Soundbytes – Bottlerock
It’s actually closer to Downtown Sonoma than Kenwood, but somehow doesn’t seem like it, but with a three-day music festival only a 17 minute drive away in Napa with some big names coming to town on four stages, it’s impossible to not have it on our radar. All three days sold out months ago, but if you are planning on “Bottlerocking” this weekend, we’ve grabbed some picks for you.
But, we’re pretty sure you all know about Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Ziggy Marley and the other big names, so we’re going to focus on some up and coming acts we like on the smaller stages.
The Deadlies. Riding the wave straight out of Napa, this hippie-surf-country act logged over 100 shows last year, opening for names like Lisa Marie Presley, the Mavericks, Blue Oyster Cult, the B-52’s, Dick Dale and Big Bad VooDoo Daddy. The songs contain just about every surf and rockabilly lick ever recorder and has a Dick Dale-Brian Setzer vibe to it. Fronted by guitarist James Patrick Regan and Bob St. Laurent, the act will get you moving. Catch them on the Jam Cellars stage at Noon today, May 27.
The Silverado Pickups. It’s not the truck they’re talking about, but the pickups that grab the sound and pump it into the amp. This group of Napa Valley wine industry veterans play what they describe as “Wine-infused California Rock.” Legend has it they met over a six-pack of wine somewhere on the Oakville Crossing back in 2010 and they haven’t looked back. The act includes David Duncan of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars, Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo Vineyards, Shane Soldinger with Silver Trident Winery, Dan Zepponi of Madrone Estate in Sonoma, winemaker Tres Goetting of Robert Biale Vineyards, percussionist Joe Shotwell and wine-industry advisor Paul Hoffman. We think it’s safe to say wine will be on stage. You can catch them on the Miner Family Winery stage on Saturday, May 28, at 1:30 p.m.
Anadel. The band is an up and coming regional act, playing San Francisco, Napa and even Sonoma since 2011. They call their music “Ambient Alternative” in the veins of Radiohead, Nick Drake, and Mutemath, with songs that have strings and a variety of other instruments you would not expect to hear. The act is donating 100% of it’s tips on Noisetrade for the entire month to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. You can catch the act today, May 27, at 12:15 p.m. on the Lagunitas Stage.
Rose’s Pawn Shop. Out of Los Angeles, the act came about it’s name in one of the most unique ways we’ve ever heard. Seems that singer-songwriter Paul Givant’s disgruntled ex-girlfriend, Rose, having had just about enough of him and the band, stole and pawned all their gear to a local pawn shop. At that point the name of the act was clear and after getting their gear out of hock, the act was born. The act has an upbeat country feel, almost Hillbilly, which is similar to the Avett Brothers with a hint of Johnny Cash and Bill Monroe. You can catch the act on the Lagunitas Stage on Saturday, May 29, at 2:15 p.m.
Royal Jelly Jive. You will feel like you have stepped back into the ‘40s with this act, with an authentic swing sound heavy on acoustic stand-up bass and full horn section. Hailing from San Francisco and veterans of the club scene there, Lauren Michelle Bjelde’s sultry vocals, mixed with the vibe will take you back in time. You can catch them on the Miner Family Winery Stage on Sunday, May 29, at 12:45 p.m.
Jamestown Revival. Hailing from the small Texas town of Magnolia, the duo of Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance felt the calling, and ventured to Austin, Texas to hone their musical craft. Like many, seems a trip to Los Angeles is a necessary evil, but for this duo they came back to Austin with an album and a record deal under their belts, and ventured to Utah in a cabin to record it and titled it, aptly “UTAH”. The act has a fresh sound with clear influences to artists from the past. Guy Clark, CCR, Willie Nelson. You can catch the Revival on the Miner Family Stage on Sunday, May 29, at 4:15 p.m.
Moonalice. OK, these guys are kind of a big name, but truly a local act that has so much musical history with them and are doing things to keep the vibe of the ‘60s alive. They record every show they play and give them away on their website. They have a poster artist create a unique poster for each and every show. They have even created the “Moonalice Legend” with some parts believable, and others not so much. The act has rock legend Pete Sears on bass, who turns 68 years old today, who played on the original “Gasoline Alley” record with Rod Stewart and did stints with the Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna. The band is essentially a jam band, with a decidedly ‘60s groove. You can catch them on the Miner Family Winery Stage on Saturday, May 28, at 8:45 p.m.
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Soundbytes – Funky Fridays
It’s time to get funky this Friday, but before you run up to Sugarloaf Ridge State park for the fun, the venue has changed. The wildly popular music series, which generated $86,000 for the park in just three years, ended up a victim of it’s own success. “It simply outgrew the limitations of the park” said Bill Meyers, who along with his wife Linda Pavlik, were the creators of the event. Dismayed by the thought that the series might just come to an end, while he was out hiking, which he does frequently, he hiked by the William Hood Mansion, just off Pythian Road, saw the structure and the large lawn with plenty of parking and thought maybe this would be the place.
After a couple phone calls and some logistic meetings, Funky Fridays now had a new home, and benefactor, the William Hood Mansion. Teaming up with the Sonoma Regional Parks Foundation, this year proceeds will help the mansion, Hood Mountain Regional Park and other parks in Sonoma Valley. “We thought it was important to keep the funds in Sonoma Valley to help out here, where we live” Said Meyers. “Our organization is honored to be involved with Funky Fridays,” said Melissa Kelley, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. “Funds raised from this concert series will help support our parks, and the new concert location also will introduce the attendees to the historic landmark of Hood Mansion and the potential for improvements at this site.”
