NEWS FEATURES: Acoustic Americana Music Guide, February 1, 2012

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ACOUSTIC
AMERICANA
MUSIC GUIDE
NEWS FEATURES

February 1, 2012 edition

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This is the NEWS FEATURES edition. If you’re looking for the current SPOTLIGHT EVENTS section, with a whole lot of events, it’s at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2012/02/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana.html

Here are
THIS WEEK’s NEWS FEATURES


1) It’s February, and Our Favorite Holiday…
2) Spotlight Events Abundantly Wonderful Through Next Week
3) GRAMMY MUSEUM Hosting Stellar Events: GLEN CAMPBELL, AMERICA,
MICHELLE PHILLIPS, LA SANTA CECILIA on Tap in Next Few Days
4) MARY FLOWER, Acoustic Blues Master: Workshop, 2 Shows this Week
5) EDITED Trio’s California Triumph: Last Chance in U.S. ’til Next Year
6) Change At Google: Every Move You Make, They’ll Be Watching You
7) Concert Review: Uke Princess BRITTNI PAIVA at Island Bazaar
8) SAN FRANCISCO BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME FESTIVAL (SFBOT) is this Month
9) Bluegrass Grammy Winner MARTY RAYBON to Release 2 New Albums
10) John van Huizum: A BRIEF MILITARY HISTORY OF WARS


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Here are these news feature stories...
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Our # 1 Story

IT’S FEBRUARY, AND OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY…


Happy GROUNDHOG DAY February 2nd! It’s our favorite winter holiday: nobody expects presents, and there’s no stressful family gathering with pontificating old Uncle Windbag hogging the sweet potato pie and subjecting you to his Neanderthal political views. This one is a fun occasion, a suspenseful wait for a furry critter to venture forth where he will or won’t see his shadow and we will or won’t see an early spring. Charming. Makes you wanna go play “Muskrat Love” … or not.



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SPOTLIGHT EVENTS ABUNDANTLY WONDERFUL, THROUGH NEXT WEEK


Some of this week’s “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks are no-cover, but you’ll probably be buying a drink or two, anyway, or even dinner, because you’re there enjoying it and you want the experience to be complete. (Remember the tip jar to help the artists make the night complete…) For the other shows we’re recommending, you’ll part with some hard-earned cash for tickets. But you won’t regret going to any of the shows listed here, and described fully in our current Spotlight Events section.

WEDNESDAY, February 1 holds three “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks: in South OC, a show at 8 pm with ABIGAIL WASHBURN plus THE JAYHAWKS at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano; closer to home, the EDITED trio (BRETT PERKINS, DAVID ZINK, MARK DAVIS) performs at 8 pm, fresh off the road from a 22-gig California tour, at the weekly “Wine and Song,” BRAD COLERICK’s excellent acoustic music series at Firefly Bistro in South Pasadena; and at 8 pm, there’s the “DANIEL PEARL YAHRTZEIT CONCERT” with ROSS ALTMAN, JILL FENIMORE, JEFF GOLD, LARRY HANKS & DEBORAH ROBINS, MIKE PERLOWIN, PHEE SHERLINE, APRIL WAYLAND, & PAUL ZOLLO, at Santa Monica Synagogue.

THURSDAY, February 2 shines with five “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks: JUDY COLLINS at 8 pm at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert; MARY FLOWER, folk and blues guitar royalty, at 8 pm at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena; RICHIE FURAY (of POCO, BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, and the SOUTHER-HILLMAN-FURAY BAND) at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills; LISA LOEB and JILL SOBULE at 8 pm at Brixton South Bay in Redondo Beach; and ABIGAIL WASHBURN plus THE JAYHAWKS playing at 9 pm at The Music Box Theater (Henry Fonda Theater) in Hollywood.

FRIDAY, February 3, there are four “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks: all-things-with-strings wizard DAVID LINDLEY plays the “Bodie House Concerts in the Library” series at 8 pm at Grant R. Brimhall Thousand Oaks Library; I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. plus KAREN TOBIN at 8 pm at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena; JORMA KAUKONEN (HOT TUNA, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE) at 8 & 10 pm at McCabe’s in Santa Monica; and the monthly “FIRST FRIDAY SHOW” with this month’s guest, MARK "POCKET" GOLDBERG, plus SEVERIN BROWNE & the “FIRST FRIDAY BAND” of JEFF KOSSACK, DAVID STONE, ALEX DEL ZOPPO, GARY POPENOE, MIKE BISCH, AARON WOLFSON AND CHRIS LACINAK at 8 pm at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood.

