Local Musician Spotlight – Scott DiMartini
Scott Di Martini was born and raised in Sonoma and has lived here all his life. Born into a musical family, his mother was a piano teacher, brothers guitarists and the young Di martini just had the urge to “hit stuff” so it was determined that he would be the drummer, acquiring his first kit when he was seven years old.
Since then he’s been playing almost constantly, in a variety of acts, bouncing the time between music, family and his electrical contracting business that bears his name. Di Martini also had a cup of coffee with the Jessica Starr Band, touring regionally. Since then he was twice placed second in the “Worlds Fastest Feet” contest held at the NAMM (North American Music Merchandisers) show, in 2007 finishing second to Mike Malice. DiMartini got called again to compete in 2015 at the NAMM show in Nashville, and even with a couple more years on the legs, he placed second to “…some 20 something year-old hotshot.”
One of the current acts is the Last Minute Band, which is a group of veteran Sonoma Valley Musicians, thrown together because he didn’t want to lose the spot on stage at the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival this weekend. The band debuts for what could be their only performance on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 12 p.m. Lets see how he handles 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?
SD > Music was always in my family, there was no question that I’d do something, but I think it was when I heard the Commodores and the Ohio Players and those rhythms that I really wanted to play live within that genre of music.
2) That first instrument you owned. What was it and do you still have it?
SD> An orange sparkle Slingerland drum set, and boy I wish I still had it. One of my favorite pictures is one of I have with me standing next to that kit. I have no idea what happened to it,
3) Who are you’re primary influences in your music?
SD > Buddy Rich for old school jazz styles and Neil Peart from Rush for modern guys. I got into progressive rock after hearing Peart and wanted to play every lick that guy did.
4) What CD or playlist is in your car or your iPod?
SD > You know, I’m just a classic rock guy and typically just have XM on to one of the channels in the high 20’s range, Classic Vinyl, Classic re-wind. The music of that generation to me is timeless.
5) Tell us about your current acts.
SD > The Rich Little Band primarily, with Rich and Jeff Bundschu that we’ve been doing for five years now, and this act for the weekend, the Last Minute Band, and I jam with other people here and there, but only the one act full time.
6) If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?
SD > Hmm. I think Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Every aspect of that song is amazing and I listen and wonder how they even came up with all that, and the guitars and the amazing vocals. Yea, that would be it.
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Soundbytes – Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival Music Schedule
The themes for the music stay the same, but the Valley of the Mon Vintage Festival has made some changes in the music line- up. With Sonoma’s favorite cowboy crooner Nick Kardum laid up after an automobile accident, Train Wreck Junction has cancelled all their shows until November. Filling the bill will be a group out of Petaluma, all alumni of Rancho Cotati High School called “Rancho Deluxe.” Many that saw them open recently at Rossi’s 1906 Roadhouse thought they upstaged the headliner. Sunday, Sept. 25, “Country Sunday” line-up looks like this now. Buck Nickels and Loose Change kicks off the day at noon, Tommy Thomsen at 1:15 p.m. and Rancho Deluxe at 2:45 p.m.
Saturday Sept, 24 has a change as well. The Rich Little Band had a conflict with the date but drummer Scott DeMartini wanted to do the show, as he had no conflict, so he has assembled a group of local music veterans to head up “the Last Minute Band” playing rock classics from the ‘90s. Saturday, Sept 24, “Something for Everyone” now has local high school band Heroes Turn Human kicking off the day at 11 a.m., the Last Minute Band at noon, T Luke and the Tight Suits at 1:15 p.m., Rubber Soul Acoustic Beatles Tribute at 3 p.m. and the Pulsators closing the day at 5 p.m.
The Friday, Sept 23, nighttime Gala event which features Notorious kicking off at 6 p.m. has not changed with tickets going fast with some at the door the night of the event if available. The Saturday and Sunday music is free and open to the public on the Sonoma Plaza. For more info, point your browser to valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com
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Starling Grand Opening Opening
“We didn’t want to be just another wine bar and even though we will have a substantial local wine list soon, we wanted to make sure folks knew we specialized in craft cocktails” said Elizabeth Takeuchi-Krist, so with all due respect and in the best “playful dig” manner, they named the bar the Starling, after the bird that is the grape growers arch enemy, with swarms in the thousands swooping onto a vineyard and cleaning the ripened grapes out in a matter of minutes. Krist, along with co-owner Fred Johnson have spent years in the beverage and service industries, with Johnson at the Girl and the Fig for years and Krist sharing space behind the bar for a year or so with Johnson after the demise of the Generals Daughter, where she was the bar tender. After moving on to El Dorado Kitchen as the beverage manager, Krist and Johnson talked and decided to finally just do their own thing.
