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Finding Solace in Music
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Monterey County Herald, Finding Solace in Music >>
By Beth Peerless
Despite living in a world weary from tragedy and natural disaster, we can find solace in the moments of pure joy we have in the company of good friends and good music.
This past week serves as a stellar example. To begin with, moe. and Govt. Mule at The Catalyst Thursday provided an extended evening of music, both bands delivering full two-hour plus sets.
While I couldn't hang until the 1:15 a.m. quitting time for Govt. Mule, I did get a good dose of both bands because of their generosity of time and spirit.
The touring double-bill brought its own sound system and lights, so we got the best there was for each band. Moe.'s style skewed towards contemporary jam rock, with quick changes of tempo and stylistic approach.
Upbeat rhythms and a happy-go-lucky attitude radiated like-minded vibes within the crowd, and the lights were dynamic and euphoric in turn.
Guitarist Warren Haynes of Govt. Mule has been working with the classic jam bands The Allman Brothers and The Dead as of late, so it was no surprise to hear blues-based guitar riffs and nods to The Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin early on.
Friends who stayed until the end said the band continued to expand its sound and that Haynes picked up more steam as the night turned into early morning.
Now, that's cool, and reminiscent of the old days when bands could play into the wee hours.
Along those lines, there will be a big reunion of sorts in San Francisco this Sunday at the Chet Helms' Memorial Tribal Stomp, a free, all-day concert in Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadows.
Helms was an early Haight-Ashbury pioneer and peace activist who hitched up with the Family Dog organization and became the driving force behind the dance concerts at The Avalon, Family Dog at the Beach, Denver Dog and Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Ore.
He brought his friend Janis Joplin out to San Francisco from Texas and hooked her up with Big Brother and the Holding Company.
He's a legendary figure who passed away earlier this year. The Web site for info is www.2b1records.com/chetmemorial/index.html.
The daylong event runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and features performances by Jefferson Starship (a.k.a. Paul Kantner and the Planet Earth Rock 'n' Roll Orchestra), Eric Burdon, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Harvey Mandel, The Charlatans, Jerry Miller, Country Joe, Barry "The Fish" Melton, Terry Haggerty and James Preston of Sons of Champlin, Canned Heat, Roy Rogers, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, and lots more, including Wavy Gravy as MC.
Congratulations to Mac and Natalie. They had quite the party Saturday at Hidden Valley following their wedding on the Big Sur coast.
The Fabulous Bagtones convened like they do for special occasions, and the Cowboy Satellites tore it up and sounded great with Bill Ray's awesome stage and sound system. The cowboy theme permeated our dress and dancing. Yee haw!
In a way it was a preview for what's coming up this weekend for Halloween. (Some kind of transition, eh?) Dress and act up in ways peculiar to your normal routine!
Santa Cruz has lots to offer. Most events go down Saturday night and are costume oriented.
At the Rio Theatre, there's a Keep Santa Cruz Weird In Concert revue, with lots of wacky acts to keep things interesting. Vet's Hall has the Freaker's Ball, a Santa Cruz tradition.
The Catalyst offers a Halloween Ball with Brazilian-style dance band Sambadá.
Moe's Alley serves up blues guitar master Chris Cain and his Band of Ghouls.
The Attic features a Halloween Costume party with Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum, a group of depraved attention grabbers.
And Don Quixote's presents Pan Latin dance band SolCaríbe. That's all on Saturday. Check the venue Web sites for details.
On Halloween Monday, The Catalyst presents the Breedlove Odyssey hip-hop concert with Mos Def and Talib Kweli (both previously of Black Star), and again on Tuesday.
This second 16+ show was recently added, both start at 8 p.m., with tickets $40 advance, $45 door. More info at www.catalystclub.com, or by calling 423-1336.
And Zook Beat presents the Gangbe Brass Band, an African-based New Orleans-style jamming brass band for another chance to dress up and freak out.
This all-ages show starts at 7:30 p.m., tickets are $20 advance, $22 door, available at 421-9200, or www.zookbeat.com.
(Hear music described in Cruzin' and more on Beth's radio shows 3-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday on KRML, 1410-AM or online at www.krmlradio.com.)GO! 10/27/05 >> go there
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