SATURDAY, February 4 brings six “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks: MARY FLOWER, folk and blues guitar royalty, in concert at 8 pm at Boulevard Music in Culver City; MODAL TEASE STRING BAND plus CLIFF WAGNER & THE OLD #7 at 7 pm at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena; JORMA KAUKONEN returns for a second night, at 8 & 10 pm, at McCabe’s in Santa Monica; ROBERT MORGAN FISHER, JAIME MICHAELS, and DAVE MORRISON play the Four Friends Acoustic Music Series, the “dinner-and-a-show” series at 7 pm at Four Friends Gallery in Thousand Oaks; “A MUSICAL CONVERSATION WITH LA SANTA CECILIA” and “Paper Fashion with PATSSI VALDEZ,” a “Pacific Standard Time: Art In L.A. 1945 – 1980” event, co-presented by The GRAMMY Museum and UCLA’s Fowler Museum, at 7 pm at the Fowler Museum on the UCLA campus in Westwood; and, if you’re up for a road trip, JUNI FISHER, top award-winning cowgirl singer-songwriter, plays a house concert “in the barn” (appropriately enough), in Bakersfield.

SUNDAY, February 5, there are two “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks: “BRETT PERKINS & FRIENDS” at 7 pm is a treat-of-a-showcase hand-picked by Brett for his annual homecoming from Europe, and includes a short set by the EDITED trio (BRETT PERKINS, DAVID ZINK, MARK DAVIS), just back from their 22-gig tour, and it’s at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre; and not far away, uke masters LIL’ REV and UKULELE BART play at 7 pm at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena.

MONDAY, February 6’s “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick is a not-to-be-missed “EVENING WITH GLEN CAMPBELL” performance-interview at 8 pm at the Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Sound Stage in downtown L.A.

TUESDAY, February 7’s “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks are two great choices: The legendary SONS OF THE PIONEERS perform at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach; “AN EVENING WITH AMERICA” performance-interview with AMERICA founders GERRY BECKLEY and DEWEY BUNNELL on their 40th anniversary together, happens at 8 pm at the Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Sound Stage in downtown L.A.

WEDNESDAY, February 8’s “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick is an 8 pm “FUNDRAISER FOR THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE” with The SALTY SUITES (SCOTT GATES, CHELSEA WILLIAMS and CHUCK HAILES), plus PHOEBE BRIDGERS opening, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena (raising money for the venue’s expensive new entertainment license…)

THURSDAY, February 9’s “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick is WILL RYAN AND THE CACTUS COUNTY COWBOYS playing their first-ever dance and presenting their “Cowboy Skiffle” music 8-10 pm at Viva Cantina in Burbank.



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Our # 3 Story

GRAMMY MUSEUM HOSTING STELLAR EVENTS: GLEN CAMPBELL, AMERICA, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, LA SANTA CECILIA ON TAP IN NEXT FEW DAYS


The GRAMMY Museum has rapidly become a shining star in a town filled with music performance venues, and a favorite of the Guide’s editor, who knows a thing or two about conducting performance-interviews; he always gives the museum’s presentations high marks. Fresh from ending January with sessions with JACKIE DeSHANNON and RUTHIE FOSTER and the release of the latter’s new CD (all reported in advance in the Guide’s Spotlight Events section), the Museum’s splendid series of conversations and intimate performances happily continue in February, each as Guide “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks. Hold on to your hat!

a) GLEN CAMPBELL PERFORMANCE-INTERVIEW

On Monday, February 6 at 8 pm, “AN EVENING WITH GLEN CAMPBELL” brings the GRAMMY Award-winning country music star to discuss his remarkable career in show business spanning over 50 years.

He just completed his “Farewell” tour, and this will be a very special evening, indeed. He says he will not perform in the future, and wanted to make the rounds one last time, “While I can still remember the words to the songs.” Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Campbell has released 70 albums and sold 45 million records. In 1967, he made GRAMMY history by winning four awards in both the country and pop categories, and this year, he will be honored with a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award.

A 2005 inductee into The Country Music Hall of Fame, Campbell has racked-up 12 RIAA Gold albums, 4 Platinum albums and 1 Double-Platinum album.

