Local Musician Spotlight – Adrian Trevino – The No Buenos
The first time we caught Adrian Trevino playing was at the “Blues Jam” held every Sunday night, now at Rossi’s 1906, and watched him put on a clinic of singing and playing Stevie Ray Vaughan songs. A couple songs later and he’s behind the band on the drums, laying it down just as tight. “Is this guy a drummer or a guitar player?” we thought. Turns out he excels at both.
Born in Santa Cruz and raised in Maui, Trevino has been back and forth between the island and Sonoma since ’92. The blues were always around him, as it was his father’s favorite genre of music, but the young Trevino was drawn to metal, and at 18 with his act “Arise” he toured California, recorded two EP’s and played constantly. When he was 25, things came full circle, back to the blues and that’s where we find him today.
Trevino is playing solo with a friend or two sitting in on Sunday, June 5, at Murphy’s Irish Pub, kicking off at 2 p.m. Lets 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?
AT > It actually started early in my life. Music was always around me, my dad was a musician so there were instruments and encouragement all around, but I guess it was Stevie Ray Vaughan and seeing the video of “El Mocambo” that really made me know I wanted to sing and play blues guitar. I can’t count how many times I watched that video
2) That first instrument you owned. What was it and do you still have it?
AT > A black Fender Squire Stratocaster with a white pick guard. I do still have it, but it’s in pieces, but I have them all. My dad bought it for me when I was like 10 years old but I was way more into drums. I didn’t really get into guitar until I was older.
3) Who are you’re primary influences in your music?
AT > Stevie Ray was there for sure, but the two biggest ones were Michael Jackson and Dimebag Darrell of Pantera. Michael Jackson was it for me even when I was really young, during the ‘80s I nearly wore ‘Thriller” out.
4) What CD or playlist is in your car or your iPod?
AT > Pantera, typically always and Richie Kotzen. I’ve been focusing on being a better songwriter so I’ve listened to the last 20 years of his discography. Oh, and Chromeo, they have kind of a funky electronic disco thing going on that I like.
5) Tell us about your current acts.
AT > The No Buenos is the biggest thing I have going now. My songwriting partner, Jason Huybers and I have an album coming out soon so that is the biggest thing. I’m doing some solo gigs just for the fun of it, like this weekend, and have my trio still, but haven’t dome much with that lately. I also play with Dylan Chambers and Midnight Transit but I’m slowly pulling out of that act. I really want to start focusing on just songwriting.
6) If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?
AT> Oh boy. I’d have to say “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop. The song is four chords all the way through, it never changes, but to get that much soul and feeling out of a song with only four chords, to me it really stands out.
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Song List – Election Time
The primaries are just around the corner, so my editor floats the idea of an election song list. “Should be easy to find some you like” he says. Easier said than done, and with the power of the Google, we find election songs that go back to the 1800’s, election songs about candidates, campaign election songs, even failed campaign songs, songs that some claim actually cost the candidate the election, but not a lot just about the election.
We managed to whittle out a “Top Eight” for you, some with meaning for us and some we had never heard of until this assignment. We hope you enjoy them too.
- Election Day – Arcadia
In 1985 we must have been heavily into Judas Priest, as this song reached number six on the Billboard charts here in the U.S and we had never heard of it. A one-off project from members of Duran Duran and Powerstation, it could have been called “Re-Election Day” and laments that whatever happens, they almost always get re-elected. The video is from the “spend as much money as you want on the video” MTV days and it shows.
- Election Day – the Replacements
Originally slated to be on the critically-acclaimed 1987 album, “Pleased to Meet Me” it finally made the cut when Rhino Records re-released it in 2008 with 11 additional B-Sides and bonus cuts. The song talks about how singer Paul Westerberg doesn’t care who gets elected until he finds love. As much as the critics and record labels liked this act, they never really broke into the mainstream out of Minnesota.
- Electioneering – Radiohead
“When I go forwards you go backwards and somewhere we will meet” says the chorus. Some would call it a racket. Radiohead sure did.
- Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
The song doesn’t specifically mention an election, but CCR was a big voice in the Vietnam era. The song speaks of a “Fortunate Son.” A fortunate son was one who was in the military, as you either had to enlist or register for the draft at that time, but the son’s never actually got called to duty, as they were sons of Senators and other elected officials. In fact, if one was in your unit, likely your whole unit never got called, as they didn’t want them to be singled out. Fogerty joined and served in 1967.
