Soundbytes – Rossi’s Double Bill
It’s a double-bill at Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall tonight, July 22, with the debut of a new act and an act that doesn’t get out much. Peace of G is Gerard Serafini’s new band that features his own material done with his own special twist. “ I’ve been wanting to put together something like this for a long time” said Serafini, “ and the pieces just seemed to finally fall into place.” A Long-time Grateful Dead fan, the songs have a “jam band” feel with the ability to stretch out the music to unexplored areas. Serafini has put together a couple veterans from his other act, Ten Foot Tone, with Michael Noel on guitar and Dave McKee on drums, and has added in Michael Lipuma on bass to accompany himself on vocals and guitar. For this debut performance, Serafini will also have Glenn Sullivan on trumpet and Rick Clifford on saxophone. The show kicks off at 8 p.m. and for more info on the act, point your browser to peaceofg.com
Next up for a 10 p.m. show is the John Burdick Band. Although the current version of the act has been playing for years, they don’t play out much, due to Burdick and his wife, Catherine Venturini, being busy running the popular “Olive and Vine” restaurant in Glen Ellen. With the restaurant transitioning to a new location, Burdick has his weekends freed up a bit and has time to “put the band back together” Originally from Chicago, Burdick arrived in Sonoma via Colorado and Hollywood, where he cut his musical teeth in both scenes, opening for acts like Keb Mo and more. Burdick is a passionate player, and you can see it in his playing and the lyrics he composes, singing about his experiences and the struggles of life in general in these times. The band recently came off a short Caribbean cruise tour where they shared the stage with Kenny Loggins, Three Dog Night, Nestor Torres and more. To find out more about the band, point your browser to johnburdickmusic.com
###############
Mark your calendars if you haven’t already, as the annual Sonoma City Party is right around the corner, slated for next Thursday, July 28, at 5:30 p.m. Traditionally on a Tuesday with the Tuesday Night Market, the date had to be changed once the market expanded to use the back of City Hall, where the party used to take place. In addition to the numerous food and drink options, the party is presenting four musical acts. Headlining the night will be Carlos Reyes, supported by ConTigo, Halsey and the Hi-Hats and THC. Reyes is a world-class electric violin player and has toured with the Steve Miller Band, Roy Rogers, the Zac Brown Band and more. ConTigo plays soul, funk and rock. Halsey and the Hi-Hats takes you back to the swing-era with danceable swing tunes and THC plays classic rock and pop.
The annual event is free and open to the public. For more info, point your browser to sonomacityparty.com
###############
Local Musician Spotlight – Gerard Serafini
A Sonoma Valley Native, Gerard Serafini’s family homesteaded Sonoma almost 70 years ago, and have been living on the family property since. A musical household, young Serafini had two older brothers who both played in bands during the whole ‘60’s music revolution. With instruments laying around and a taught chord on a guitar here and there, it wasn’t long before Serafini was playing and writing songs, in fact, his first performance in seventh grade had him performing one of his original songs with long-time friend Glenn Sullivan.
As the ‘80s rolled on, Serafini found himself bouncing between playing clubs in San Francisco and Marin and having a full-time audio visual engineer job, which had him doing sound and video on the All Madden show among others. But, 16-18 days a month on the road is tough to do when you have small children, so Serafini took a job at a local music store, run by legendary luthier Steve Klein, eventually taking over the space and changing the name to Sonoma Valley Music.
Like many industries, the Internet had it’s way with video rentals, record stores and even music stores and Serafini was forced to close the doors. After a brief health set back, Serafini decided to scale things back and focus on his own songs, which he had been writing for years and put together a music catalog. An opportunity from Music Nomad Equipment Care came along, where Serafini could represent the environmentally-friendly music products and essentially work from his house that has allowed him to do just that, and his new act “Peace of G” became a realization.
Serafini will be doing his debut performance with the band tonight, July 22, for a show at Rossi’s 1906 Roadhouse, kicking off at 8 p.m. We managed to touch bases with Serafini so let’s find out a little more about him with the usual six questions.
1) Many musicians in our generation cite the Beatles on Ed Sullivan as that moment when they knew music was what they wanted to do. When and what was it that made you realize you wanted to be a musician?
GS > It was a Television show, but a different one for me. It was the Smothers Brothers and the Who was on the show. As one of the skits, or not, Pete Townsend grabbed Tommy’s acoustic guitar and smashed it to pieces (Townsend was famous for that in his act). That was pretty much it. I actually got to tell Tommy that story and thank him for setting me up on the path that would eventually become my career.
2) That first instrument you owned. What was it and do you still have it?
GS> No, I don’t have it. I had already decided I wanted to be a bass player after seeing Woody Herman and the Woodchoppers Ball but my parents got me a classical guitar, so it didn’t get played much by me.
3) Who are you’re primary influences in your music?
GS > Well, from an “old-school” perspective, the Who and the Grateful Dead. I probably saw the dead a hundred times. For now though, it’s Jon Shannon Williams, my singer-songwriter in my band Ten Foot Tone. He is a constant inspiration to me and keeps me focused on the song, among other things.
4) What CD or playlist is in your car or your iPod?
GS> “Peace of G” tracks. I honestly don’t listen to the radio or even popular songs, or have playlists or anything. I’m too much a tech-geek and I start breaking down the song as to where the mics may have been placed during recording or how much reverb the producer was using before I even hear the vocals or the song itself. I guess instrumentals are likely my favorite.
5) Tell us about your current acts.
GS > “Ten Foot Tone” and my new act “Peace of G.” That’s pretty much it. We’ve been doing Ten Foot Tone for almost 10 years now and the new act is really all my songs, my personality, with all my twists to music..
6) If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?
GS> Oh man.. that’s tough. Hmmm. It wouldn’t be one song, but an entire album. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. When you listen to it, it is kind of like one long song.
###############
Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, July 22: David Bingham. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: Noah Trettor. 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters, 18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 939-1905
Saturday, July 23: Carl and Eddie. 3 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: Dave Hooper. 3 p.m.
B. R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy. Glen Ellen, 800-330-4064
Sunday, July 24: JMB and the Big O. 2 p.m.
El Verano Inn, 705 Laurel Ave. El Verano, 935-0611
Saturday, July 23: Punk Rock with Imbalanced, Heap of Stone, Eat the Crow, the Quitters, Kitten Drunk and Tri-Polar. 8 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, July 22: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, July 22: Solid Air. 5 p.m. Kendra McKinley. 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: Dan Martin. 1 p.m. Frankie Bourne. 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: Nate Lopez. 1 p.m.
Hood Mansion Lawn, N. Pythian Rd off Hwy 12, Santa Rosa, 833-6288
Tonight, July 22: “Funky Fridays” with the Blues Burners. 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, July 22: Sean Carscadden Trio. 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: Z and the Benders. 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: Tony Gibson and Dawn Angelosante. 2 p.m.
Muscardini Cellars, 9380 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, 933-9305
Saturday, May 23: “Simmer Down Saturday” with the Jami Jamison Band. 6 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Saturday, July 23: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, July 22: Peace of G. 8 p.m. John Burdick Band 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: Stone Cold Mollie. 9 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: Three Times Bad. 5 p.m. Blues Jam. 9:30 p.m.
Schellville Grill, 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, 996-5151
Saturday, July 23: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards, 389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma, 933-3230
Tonight, July 22: Poyntlyss Sistars. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, July 22: Ryan Tatarian. 6:30 p.m. Loosely Covered. 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: The Marks Brothers. 5 p.m. Iko Ya Ya. 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: “Open Mic and Mimosas.” 1 to 7 p.m. Acrosonics. 4 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com