While hits like “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and “I Wanna Live” have helped make him a true country music legend, Campbell gained fame as an actor (in films including “True Grit” with John Wayne) and host of “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.”

After a brief introduction and tribute to his career by GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, Campbell will perform a selection of songs. Guests will hear hits from the past as well as music from Campbell’s latest release, “Ghost On A Canvas.” The album is a top-ten pick in USA Today’s “Best of 2011.”

All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum.

More info at 213-765-6803 or www.grammymuseum.org. Doors open at 7:30 pm for the best seats. American Express presale tickets are $30 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Wednesday, January 18, at noon. Public sale begins Monday, February 1, at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers receive a special gift.

b) AMERICA FOUNDERS GERRY BECKLEY AND DEWEY BUNNELL

Tuesday, February 7 at 8 pm, “AN EVENING WITH AMERICA” brings the duo behind the iconic, GRAMMY Award-winning folk-rock group AMERICA, a creative pair currently celebrating their 40th anniversary together. AMERICA founders GERRY BECKLEY and DEWEY BUNNELL have performed approximately 100 shows a year together since their formation in 1970, still delighting fans from back when and making new ones with songs like “Sister Golden Hair” and “Horse with No Name.”

Sons of U.S. Air Force fathers, the band members met in England when they were students at London Central High School.

Their debut album, released in 1971, quickly went Platinum. Five subsequent releases went either Gold or Platinum and their greatest hits compilation reached the four million sales mark.

Hear the band, in discussion about their success as hit writers of enduring rock-folk-pop classics, their celebrated 40th Anniversary Tour, and the release of “Back Pages,” their newest album, a collection of glimmering interpretations of timeless songs.

After the interview, moderated by GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, America will take audience questions and perform an acoustic set.

All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum.

More info at 213-765-6803 or www.grammymuseum.org.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members. Public sale begins Monday, February 1, at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers receive a special gift.

c) MICHELLE PHILLIPS FROM THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS

On Thursday, February 16 at 8 pm, it’s “AN EVENING WITH MICHELLE PHILLIPS FROM THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS.”

Best known for being one of the singers for the Sixties folk/pop group, THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS, which she formed in 1965 with CASS ELLIOT, DENNY DOHERTY and JOHN PHILLIPS, California-born Michelle Phillips is the last-surviving member of the iconic group. Having co-wrote some of the band's biggest hits including "Creeque Alley" and "California Dreamin', Phillips became one of the most-recognizable faces in music. After the group disbanded in 1971, Phillips actively pursued an acting career. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her work in “Dillinger” and got her big TV break in 1987 as Anne Matheson Sumner in the prime-time soap "Knots Landing." Hear Phillips in discussion, along with GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, about her expansive career in show business, as well as current endeavors. After the interview, Phillips will take audience questions and will be available for a fan meet and greet.

All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and are available online to American Express Card members (beginning Wednesday, January 18); public sale begins Wednesday, February 8, at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers receive a special gift.

All events, except the one below, are on the Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Sound Stage, inside the museum at 800 W. Olympic Blvd, in the L.A. Live Complex in downtown L.A. 90015. More info, and tickets for events, are available at 213-765-6803 or www.grammymuseum.org.

d) “MISSISSIPPI MUSIC CELEBRATION NIGHT AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM” with MARTY STUART & THE FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES

The 3rd annual event happens Thursday, February 9 at 8 pm, with performances by music stars from the State of Mississippi. More info and tickets at 213-765-6803 or www.grammymuseum.org.

e) A FEBRUARY 4 EVENT WITH LA SANTA CECILIA …

In addition to the above events in its own theatre at the GRAMMY Museum, there’s one more event, this one “off campus” and in conjunction with “Pacific Standard Time: Art In L.A. 1945 – 1980.” It happens Saturday, February 4, at 7 pm and is co-sponsored with UCLA’s Fowler Museum, at the Fowler Museum on UCLA campus in Westwood. It’s “A MUSICAL CONVERSATION WITH LA SANTA CECILIA” and “Paper Fashion with PATSSI VALDEZ.”

GRAMMY-nominated LA SANTA CECILIA — fronted by belter LA MARISOUL —draws inspiration from a hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music in passionate performances that mesmerize audiences. After an interview moderated by Josh Kun, curator of the PST / GRAMMY Museum exhibition “Trouble in Paradise: Music and Los Angeles 1945-75,” and director of The Popular Music Project at USC Annenberg’s The Norman Lear Center, La Santa Cecilia will take audience questions and perform a selection of songs.