- Campaigner – Neil Young
“Even Richard Nixon has Soul…” Powerful words from the man who also penned “Tin Soldiers and Nixon’s coming, we’re finally on our own” after the Kent State shootings in 1970. The song was allegedly recorded during the “On the Beach” sessions in 1974 but was never publicly released until the six-record “Decade” album was released in 1977. According to Young’s hand-written liner notes, “Dedicated to Hunter Thompson who provided me one of the most memorable afternoons back in the day.” Look up the video on YouTube, and find some honest reflection at the end from President Nixon himself.
- The Times They are a Changin’ – Bob Dylan
Technically a protest song, not really an election song, but in 1964, folks still believed that popular opinion and calling on your Senators and Congress people could actually exact change in the country and what was going on. Seemed it ended up taking to the streets to actually end the Vietnam war, which finally got the politicians attention, with Nixon promising to end the war if elected in 1972, which he did.
- Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
From “Who’s Next,” one of our favorite Who albums, the song was originally composed for one of guitarist Pete Townsends rock operas that never came to fruition. Again, not actually an election song, but the lyrics “meet the new boss, he’s the same as the old boss” pretty much sum up the political feelings of many in this country these days. In addition to containing what is likely the best scream in any rock song ever recorded, it was also the last song late drummer Keith Moon ever played with the act before his death in 1978.
- Elected – Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper has been having the last laugh with us for over 40 years now, who was as controversial then as Marilyn Manson was recently. The song appeared on the “Billion Dollar Babies” album from 1972 and like many of his songs, has a tongue-in-cheek social message that few actually got until much later in his career. With lyrics sounding much like today’s candidates, “I’m your top prime cut of meat, I’m your choice, I wanna be elected, I’m your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce, I wanna be elected, Kids want a savior, don’t need a fake, I wanna be elected, We’re all gonna rock to the rules that I make, I wanna be elected” Cooper may just get our vote this year. Well, maybe not. A scratch golfer, he’s probably busy golfing in a Pro-am somewhere.
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Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, June 3: The Cork Pullers. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 4: Mark Larson Band. 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters, 18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 939-1905
Saturday, June 4: Hugh Gallagher. 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 5: Stewart Degner. 3 p.m.
B. R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy. Glen Ellen, 800-330-4064
Sunday, June 5: Don Trotta and Dann Walters. 2 p.m.
El Verano Inn, 705 Laurel Ave. El Verano, 935-0611
Saturday, June 5: Tilted Halos. 9 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, June 3: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, June 3: John Lester. 5 p.m. Matt Jaffe. 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 4: Born Lucky. 1 p.m. Timothy O’Neil. 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 5: Matt Bolton. 1 p.m.
Madrone Estate Winery, 777 Madrone Rd. Glen Ellen, 939-4500
Sunday, June 5: the Cork Pullers. 1 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, June 3: Michael Mullen. 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 4: Andrew Freeman. 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 5: Adrian Trevino. 2 p.m.
Muscardini Cellars, 9380 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, 933-9305
Saturday, June 4: “Simmer Down Saturday” with T Luke and the Tight Suits. 6 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Saturday, June 4: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
Plaza Bistro, 420 First St E. Sonoma, 996-4466
Tonight, June 3: Noel Jewkes Quartet with Kay Kostopoulos. 7 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, June 3: Acoustic Soul. 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 4: Junior Boogie and Friends. 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 5: The Second Street Band. 5 p.m. Blues Jam. 9:30 p.m.
Schellville Grill, 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, 996-5151
Saturday, June 4: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards, 389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma, 933-3230
Tonight, June 3: Rubber Soul Acoustic-Electric Beatles Tribute. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, June 3: Red Beans & Rice Revue with Luke Domingue. 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 4: Wildflower Weed. 1 p.m. Full Circle. 5 p.m. Les Amis Zydeco. 8 p.m. Ryan Tatarian. 12 a.m.
Sunday, June 5: “Open Mic and Mimosas.” 1 to 7 p.m. David Bingham. 1 p.m. The Acrosonics. 4 p.m. Jon Shannon Williams. 8 p.m.
William Hood Mansion, 7501 Sonoma Hwy, Santa Rosa, 833-6288
Tonight, June 3: “Funky Fridays” with the Pulsators. 7 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it.