stage manager. Now, working it as a full-time gig, she is very excited about presenting “Always…Patsy Cline.”

“Last night, we had a sitzprobe,” she explained, “.. the first time the band and singers work together live.  It was amazing.”  McGovern went on to say, “There are some 26 songs in the show.  A lot of them were songs I knew, but didn’t know they were Patsy’s.” Aside from the phenomenal performances by the band and Debow, the show, “… lets you see Patsy as a human being.  All of us would want to be friends with her.”

As an added bit of fun, and in a nod to the County flavor of the evening, professional choreographer Michella Snider will be leading interested dancers in Line Dancing lessons just before the Opening Night curtain raises.  The dancing starts at 6:30 in Room 110 of the Commmunity Center. 

After taking the lessons and seeing this show, there will no doubt be many people “Line Dancin’ After Midnight” on East Napa Street tonight!

Tickets are available at sonomartslive.org and at the Sonoma Community Center office, (707) 938-4626.

Bowie Forever at Starling Bar

Bowie Forever at Starling

When David Bowie died in January of 2016, the music world was robbed of another very popular and extremely innovative star.  He sold over 140 million records during his career. He had over 30 roles in movies, including leading roles in several feature films. Bowie died two days after releasing his 25^thalbum, Blackstar. Upon his passing, rock stars and musical icons from all over the globe spoke praises of him.  Even well known astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson said, "The stars look very different today", quoting Bowie’s “Space Oddity”.  Countless others told of being inspired by him.

He continues to inspire, posthumously.

“As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent, you asked for the latest party.” Bowie sang in “Diamond Dogs” in 1974.  That latest party is coming up. The Starling Bar will host the Third Annual Bowie Forever Tribute Show Saturday, July 14.

The show was held its first two years at the El Verano Inn, where owner Leslie Danon was “…a big part of letting the show grow”, according to Tony Gibson, one of the organizers. Ian Hinkley and D’Mitra Smith are the other organizers.  The three have driven this tribute, and it has become popular enough that the larger Starling will take over as the venue.  The show sold out last year; Young Americansare advised to get their tickets early.

The $10 tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com, and admission includes Bowie prizes, free raffle tickets, and four primary acts, comprised of Sonoma County musicians.  Starling is temporarily enlarging the stage for the event, as some twenty performers are expected.

North Bay artist Orion Letizi will start the show, covering songs from Bowie's early years and a few from the later years. Taking the stage next will be Motorvators, fronted by Pauli Hips. Santa Rosa garage rockers, Motorvators will perform a short set of Ziggy Stardust-era rockers.

Third up that night will be an eight piece ensemble led by D’mitra Smith and Deirdre Egan. They will be covering songs from 70's era, as well as Bowie's later years from the late 90's through 2016's Blackstar.

Closing out the show will be a Bowie Forever Tribute Night all-star band. Tony Gibson and Ian Hinkley will glam up the stage, backed by Taylor Diaz, JB Duff, Stuart Sperring, Alex Garcia.  This collection of sparkly artists will perform songs that span Bowie's early career through Ziggy Stardust, the Berlin era of the 70's, 80's Bowie and some 90's Bowie as well.  

Drag performer Austin Diamond will be the Master of Ceremonies for the night.  Diamond, also a local trapeze artist, met Bowie Forever co-organizer D’Mitra Smith “after a drag show at Starling”.   Diamond says that Bowie had a big impact on him growing up.  “His androgynous style, and his artistic style, made a big impression on me.  I want to pay tribute to Bowie for all he did with his music and his art.”

Tony Gibson adds that the songs will “...cover most of his catalog, his big hits.”  Gibson, who plays in a few bands in the area, usually holding a mandolin, will be playing the guitar.  “It’s a dance party sort of evening,” Gibson says.

Let’s dance, indeed.

Starling Bar, 19380 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma 707 938-7442

bowieforever.brownpapertickets.com

         

School Begins!

I am just about to begin my third day of the new school year.  So far, excellent.  I have been assigned a lively bunch, full of life and smiles. Why, we have already created a business plan for a new restaurant, one that is sure to make us all dozens of dollars.
We'll read some books, write some stories, solve some math problems, and sing some songs, among other things.
Look for the article about us in the newspaper.

Garcia/Hunter/Curley, songwriters

Many years ago, while I was a student at Sonoma State College, I had the "responsibility" of hosting Grateful Dead Lyricist Robert Hunter while he played a solo concert in the Student Union. At the time, he was half of my favorite songwriting team, (Jerry) Garcia / Hunter.  They crafted the excellent songs that powered the Dead, and that still provide The Dead and Company with material that we all love and adore, and hum and sing, some 50 years later (WTF!?!).