The next step was to find an actual venue that wasn’t tied up in legalities, or vacant for years and probably will be due to multiple family owners, something that is common with property in Sonoma Valley. Looking county-wide, they started just asking existing venues in the Valley “… if you ever want to sell.” Mike Reinke had been running the Blue Moon Saloon for almost 15 years and felt his time was about done, so they came to an agreement, and the Starling was born in Sonoma Valley.
So what does any of this have to do with music? Seems that music is a big part of the plans going forward, with a “now and then” schedule to start, but eventually Sunday morning jazz, afternoon music, weeknights for locals and the venue really wants to bring in some regional acts to expose the Valley to performers they might not see regularly. They also have a turntable and will be having “vinyl nights” with “celebrity” DJ’s spinning the music.
Even though the “soft” opening has been going on for a couple months, the official grand opening takes place on Saturday, Sept. 24, with music kicking off at 5 p.m. with Brother Spellbinder from San Francisco, followed by locals Three on a Match for a set at 8 p.m. There is no cover for the day but you must be over 21 years of age to attend. For more info, call 938-7442.
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Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, Sept. 23: Sue Albano and Friends. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Lynne O and Friends. 7:30 p.m.
B. R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy. Glen Ellen, 800-330-4064
Sunday, Sept. 25: Dustin Saylor. 2 p.m.
Cornerstone, 23570 Arnold Dr, Carneros, 933-3010
Saturday, Sept. 24: Stewart Degner. 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Tom Farrallon. 1 p.m.
El Verano Inn, 705 Laurel Ave. El Verano, 935-0611
Tonight, Sept. 23: rap and hip hop with SuperDubb, Doc Dolla and Vondre Wood. 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Mad Alchemy “Liquid Light Show,” Creatures Choir, Cosmic Correlation Conspiracy, Crown Chakra. 9 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Sept. 23: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, Sept. 23: Adam Traum. 5 p.m. Hannah Jern-Miller and Courtney Carroll.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Vardo. 1 p.m. Dan Martin. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Matt Bolton. 1 p.m.
Kivelstadt Cellars, 13750 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, 938.7001
Tonight, Sept. 23: Dan Martin. 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, Sept. 23: Ten Foot Tone. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Highway Poets. 8 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Saturday, Sept. 25: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, Sept. 23: the Gravel Spreaders. 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Choppin’ Brocolli. 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Brandon and the Bees Knees. 5 p.m.
Schellville Grill, 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, 996-5151
Saturday, Sept. 24: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Schug Carneros Winery, 602 Bonneau Road, Carneros, 939-9363
Saturday, Sept. 24: Jaydub and Dino. 1 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards, 389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma, 933-3230
Tonight, Sept. 23: Rubber Soul. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Barracks, 20 E. Spain St, Sonoma, 935-6382
Tonight, Sept. 23: Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival Gala with Notorious. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Plaza, 1 Broadway, Sonoma
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Heroes Turn Human. 11 a.m. Last Minute Band. 12 p.m. T Luke and the Tight Suits. 1:15 p.m. Rubber Soul. 3 p.m. the Pulsators. 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Buck Nickels and Loose Change. 12 p.m. Tommy Thomsen. 1:15 p.m. Rancho Deluxe. 2:45 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, Sept. 23: Ryan Tatarian. 6 p.m. Three on a Match. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24: Full Circle. 5 p.m. S E Willis, Bobby Cochran and Ruth Davies. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: “Open Mic and Mimosas.” 1 to 7 p.m. Acrosonics. 5 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club, 574 First St. E., 938-8313
Saturday, Sept. 24: Hawaiian Jam Session. 2 p.m.
Starling Bar, 19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 938-7442
Saturday, Sept. 24: Grand Opening. Brother Spellbinder. 5 p.m. Three on a Match. 8 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com