During the post-concert reception, Asco icon PATSSI VALDEZ leads a crunch-and-fold workshop inspired by Asco’ 1970’s-era public appearances as self-made fashionistas in paper gowns and hats. See Valdez’s work in “Mapping Another L.A.: The Chicano Art Movement,” which will be open at the Fowler.

This reception includes dessert and a cash bar. $10 for Fowler / GRAMMY Museum members and students; $15 general. Tickets go on sale Jan 6 at noon, at 213-765-6803. When picking up program tickets at the Box Office Will Call, you may be required to show ID that matches the credit card used to purchase the ticket. More info, www.fowler.ucla.edu; or www.grammymuseum.org.

f) GRAMMY AWARDS WEEK EVENTS

Additionally, The GRAMMY Museum will celebrate the week leading up to the GRAMMY Awards with six days of educational programs prior to Sunday's show. The Museum will kick off the week with two family programs featuring the band Rhythm Child at Westfield Topanga Mall. These fun-for-all-ages shows will take place at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Continuing the week, the Museum will host five days of "Backstage Pass" workshops in the Clive Davis Theater. This career exploration program gives students a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make it in the music industry. Each hour-long program includes an overview of careers in the industry, features a question and answer session with an artist and culminates with a live performance.

Educational Programming will include:
Monday, February 6: Backstage Pass: Claude Kelly
Tuesday, February 7: Backstage Pass: BC Jean
Wednesday, February 8: Backstage Pass: Goapele
Thursday, February 9: Backstage Pass: Marty Stuart
Friday, February 10: Backstage Pass: Haley Reinhart

Backstage Pass ticket information varies. Go to www.grammymuseum.org for more information. The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from Staples Center on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, February 12, at 8 pm ET/PT.

The GRAMMY Museum presents many events across the spectrum of musical genres. The Guide can happily report that many on them appeal to our readers, who frequently let us know they learn of events here. We’re happy to make connections.



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Our # 4 Story

MARY FLOWER, ACOUSTIC BLUES MASTER: WORKSHOP, 2 SHOWS THIS WEEK


She is folk and blues guitar royalty, a top award-winning and celebrated Yellow Dog Records recording artist, a specialist who seamlessly blends acoustic blues, ragtime, folk-Americana and whatever else tickles her fancy. Downbeat magazine calls her, “a world class fingerstyle and lap-slide guitarist.”

In the 2012 Blues Music Awards, presented by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, MARY FLOWER is a current nominee in two categories, “Acoustic Artist” and “Acoustic Album.” She received the “Muddy Award” in 2011 from the Cascade Blues Association for “Best Acoustic Guitar.” She's also up for "Best Female Artist" in this year’s Portland Music Awards in her own town.

First and foremost, MARY FLOWER is a world-class guitarist who swings the blues, recognized everywhere as one of the pre-eminent fingerstyle guitarists who continue in the rich acoustic blues tradition. Along the way, she’s mastered the intricate, harmonically subtle Piedmont style, with its good-timey, ragtime feel. The Piedmont style forms the foundation of much of her work, but she’s an unrivaled interpreter of Mississippi blues and an ingenious composer in her own right whose tunes take American music into uncharted waters.

In the rarefied atmosphere where Mary operates, she’s twice placed in the top three at the prestigious National Finger Picking Championship in Winfield, Kansas, where she is the only woman to do so.

That’s remarkable enough, but Flower goes beyond technique. She’s a warm singer who ranges far in the byways of blues, pop and jazz for the kind of down-home yet sophisticated material she feels comfortable with. Mary brings smarts and sublime equipoise to her music–you feel happier after listening to her.

Downbeat says of her recent duets CD on Yellow Dog Records, “Superlative… such a high level of proficiency that your heart will beat faster and your blood race. One of the Top 10 roots albums of 2011, no question about it. (4 stars) Twenty years and nine albums into her recording career, Flower is a superlative fingerstyle guitarist square in the Piedmont tradition. She also excels on lap steel. Easy confidence characterizes her singing style.”

Acoustic Guitar says, “Beyond the tight song arrangements, expert musicianship, and crystal clear production, Misery Loves Company’s crowning achievement is reflected in Flower’s ability to capture her musical inspiration—the rural, romantic South—in word and sound. Her unpretentious vocal style, compelling guitar work, and minimalist arrangements perfectly capture the feeling of gently floating down a slowly moving river or strolling down an isolated dirt road. “

Mary does a workshop for artists, an “EVENT-OF-THE-WEEK for artists” pick, and plays two local concerts, both “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” picks, on this tour.

