Local Musician Spotlight –John Burdick
John Burdick is a true renaissance man. You may know him from taking a wine tour with his tour company, Burdick Vineyard Tours, or you may know him as the Sommelier at the restaurant he and his wife, Chef Catherine Venturini own, Olive and Vine in Glen Ellen, or maybe you’ve seen him play with any number of configurations of his act, the John Burdick Band.
Originally from the Mid-West, he found his way to Los Angeles via Colorado to tackle the music scene there. When that didn’t turn out as planned he landed at Scomas in Sausalito where his love for wine began, which naturally led him to the wine country and all the things he does now. You can catch the band this Sunday, Oct. 25, at Olive and Vine in Glen Ellen. Reservations are recommended. Lets learn a little about his musical past and influences.
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?
JB> Well, it was the Beatles but not that show. It was when I saw them live at Shea Stadium in when I was in 5th grade. I could hardly hear the band or the songs but women were all throwing their undergarments at the band. At that moment I knew I was in.
2) That first instrument you owned. What was it and do you still have it?
JB> It was a coronet, and I hated it so I tossed it. The first guitar I got was a Harmony Rocket triple pickup model. It just disintegrated over the years. I wish I still had it.
3) Who are you’re primary influences in your music?
JB> The Beatles for sure but Jimi Hendrix is the big one. The whole British invasion era actually, Clapton, Page, Beck, but for songwriting it was always the Beatles. Then later the Woodstock era and seeing Crosby, Stills and Nash that got me into more acoustic stuff. Leo Kottke also blew me away the first time I heard him.
4) What CD or playlist is in your car or your iPod?
JB> Sonny Landreth. We sat in him in New Orleans recently and he is just amazing. Joe Bonnamassa, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds live, the new disc. That is just an amazing album.
5) Tell us about your current acts.
JB> I’ve always got my solo act going, the John Burdick Band of course, and am putting together a studio project to record that will feature a lot of different musicians.
6) If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?
JB> “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan. It’s lyrics are a magnifying glass into the human condition. It just really rings true in life. The Hendrix version was really the version that hits me even to this day.
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Soundbytes – Bits and Pieces
It’s time for yet another Hawaiian dance party this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Sonoma Woman’s Club when Del Medina, referred to in the local hula circles as “the North Bay’s King of Kanikapila” takes the stage with his ukulele. “Kanikapila” means Hawaiian jam session, and is presented by the local hula group Hula Mai and all are welcome to bring an instrument and join in on the fun. The songs are half traditional Hawaiian and half American pop, so they’ll be room for anyone with even an ounce of musical talent, be it on a guitar, ukulele, kazoo or even a foot stomper or two. The event gets under way at 2 p.m. with doors open at 1:30 p.m. and admission is a $5 donation and goes towards the upkeep of the historic Woman’s Club building which is turning 100 years old next year. For more info, point your browser to hulamai.org. This will be the last get together until January 2016.
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There is a barn dance in the new barn at Cornerstone in Carneros inside Tyge Williams Cellars on Saturday, Oct. 24, kicking off at 5 p.m. The event is a fundraiser and ceremony for the Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Petaluma whose mission is to enrich and change the lives of children and adults with disabilities through the extraordinary benefits of therapeutic riding and related equine-assisted activities. The evening also celebrates the contributions of the many volunteers who support Giant Steps with hours of their personal time. One lucky volunteer will receive the first Ashley Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is named for Ashley Herman, the manager of Sonoma Horse Park. The evening also features wine, small batch-locally produced whiskey and farm-to-table cuisine prepared by chefs from Ramekins. There will also be an equestrian-themed fashion raffle, enticing silent and live auction packages, and line dancing instruction to live music with Tina Michelle and the Rhinestone Cowboys. Dress is Equestrian-Themed cocktail Attire and Dancing Boots. For tickets and more info, point your browser to giantstepsriding.org
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Once again, there will be no “ssshhh-ing” at the Sonoma Valley Regional Library on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. when the reading venue becomes a music venue with the appearance of Three Times Through, kicking off at 2 p.m. Lisa Musgrove, Library Branch Manager, saw the act perform in Nevada City and proclaimed “I knew they would be a wonderful addition to the slate of performers we have at the library. Not only do they play beautifully, they share their knowledge of the history of the music, the instruments they play and background of the traditional songs.” The act includes Greg Mirken on mandolin and English concertina, Margie Mirken on guitar, banjo and Irish harp, Gale Peach on fiddle and Jeff Peach on hammered dulcimer and Irish bouzouki. The event is free and open to all, courtesy of The Sonoma Valley Friends of the Library. For more info, point your browser to sonomalibrary.org
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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, Oct. 23, Staggerwing – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, Full Circle – 4:30 p.m. – Charlie Hickox, Tim Eschliman, Snakebite Jacobs and Lou Rodriguez – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, Mark Dennis – 3:30 p.m. – Diva Singer Night and Community Jam with Dallis Craft and Karla Downey – 7:30 p.m.
Annex Wine Bar
865 W. Napa St. Sonoma – 938-7779
Tonight, Oct. 23, Glenn Carter – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, Tsunami – 7:30 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub
464 First St. E. Sonoma – 935-0660
Tonight, Oct. 23, Tommy Thomsen – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, Dawn Angelosante and Tony Gibson – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, The Good Bad – 2 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall
401 Grove St. El Verano – 343-0044
Tonight, Oct. 23, Kevin Russell and the Rhythm Rangers – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, Royal Jelly Jive and T Luke and the Tight Suits – 8 p.m.
HopMonk Tavern
691 Broadway Sonoma – 935-9100
Tonight, Oct. 23, Jill Cohn – 5 p.m. Aaron Redner and David Thom – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, Anthony Presti – 1 p.m. Joe and Vicki Price – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, Born Lucky – 1 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille
400 First St. E. Sonoma – 938-7110
Tonight, Oct. 23, Funktopus – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, DJ Mini Mex – 10 p.m.
Plaza Bistro
420 First St E. Sonoma – 996-4466
Tonight, Oct. 23, As Tres Meninas – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, The Drifting Rich – 6 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters
18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 939-1905
Tonight, Oct. 23, Stewart Dregner – 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, David Bingham – 5 p.m.
Muscardini Cellars
9380 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood – 933-9305
Tonight, Oct. 23, The Cork Pullers – 5 p.m.
Olive and Vine
14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen – 996-9152
Sunday, Oct. 25, the John Burdick Band – 6 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club
574 First St. E. – 938-8313
Saturday, Oct. 24, Hawaiian Jam Session – 2 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Regional Library
755 W. Napa St. Sonoma – 996-5217
Saturday, Oct. 24, Three Times Through – 2 p.m.
El Verano Inn
705 Laurel Ave. El Verano – 935-0611
Saturday, Oct 24, Dialectics, the Rinds, Speed Wobbles, Screaming Mimis – 9 p.m.
Cornerstone
23568 Arnold Dr, Carneros – 706-2020
Saturday, Oct. 24, Barn Dance with Tina Michelle and the Rhinestone Cowboys – 6 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House
18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs – 938-7587
Sunday, Oct. 25, Karaoke – 7:30 p.m.
Blue Moon Saloon
19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 996-3055
Saturday, Oct. 24, Karaoke – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, Blues Jam – all welcome – 10 p.m.
fun site James!