Local Musician Spotlight –Sean Carscadden
Sean Carscadden is a musicians musician. Essentially self-taught, he has learned a number of styles of playing by forcing himself to stop playing what he liked and learn a completely new style of playing, be it finger-picking or an alternate tuning. He is currently a local instructor and plays regularly here in the Valley, but Carscaden is going to be one of those guys that goes from playing the local wine bar to touring in Dire Straits or similar, he is that good. You have three chances to catch him this weekend, Saturday, Aug. 29, at Hopmonk Tavern at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 30, at noon at Madrone Winery then an intimate show at Olive and Vine in Glen Ellen at 6 p.m. Lets get to know him a little.
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?
SC> I think it must have been when I discovered Stevie ray Vaughn when I was 12 years old or so. My dad had all his albums and I just kind of discovered them. I recall then thinking this is what I really wanted to do.
2) That first instrument you owned. What was it and do you still have it?
SC> I do still have it, it’s a Yamaha acoustic guitar that my dad owned. My mom bought it for him as a present and it never really stuck with him and it sat under his bed for years. Once I decided I wanted to play guitar after discovering SRV, it was essentially the first guitar I played for the whole first year
3) Who are you’re primary influences in your music?
SC> You know, I like to listen to everything but I’ve been coming back to some obscure blues artists that likely no one has heard of. Blind Snooks Eaglin is one of my absolute favorites of all time and lately it’s been a guy named John Vandiver from Texas who died in the ‘80s and had only one recording that I know of, just him and his bass player.
4) What CD or playlist is in your car or your iPod?
SC> It’s the John Vandiver disc. I just got back from a tour and the last two weeks I’ve been listening to it. Maybe the time on the road made me think of it.
5) Tell us about your current acts.
SC> I have my solo act and my quintet and all combos in between. The quintet I’m really excited about, I’ve got Mikey Cannon on drums and Cliff Hugo on bass and a horn section as well. I’m also touring regularly with an act out of Santa Cruz called Miss Lonely Hearts. We just got back from a cross-country tour to Nashville that took us 6,500 miles in 18 days, 138 hours of driving and 14 shows.
6) If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?
SC> “Lets Get it On” by Marvin Gaye. It just kind of says it all to me.
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Pick of the Week – Black and Blue Ball
It’s being called the “First Annual” but we know it can’t be both, regardless, the “Black and Blue Ball” goes down on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Rossi’s Dancehall in El Verano at 9 p.m. and features a punk rock show of epic proportions. Kicking off the night will be the Evicted, punk rock from the East Bay, followed by Bobby Hollywood and the Quitters. The act is a veteran of the Sonoma punk scene and never disappoints. The Roadside Bombs are up next and feature a number of punk rock veterans, including members of the Muggers, the Burdens, Hoodhouse and more. Headlining the night is Sonoma’s own answer to the Pogues with the Celtic tribute act the Gentleman Soldiers. The act features Tony Gibson on guitar, J. B. Duff on drums and Marcos Garcia on guitar. The act keeps the songs true to the Pogues renditions and even includes numerous kazoo solos. The trio have spared no expense to bring the intensity of Irish music greats, drawing inspiration from the Dubliners, the Clancy Brothers as well as the Pogues and everything in between, old and new.
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Set List – The Rundown
The Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall
452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma – 996-1364.
Tonight, Aug. 28, Junk Parlor– 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Bob Edmundson and Friends – 4 p.m. – the Stevie Gurr Experience – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30, Glenn Carter and Friends – 4 p.m. – Diva Singer Night and Community Jam with Dallis Craft and Karla Downey – 7:30 p.m.
Monday. Aug. 31, Graceland Unplugged with Dallis Craft – 7:30 p.m.
Annex Wine Bar
865 W. Napa St. Sonoma – 938-7779
Tonight, Aug. 28, Dawn Angelosante and Tony Gibson – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Tilted Halos – 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub
464 First St. E. Sonoma – 935-0660
Tonight, Aug. 28, Savannah Blue – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Amy Wigton – 8 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards
389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma – 933-3230
Tonight, Aug. 28, Ten Foot Tone – 6 p.m.
Plaza Bistro
420 First St E. Sonoma – 996-4466
Tonight, Aug.28, John Stowell and Mike Zilber – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug.29, Nancy Briggs – 7 p.m..
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall
401 Grove St. El Verano – 343-0044
Tonight, Aug, 28, Cork Pullers – 4 p.m. DJ Isak – 9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Black and Blue Ball – Epic punk rock – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30, Kevin Russell and the Rhythm Bandits – 5 p.m
HopMonk Tavern
691 Broadway Sonoma – 935-9100
Tonight, Aug. 28, Solid Air – 5 p.m. – Dan Martin – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Star Bandits – 1 p.m. Sean Carscadden – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30, Dan Goldfus – 1 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille
400 First St. E. Sonoma – 938-7110
Tonight, Aug. 28, the Bad Jones – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, DJ Hi – C – 9:30 p.m.
B. R. Cohn Winery
15000 Sonoma Hwy. Glen Ellen – 800-330-4064
Sunday, Aug. 30, Falcon Christopher Duo – 2 p.m.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
2605 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood- 833-6288
Tonight, Aug. 28, Funky Friday’s with the Jami Jamison Band – 6:30 p.m.
Epicurean Connection
122 W Napa St. Sonoma – 935-7960
Tonight, Aug. 28, Old Earth – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29, Mud Soup – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30, Luke Erickson – 1 p.m.
Madrone Winery
777 Madrone Road. Glen Ellen – 939-4500
Sunday, Aug. 30. Sean Carscadden – 12 p.m.
Olive and Vine
14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen – 996-9152
Sunday, Aug. 30, Sean Carscadden – 6 p.m.
Schug Winery
602 Bonneau Road, Carneros – 939-9363
Saturday, Aug. 29, Jaydub and Dino – 1 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House
18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs – 938-7587
Sunday, Aug. 30, Karaoke – 7:30 p.m.
Blue Moon Saloon
19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 996-3055
Saturday, Aug. 29, Karaoke – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30, Blues Jam – all welcome – 10 p.m.