HER CONCERTS

Thursday, February 2, at 8 pm, MARY FLOWER plays the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 91001; reservations 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm); info www.coffeegallery.com. (“The venue named in FolkWorks as L.A.’s best intimate acoustic listening room venue”).

Saturday, February 4, at 8 pm, MARY FLOWER plays a concert at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; 310-398-2583; www.boulevardmusic.com.

HER WORKSHOP

Her WORKSHOP: “BLUES / RAGTIME with MARY FLOWER” is Saturday, February 4, 3-5 pm, at Boulevard Music. (contact and location info just above).

It’s a fine opportunity to learn from a master, or enjoy her performance in intimate settings. Highly recommended.



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Our # 5 Story

EDITED TRIO’S CALIFORNIA TRIUMPH: LAST CHANCE IN U.S. ’TIL NEXT YEAR


Actually, you have a few chances between now and Sunday, as they’re playing the “Wine and Song” series tonight (Wednesday) in South Pasadena, and staying busy with house concerts before their 2012 U.S. finale on Sunday. But you really must catch them someplace before they make the circuit of Europe once again. These guys are headed for big things, and you read that confident prediction here.

This Sunday, February 5, at 7 pm, in a Guide “SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK” pick, “BRETT PERKINS & FRIENDS” includes a short set by the EDITED trio (BRETT PERKINS, DAVID ZINK, and MARK DAVIS). They’re just back from a 22-gig tour and barnstorming live performances on all the Northern Cal folk radio shows. Sunday’s headlining performance will come amidst a full evening’s lineup of hand-picked acoustic musicians, all celebrating Brett’s annual return from Europe and West Coast concert tour. It’s at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Bl, Sierra Madre; 626-355-4318; www.sierramadreplayhouse.com.

This annual night brings a lineup of fine musicians that you won’t otherwise see in one place.

The stars are, of course, the EDITED trio. Each performs and tours individually. These three guys are all seasoned pros who have individually and collectively played the world. In fact, they've done three European tours since we last saw them together a year ago in Southern Cal.

Together, the trio is even greater than the sum of its formidable parts.

MARK DAVIS was recognized with the “Album of the Decade” in the L.A. Times OC edition; transplanted Californian BRETT PERKINS has had his recorded originals in the European charts; DAVID ZINK has, for years, commanded a loyal fan base with his innovative acoustic originals. But together, ahhh, pure enjoym,ent. Their innovative writing, their instrumental arrangements with just two guitars and percussion sounds like much more, and most of all, their rich vocal harmonies, are all extra special. Come hear why they keep getting booked in Europe and why they kept getting drafted to do live radio on their just-completed tour.

The evening will include a short set from Danish singer-songwriter AMILIE RIIS, who writes and performs charming and compelling songs in English. Other Southern Cal-based artists performing include Trough Records artists TEDROW & VREELAND and DAVE MORRISON. Call ahead to get your ticket and arrive early for the best seats.



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Our # 6 Story


CHANGE AT GOOGLE: EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, THEY’LL BE WATCHING YOU


This is creepy. From now on, Google will track absolutely everything you do on the web through any affiliate or connection or link from them, including your G-mail account, and from anyplace you went from a search that began on Google. Read your Hotmail or Yahoo mail or any other email account on a mobile device with a Google operating system and they’re reading your mail. And they are tracking and keeping it – all of it – in a database with your i.d. info attached.

In addition, they are changing their privacy policies to give themselves “freedom” to compromise your freedom, by tracking, monitoring, and sharing – i.e., selling the information – to third parties.

They are making no provision for you to opt-out. It’s the cyber equivalent of peeking through your keyhole, watching through the backside of your mirror, steaming open your envelopes. And you can’t stop it. Use Google, lose your privacy. Period.

Google, the leading search engine and web interface for mobile devices, claims they want to provide you with specific content, tailored to your preferences, based on where you go on the web. Read: you’ll be inundated with targeted advertising. At the very least.

We are not part of the black helicopter crowd, and we don’t believe Jack Bauer is coming to get us. But we don’t like this. Any of it. We’re immediately switching to Bing or Yahoo – or better yet, ixquick (keep reading) – for all our web searches. We’re looking into what it takes to replace Google’s mobile operating system with someone else’s – anyone else’s – who isn’t in the spying-for-profit business.

