2017 BottleRock Napa Valley music festival lineup announced

Although the year just started, music lovers will have plenty to look forward to this summer when it comes to music festivals. However, if you live in the Bay Area, you will have to spend a lot of travel time just to go to them. There is Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, but they require plane tickets to Nashville and Chicago-- or wheelbarrows of gas money for the super brave. Coachella is in California, but it is a nine-hour drive. How about something a little closer?

   Thankfully, for those who live in Solano County, there is a big-name music festival that is only about 30 minutes away. It is called the BottleRock Napa Valley festival.

   Now in its fifth year, BottleRock continues to present a 3-day weekend of gourmet food, wine and craft brew in the heart of the Napa Valley. Oh yeah, and there's music too. These aren't just small acts either. Some of the biggest names in music right now and of all time will be gracing the multiple stages.

   To give off some perspective, last year's festival was headlined by Florence + the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Wonder. This year's show will continue to blend established acts with up-and-comers. The headliners this year happen to be three groups who have been packing stadiums and arenas for more than 40, 20 and 10 years respectively: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Foo Fighters and Maroon 5. They will all be rounded out by some other big names in indie rock, hip-hop, electronica, soul and even '90s alternative rock. This explosive lineup also includes Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Modest Mouse, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, The Roots, Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, Fitz & the Tantrums, The Dirty Heads, Live, The Naked and Famous, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gavin DeGraw, House of Pain, Catfish & the Bottlemen, Saint Motel, The Strumbellas, AlunaGeorge, Mavis Staples, Ani DiFranco, Bishop Briggs, Warren G, Gnash, