Soundbytes
The phone call came in the middle of the night, like it did for many of us, there were fires, and they were everywhere, but in this case, the call was to come here, not leave. Songwriters Mark Beynon and Joe Label had just arrived in Nashville to begin a week of songwriting with other Nashville musicians, but that ended immediately, as the duo made their way back to Sonoma County to be with their families. The family home had been evacuated, and they had assembled, like many of us, in Novato, at Label’s house, but not before learning Beynon’s daughter and family had lost their home and belongings, barely escaping with their lives.
It was during that time that the duo gathered inspiration from the disaster, and their families resolve, and penned a song, a song of hope. “we felt the sense that all were thankful for what they had, not what was lost, even though the family had lost essentially everything” said Beynon. “When you listen to the lyrics of the song, you will hear what we were feeling.”
And they weren’t the only ones. They quickly wrote and recorded the song and sent it back to Nashville for some finishing touches laid down by Michael Lusk on vocals and Sam Hunter on guitar. They then ran it by their entertainment management, Red Line Entertainment, and the agency felt this was more than just a throw together song, and it is currently being pitched to major artists, and local ones as well, including Pete Stringfellow and Pat Jordan, who have also performed it. Local radio stations are working it into their rotations soon as well.
The song, titled “Everything” has been up on youtube as a photo collage over the audio of the song, with a donation link at the end to donate to the Redwood Credit Union fire relief fund. The duo is hoping others that may be going through similar circumstances might fine some solace in their words and music, and hopefully raise some money for the disaster relief as well.
Everything
(Joe Label/Mark Beynon)
Got out with just the clothes on our back
In the rearview mirror, all that we had
Up in flames, couldn’t save a thing
Then your hand, touched my shoulder
And when we turned to see them both, in the back seat
Safe and asleep, we had everything
Through all that was lost, what we found
A family foundation won’t burn to the ground
The more it took, the more we had left
Knock us down, we’ll come back stronger
It’s just a house, a car, even your wedding ring
How much would they mean, without everything
The love we share, is all that we’ll ever need
Baby we still have our dreams, we have everything
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The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa is offering free gift bags of CD’s by local North Bay artists, to help brighten the days of folks who have lost their music in the recent fires, and help them start their new collections. If you are a fire victim who would like one of these free packages delivered to you, or if you are a musician with original CD’s you’d like to donate to this heartfelt effort, please contact Jeff Falconer via e mail or phone at falconer@vom.com, 217-1978, and he will transport them for you, or discs can be obtained or donated at Last Record Store, 1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
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Set List – The Rundown
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille, 400 First St. E. Sonoma, 938-7110
Tonight, Nov. 10: DJ Cal. 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 11: DJ Willie, 9 p.m.
El Verano Inn, 705 Laurel Ave. El Verano, 935-0611
Saturday, Nov. 11: Tilted Halos and Wildflower Weed benefit for fire relief. 9 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church of Sonoma Valley, 19355 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, 996-7365
Saturday, Nov. 11: MusicWorks!Sonoma. 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 12: MusicWorks!Sonoma. 4 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Nov. 10: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
Hamel Family Wines, 15401 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 996-5800
Saturday, Nov. 11: John Fogerty benefit for fire relief. 3 p.m – Advance tickets required
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Saturday, Nov. 11: Dirty Red Barn. 8 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660.
Tonight, Nov. 10: Chris James. 9 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Tonight, Nov. 10: Ryan Tatarian and Matt Silva. 6:30 p.m.
The Reel Fish House and Grill, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, Nov. 10: Coco Montoya. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 11: Relatively Dead. 8 p.m.
Springs Community Hall, 18627 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma,
Saturday, Nov. 11: Fanora Jones Music School “Bonanza Concert” for fire relief. 3:30 p.m
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, Nov. 10: Bruce Gordon, Jenni Purcell and Jodi Stevens. 6:30 p.m. Scarlett Letters8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 11: the Marks Brothers 5 p.m. the Sidemen with Peter Welker. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 12: T Luke – solo. 5 p.m. Acoustic Blues Jam. 8:30 p.m.
Sonoma Springs Brewery, 19499 Riverside Dr., Sonoma, 938-7422
Saturday, Nov.11: Rubber Soul “Acoustic Beatles Experience.” 1 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com