We recommend that you use an encrypted search engine that guarantees protection of your privacy and no compilation of data on you, data that others would buy and analyze to build profiles of you. We recently learned of a good encrypted search engine, called “ixquick,” at www.ixquick.com

Memo to Google: Just ’cause you’re the biggest, you are not too big to fail. If you choose to pursue the course you announced January 25th, you deserve to fail, and we’ll be glad to spread awareness that you are making private information available to the highest bidder. We do that in hopes of assisting your failure, because you’ve got a lotta damn gall pulling this. We expect it from repressive governments like those in China and Iran. We didn’t expect it from you. By what right, Google? Just who the hell do you think you are?



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Our # 7 Story

CONCERT REVIEW: UKE PRINCESS BRITTNI PAIVA AT ISLAND BAZAAR

by Geo. McCalip

Ukulele virtuoso BRITTNI PAIVA! On January 21st, Island Bazaar in Huntington Beach benefitted once again from its proximity to Anaheim and the annual NAAM Show. This year, the music store and venue hosted the top-rated young female musician from Hawaii who was performing at the show, in town because she is sponsored by instrument maker KoAloha ukulele. Arriving at the shop directly from NAAM, Brittni finished a long day on Saturday, January 21st, by giving an amazing display of talent, energy and personality.

Less accomplished players might work up to "Europa" by Carlos Santana, but Brittni opened with it. What a way to warm up for her and the audience. She moved from that into an original, "Cruisin' on 7"' and followed that with the theme from "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Next came a pop song, "Teenage Dream" by Katie Perry. Brittni used the song as a vehicle to demonstrate how she works in the studio with multiple tracks. Using an electronic looping device she first laid down a rhythm track by thumping on the body of her KoAloha ukulele and a second rhythm track by brushing the strings. A chord progression became the third track. With the looping device playing these tracks as accompaniment, she demonstrated her virtuosity by playing an intricate version of the melody.

Expanding on the variety of music, she then played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen, "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5, "Tamacun" by Gabriela Quintero and Rodrigo Pineda Sanchez, and her original, "Gazing" before intermission.

To open her second set, Brittni started with the Hawaiian tune "Kawika," which had Island Bazaar owner Shirley Orlando rocking out. Following this, she played an original, "Just Always You," a delightful arrangement of "Take Five" by Paul Desmond and "Made for Me," a song she wrote for her husband while they were still courting. She then closed out the set with brilliant renditions of three more songs, "Acelerou" by Djavan Caetano Viana, "Come Back to Sorento" by Ernesto de Curtis and the Gypsy tune, "Chardoz."

After much applause accompanied by cries of "Hanaho," Brittni closed the evening with a lovely rendition of "Kokoni Sachi Ari," an old popular Japanese song written by Saburo Iida.

It was not just the finish of a long day, but a very busy and productive trip to the mainland for the young Hawaiian. In addition to NAAM, she did a workshop and concert in the Sacramento area and played a concert at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. Her fans will be happy to hear that she fit-in three days in the studio with TOM SCOTT, recording her next album.

While eagerly awaiting the release of her tracks with TOM SCOTT, fans can hear her on another new release: she backs PETE TOWNSHEND doing “Corrina, Corrina” on the new Amnesty International 4 CD set of stars doing Dylan covers, “Chimes of Freedom.”

For those who want to hear more ukulele music, Island Bazaar hosts a number of concerts throughout the year. Next up is LIL’ REV for a February 10th workshop and February 11th concert. SID HAUSMAN will also be returning later this year.



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Our # 8 Story

SAN FRANCISCO BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME FESTIVAL (SFBOT) IS THIS MONTH


Presenting ten days of “Bluegrass Ruckus, Old-Time Fun and Ass-Kickin' Americana and Roots Music,” the 13th Annual “SAN FRANCISCO BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME FESTIVAL” (SFBOT) is 30+ shows at numerous small clubs around the Bay Area and featuring some of the most talented musicians on the Americana / Roots music scene. It runs Friday, February 10, through Sunday, February 19, in and around San Francisco.