The concert promoter was Bill Bourland, a fellow student and a good friend of mine.  He billed it as a "Pillow Concert", and folks were encouraged to bring soft comfy things to lay on the carpeted floor while my good friend, Bob, played his acoustic guitar. In his raspy, pirate like voice, he played the hits, including "Ripple", "Truckin'", "Sugar Magnolia", and his own "Tiger Rose". It was thrilling to hear rough solo versions of tunes we had all heard performed dozens of times by the band.

It was a little odd to be "responsible" for Robert Hunter. He was not unfriendly, but we were both a little uneasy.  After all, I was to hang with Hunter, and he was stuck with me.  But I had planned ahead, and proposed that we commit a small criminal offense before he took the stage. Luckily, he thought that was a grand idea!

While committing this crime, we engaged in small talk.  He spoke of living out on the River, and I told him that I played the guitar.  He was unimpressed.  Thankfully, it was soon show time.  Hunter opened his case, took out his guitar (a Martin D-35 if I remember correctly) and left my realm of "responsibility".

That's about it, not much of a story.  So now I can start making shit up.  I told him that in about 40 years there would be this person running for President who had absolutely no business doing so.  I also told him that I was going to be in a band called The Cork Pullers, based over the hill in Sonoma.  Hunter became excited, and shared some lyrics that he had written on a legal pad and stashed in a Peachee. They were to a song called "Wave that Flag", and were just a bunch of common phrases tied together musically.  He suggested that I add a verse to his song,  one about this jackass who was to run for President.  That sounded like a great idea, so I did.

( this part is true ) "Wave that Flag" eventually became "U.S. Blues", and last night while The Cork Pullers played our second set at the fabled Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma, that added verse was revealed to the world. The verses to "US Blues" are rollicking, and the chorus anthem-like.  Fun stuff.  The crowd usually really enjoys the song, and last night was even better than usual.  If you don't know the song, give it a listen…and imagine my verse tacked on to the end after the final chorus, followed by another chorus.

                                                       Burkha black, scarlet Fez
                                                       Time of year, to elect a Prez
                                                       Cast your vote, don't let it pass
                                                       Donald Trump, you can kiss my ass!

The Passing of Another Great Musician

Guy Clark died today, at his home in Texas, at the age of 74. Simply enough stated, and definitely sad enough. Another one gone.  This has been a tough year for music fans. No need to list all who have passed on, but his one is hard for me.  I am going to miss Guy Clark.

That didn't really sink in until my daughter, Molly, wrote to me, "Sorry you lost one of your guys." It was then that I realized that not many days go by that I don't sing a line of his, or think of something I heard him say - to me- on the few, precious times that I saw him perform live. He was one of my guys.

"Texas singer / songwriter". No, he was not just a singer songwriter.  The words to his songs, they weren't "lyrics", too high falootin' a term for Guy, were genuine and honest and very straight forward.  Silly at times, his "Homegrown Tomatoes" and "Picasso's Mandolin" are downright infectious in their simplicity.  "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train" is so sad it drips. "LA Freeway" is disdainful and gorgeous, and "I Don't Love You Much Do I" is one of the best love songs I have ever heard.

I might be wrong about this, but the treatment he gave his songs never included an electric guitar, long a staple of Texas music.  Instead, he and his musical partner Verlon Thompson laid down undeniable acoustic guitar grooves, and the songs did not suffer the absence of the Tele. Vocal harmonies that were the envy of the trade were tastefully scattered around the verses.

A few years ago at Hardly Strictly, he told me…me, a story about an crotchety old man who made his own bullets. I am sure that Guy Clark did not make his own bullets, but he was his own man.  He was a "hero of our Country", and I loved him.  Always will.

Town Idiot de Jour

A few weeks ago, I wrote a little bit of prose that ended up being published in the San Francisco Chronicle's Letter to the Editor.  It was about the Town Idiot de Jour,  Donald Trump.  The problem, the big problem, is that it seems that he is more than "de jour". The news media has made him a darling, simply because he sells.  Like they say in TV news, "If it bleeds, it leads." We can't believe the crap he spouts, but we watch, and they sell their Tylenol and Viagra, their cleaning products and cars.  Their rates stay high, as do their profits.
Yes, it is easy to be cynical, but, Jeez, what is this all about? Are we as a nation really no better than this?
Also, please vote.  Think, then vote.