But what about the music? Once again Meyers and Pavlik have put together an all-star line-up for the series, starting tonight with the Bruthas, which feature Levi Lloyd, Willy Jordan, Willard Blackwell, Ron Lacey and Larry Jones. The series continues every Friday through Sept. 2, with bands like the Jami Jamison band, Gator Nation, the Pulsators and more.
Food and beverages are available at the venue but picnic baskets are welcome as well. The price of admission has not changed, and parking is free with a Regional Parks parking pass. The official address of the venue, 7501 Sonoma Hwy. is a little misleading, as the mansion used to have a driveway all the way to Sonoma Highway, but to get to the venue, you will want to get to Pythian Road, off Sonoma Highway and veer left past St. Francis Winery to Casa Manana and as you drive up the road the mansion will come into view. For tickets and more info, point your browser to funkyfridays.info.
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Soundbytes – CD review
Jaydub and Dino – Hipster Burden
There is no denying it, Jeff Falconer is a thinking mans songwriter. House painter by day, and a pretty darn good one, musician by night, which he is also pretty darn good at, this is his sixth CD release, the third as Jaydub and Dino. Jaydub is of course Falconer, with Dino being Dennis Cordellos, guitarist with the Jami Jamison Band. We had a stint playing with Cordellos years back and have played with many others over the years, and Cordellos is one of the most talented lead and rhythm players with whom we’ve ever played.
Falconer has a unique approach to songwriting. “I call my approach “Loving Satire” because I am, or have been, guilty of all the human quirks and excesses I lampoon. It’s my hope to give each audience a “full spectrum” experience, acknowledging our human predicament, but at the same time highlighting our remarkable ability to self-correct by embracing our imperfections and cutting ourselves and each other some slack.”
Friends since the Sonoma Valley High School days, lets just say a few years back, Cordellos and Falconer have been performing musicians in their own acts over the years, with Cordellos spending a long time in the touring act Pacific Coast Highway and Falconer trying his hand in the south, with acts like Seymour Light and the old Glen Ellen act, Maurice Bleu. Both now rooted back in Sonoma, the duo started jamming together coming up with a style of acoustic music they called “Porch Groove.” The kind of music you might listen to on some neighbor’s porch. It was then they decided to actually record some of their tunes.
The third effort from the act, called “Hipster Burden” picks up where the previous two releases left off, with songs that are easy to listen to, but you will stop the player and rewind, thinking “What did he just say?” “What’s It Like” describes the feeling one gets when confronted by that person that sees nothing around them but themselves, hence the line “What’s it like to be the only frickin’ person in the world?” The title track laments and talks about the trends of music over the years that many jumped into, although Falconer wasn’t one of them, sticking to his roots, but the lyrics “I’m walkin’ so much lighter since I laid my hipster burden down” speak volumes. The disc features Cordellos on acoustic slide guitar throughout, and is a welcome addition to the standard leads he lays down. The instrument-only tune “Sugarloaf Strut” is also one of our favorites.
You can see the duo around town regularly by following the set list or this Saturday, May 28, at Schug Carneros Winery at 1 p.m. , and can pick up the disc on Falconers website, along with his other releases, by pointing your browser to jefffalconer.com. Yes, that’s three f’s.
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Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, May 27: Voices in my Head. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 28: The Trees. 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters, 18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 939-1905
Saturday, May 28: Stewart Degner. 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 29: Dale Henry Geist. 3 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille, 400 First St. E. Sonoma, 938-7110
Tonight, May 27: DJ Roots . 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 28: DJ Mini Mex. 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 29: Sunday Funday with DJ Cal. 1 p.m.
Cornerstone, 23570 Arnold Dr, Carneros, 933-3010
Saturday, May 28: Adam Traum and Dale Henry Geist. 1 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, May 27: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, May 27: Dan Goldfus. 5 p.m. Matt Bolton. 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 28: Al James. 1 p.m. Timothy O’Neil. 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 29: Nate Lopez. 1 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, May 27: Derek Irving. 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 29: Kevin Russell and his so-called Friends. 7 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Saturday, May 28: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
Plaza Bistro, 420 First St E. Sonoma, 996-4466
Tonight, May 27: Dalt Williams Quartet. 7 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, May 27: Duran, Duran, Duran. 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 28: Edge of the West. 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 29: Blues Jam. 9:30 p.m.
Schellville Grill, 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, 996-5151
Saturday, May 28: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Schug Carneros Winery, 602 Bonneau Road, Carneros, 939-9363
Saturday, May 28: Jaydub and Dino. 1 p.m.
Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St. E. Sonoma, 996-9756
Sunday, May 29: “Piano Magic” with Wendy DeWitt, Tommy Thomsen and Billy Philadelphia. 7 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards, 389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma, 933-3230
Tonight, May 27: “Food Truck Friday” with BackTrax. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 938-4626
Sunday, May 29: Kitchen Concert Series with the Quixotics. 6:30 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, May 27: S. E. Willis, Bobby Cochran and Ruth Davies. 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 28: Wildflower Weed. 1 p.m. Full Circle. 5 p.m. Left Coast Syncopators. 8 p.m. Ryan Tatarian. 12 a.m.
Sunday, May 29: “Open Mic and Mimosas.” 1 to 7 p.m. David Bingham. 1 p.m. Dallis Craft. 4 p.m. Jon Shannon Williams. 8 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club, 574 First St. E., 938-8313
Saturday, May 28: Hawaiian Jam Session. 2 p.m.
William Hood Mansion, 7501 Sonoma Hwy, Santa Rosa, 833-6288
Tonight, May 27: “Funky Fridays” with the Bruthas. 7 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it.