Confirmed 2012 Acts include: FOGHORN STRINGBAND, JEFF KAZOR & LISA BERMAN, ANNE AND PETE SIBLEY, GOOD LUCK THRIFT STORE OUTFIT, THE BROTHERS COMATOSE, EMILY BONN AND THE VIVANTS, WATER TOWER BUCKET BOYS, BROWNCHICKEN BROWNCOW STRINGBAND, THE BEE EATERS, CAHALEN MORRISON AND ELI WEST, STAIRWELL SISTERS, WATER TOWER BUCKET BOYS, ERIK CLAMPITT, THE NEW FIVE CENTS, SQUIRRELLY STRINGBAND, EVIE LADIN, THE JUNCOS, HOUSTON JONES, SUSIE GLAZE AND THE HILONESOME BAND, FAMILY LINES, KATHY KALLICK BAND QUARTET, TACO JAM, ANNE & PETE SIBLEY, THE TRESPASSERS, WINDY HILL, SNAP JACKSON & THE KNOCK ON WOOD PLAYERS, KLEPTOGRASS, KNUCKLE KNOCKERS, THE ALHAMBRA VALLEY BAND , REDWING, THE ONS, MISISIPI MIKE & THE MIDNIGHT GAMBLERS, MAD COW STRING BAND, MISISIPI RIDER, SWEETBACK SISTERS, JAMES NASH AND THE NOMADS, SUPERMULE, BELLE MONROE AND HER BREWGLASS BOYS, NELL ROBINSON & JIM NUNALLY, MISNER & SMITH, JEANIE & CHUCK POLING, THE EARL BROTHERS, HENHOUSE PROWLERS, CAHALEN MORRISON AND ELI WEST, GAYLE SCHMITT AND THE TOODALA RAMBLERS, RITA HOSKING AND COUSIN JACK, EVIE LADIN, THE BLUSHIN' ROULETTES, EARL WHITE STRINGBAND, BLACK CROWN STRINGBAND, JORDAN RUYLE, PINE BOX BOYS, THE JUGTOWN PIRATES, HANG JONES, DARK HOLLOW, THE CROOKED JADES, and THE DEADLY GENTLEMEN.

Each year the Festival showcases the best in rising acts from the West Coast and beyond, with a special spotlight on the immense amount of local talent in the Bay Area.

Highlights of this year’s festival includes Bay Area favorites such as THE BROTHERS COMATOSE, THE CROOKED JADES, EARL WHITE STRING BAND, and THE KATHY KALLICK QUARTET. Also featured are out-of-town bands; FOGHORN STRINGBAND, CAHALEN MORRISON & ELI WEST, and making their SFBOT debut, THE DEADLY GENTLEMEN (epic folk and grasscore out of Boston). THE DEADLY GENTLEMEN consists of band members GREG LISZT on banjo (from CROOKED STILL), MIKE BARNETT (from DAVID GRISMAN QUINTET/toured w/JESSE McREYNOLDS) on fiddle, DOMINICK LESLIE on mandolin, STASH WYSLOUCH on guitar and SAM GRISMAN on upright bass (son of mandolinist DAVID GRISMAN).

For the first time, the festival will feature a band contest to find and recognize some of the up-and-coming new Northern California Bluegrass and Old-Time bands. Organizers say, “There is a lot of excitement about this contest and it is expected to be a regular addition to the festival.”

In addition to shows, the festival aims to provide rich experiences through workshops, jam sessions, kids shows, Bluegrass and Old-Time in the Schools and the “Saturday Night Old-Time Square Dance,” always a sell-out with over 220 attendees.

The San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival is a grass-roots, non-profit, volunteer-run festival dedicated to keeping the tradition of bluegrass and old-time music alive. More info at www.sfbluegrass.org



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Our # 9 Story

BLUEGRASS GRAMMY WINNER MARTY RAYBON TO RELEASE 2 NEW ALBUMS


The first single, “Dirt Road Heartache,” from his upcoming bluegrass album “Southern Roots & Branches” is already out, on the radio and available as a download. The full CD is set for release April 10, 2012. But that’s just one CD. Grammy® Award winner MARTY RAYBON, who records on Nashville-based Rural Rhythm Records, is a busy guy.

The single is a bluegrass barn-burner, written by MELISSA PIERCE and JERRY SALLEY. Already, it’s brought critical praise: "[It’s] Marty Raybon on his game and at his best," says TERRY HERD of “Bluegrass Today” the Bluegrass Radio Network.

“Dirt Road Heartache” features MARTY RAYBON on lead vocal, TIM RAYBON on harmony vocal, multi-instrumentalist JUSTIN MOSES on banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and Dobro, KENNY SMITH on guitar, and MARK FAIN on bass, and was produced by Marty.

