My latest foray into production, probably ill-advised and it definitely raised some stress levels
for me and who needs that but sometimes you got to take it on. Can't run from stress. Guy's Earth Day BeIn in the Park Creek Park which was a major triumph if you discount the actual audience turnout which dropped below my modest expectations. Yet the musicians rose to the occasion,
the stellar Dickey Gee & Jan opened things up with Peace and musical Grace and they are great.
I was scrambling around trying to get the raffle together and got there way early and drew every last dime (just about)from my personal bank account to make sure that the important people get paid. And my two fine helpers who pretty much bailed on me over the last week because of personal life stress reasons did show to share hugs and positive vibes and somehow I still believe that it could work someday. Life is such a fine river and it keeps on flowing and there was the HoneyDust record release Party on Friday NIght which was great and I hung out late torn between the need to shut up and honor Honey Dust and the need to Speak up and let
my friends know about this event. I can't talk about it it needs a novel.
Hat's off to Brian Fischer's All Stars the High Tops and the Continentals... great thanks for letting me sitting in for 'Golden Rocket' a tune I will forever love and probably take on as if it was my own. That's me. Fire that Golden Rocket... !
Sad that Aza got left out in the 3 PM set change cause it could have worked but we were dealing with The Jazz Roots and these three guys who I had never met and I just had to make it work for them. God bless the young star Aza she could have been the hit but was very graceful and soulful when she said no problem Guy next time. The Jazz Roots think of them as Manhattan Pro's cause that's what they were played for two hours, they didn't have to in front of the scattered happy souls who were there in the Park. Delicious. Just a musical world I have not visited for a long time. Driving groovy space jazz magnificent keyboard work from Ken Roy Berry...beautiful guitar work of Barry Finnerty. The solid sweet power of Chris Braun on Drums...
Deelish the audio track is supposed to be a keeper according t JB our crack sound guy. The stage looked great. What an honor to have such pros in Creek Park and so humble playing for the REdwoods, their tip jar, selling a few CD's. I consider the whole event a triumph which I know I am nearly certifiable. 5150. Speaking of which the entire 5150 band showed up and each of the members one a prize in the raffle .... what are the odds!? of that. particularly when I am the Guy in charge. Completely legit. Oh and some people say i am a member of the band, just because I look forward to every Tuesday night when the band gets together and we take some very beginning steps of Rock and Roll 101.
Then later that night in Fairfax I can't keep talking Humans I Can't tell you the whole magnificent story it just keeps going on and on,, from the delicious Salmon Dinner at the Sleeping Lady where my friend the great Kevin Brennan played a completely extra stellar set, he back in California to marry his sweetheart of 11 years Leigh (Sp?) this coming weekend at the San Gregorio General Store where Kevi tells me that the best musicians on the planet are flying in to join this great Glob of Love as he described it will be taking place. It will go on and the so very lovely Shana Morrison, (Lord!).. was there playing with the band it was just too great. I could not tear myself away (liar) and still being exhausted to the bone.. I stop in next door..Peri's, where it just so happens Chrome Johnson is playing, still playing after all these years. They were just a trio as keyboard player Jon was somewhere else but, their magic their power as still the best unsigned Rock Band in America is just mind boggling as they went through their list of old favorites where their down on my luck soulful 30's and 40's jump style delta blues seedy world songs that seem to build into some magic epic into my one of my favorite s their tune Shadowspell where the chorus goes 'ooooh oooh you can't save from my self' ' ooooh oooh ooooh.... and all the loyal Chrome Fans that I have seen and known and hung with for more than 10 years were just flying. Hallelujah's come in many forms.
And bowed out and Sunday rather than recovery I had a gig solo, out in POint Reyes with lovely Alice and a handful of POint Reyes gray haired artist types and In played my guitar instrumentals despite exhaustion as usual. And drove to work as a cab driver khowing that am in deep doo doo again with lack of money. Yet it was the opening of the bay and though the cab company itself always seems in immmnent collapse I was having a pretty good night when shortly after midnight I picked up this fellow from the Silver Peso who says are you ready for a long drive. And I say Heck Yeah! Something like that. I take him over to his house he packs his belongings I stretch I have my guitar in the front seat he brings his guitar we set forth for Boulder Creek about 20 miles deep in the woods north of Santa Cruz and on the way he tells me he wants to play his new CD for me. I brace myself because everyone on the planet has a CD these days and I tend to get easily bored. Anyways I have to do one more night f cab driving and find a new place to live real soon ands I have no money.
Mark's CD was stunning and almost getting choked up again thinking about that late night ride to some magic cabin deep i the woods where his magic angel waited for him. His CD has a t least three or 4 tunes that are. Highest level. Playing with Bay area all stars. The tune about one more bone... Just give me one more chance, toss me one more bone God I'll do it right this time. (I' m not being accurate with the words.) Great evening great to make big money on one night. Flow With the River humans. that's what we are here for as Chris Brown sings in Fairfax 'These Days won't Last too Long.'
Onwards.
Peace
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