Earlier this month, the label announced Raybon’s new Country Christian single release, “I’ve Seen What He Can Do” from his other forthcoming new album, “Hand To The Plow,” set for release March 27, 2012 on Rural Rhythm Christian. Two new records, two weeks apart? Well, they will be marketed separately, to radio stations in different genres. Still, one wonders if CD sales on tour will be as good as they might have been, toured individually.

More, including upcoming tour dates, at www.MartyRaybon.com and www.RuralRhythm.com



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Our # 10 Story

John van Huizum: A BRIEF MILITARY HISTORY OF WARS


This week, we welcome a new columnist to the Guide and look forward to a long relationship with a fresh column from him each week. Let’s meet him:

John van Huizum is a prolific commentator who seeks to bring common sense interpretation to the issues that politicians work hard to obfuscate. His pieces are always brief, but offer ideas that stay with you through the endless whirlpool of overly abundant pundits and political bloviations. As a child in Holland, John endured the Nazi occupation, grew up in a family that hid Jews from the Nazis, and celebrated liberation. He immigrated to America with only a few dollars in his pocket. He became a successful businessman and raised a family. He is retired from running businesses, but not from listening, thinking, and writing for the Guide and several newspapers. John started to write to find out if philosophy had kept up with the information explosion. He is still wondering.


A BRIEF MILITARY HISTORY OF WARS, by John van Huizum

During my lifetime:

Japan attacks China; attacker eventually loses, defender wins.
Germany invades Europe; invader eventually loses, defenders win.
Italy attacks North Africa; attacker eventually loses, defenders win.
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor; attacker eventually loses, defender wins.
Hitler invades Soviet Union; Soviet Union repels him.
Soviet Union invades Balkans and Germany; Soviet Union eventually loses.
North Korea attacks South Korea; eventually loses, U.N. wins.
U.S. invades South Vietnam; Vietnam eventually wins.
U.S. attacks Cuba at Bay of Pigs; Cuba repels American forces.
Egypt and others attack Israel; Israel is triumphant.
Iraq invades Iran; Iran defends and wins.
Argentina invades Falkland Islands [a territory of England]; invader loses, England wins.
U.S.S.R. invades Afghanistan; invader withdraws, Afghanistan wins.
Iraq conquers Kuwait; would-be conqueror loses, U.N. wins.
Religious fanatics attack the U.S.; wars of terror break out globally.
US invades Iraq and Afghanistan; out come: everybody loses.
After World War II almost all former colonies became sovereign nations.

I wonder if this historical record is taught in our military academies?



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COMING NEXT WEEK: OUR SERIES ON THE 2012 NAMM SHOW BEGINS, with news of new products, performances at the show, NAMM-related events, and MORE!


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MORE STUFF >>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Other News, Submissions to the Guide, Resources, etc

Find everything via the main site, by clicking-through at

www.acousticmusic.net

or go DIRECTLY to the latest post (and a handy and clickable sidebar to navigate all editions) at

www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT’S THERE?

=> "NEWS FEATURES” is a fresh edition most each week, with news and reviews from the acoustic music universe, features on folk-Americana and “acoustic renaissance” music and artists, a litlle from the electric side of honky-tonk Americana, the latest tours, recordings and projects, reviews of CDs and live shows, industry news, news for artists, and more.

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=> “SPOTLIGHT EVENTS” – the LATEST UPDATE to the Guide's chronological, day-by-day listings and descriptions of live acoustic and Americana performances, festivals, workshops and more. If you missed something, you can access it in the archive.

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=> "VENUE DIRECTORY" - The Guide's extensive locator – has address and contact info for OVER 500 acoustic-music-friendly venues in Southern California, from Santa Barbara County to south Orange County, plus a few key spots in San Diego, the deserts, and on the Central Coast.

UPDATES to the Venue Directory are made every few months and a new edition for 2012 is due soon – the 2011 edition of our VENUE DIRECTORY is available at

http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/venue-directory-from-guide-updated.html



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As 2012 progresses, it’ll all be available 24/7 (& frequently updated!) at

www.acousticmusic.net
- or go directly to the latest edition at
www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com

- or by following any of many links on the web to get to one of those sites.

The Guide’s weekly NEWS FEATURES are published in 16 websites / webgroups!

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contents copyright © 2012, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
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Wanna write for the Acoustic Americana Music Guide”?

…or get something published that you wrote? – Like a

CD REVIEW ?
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LIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEW ?

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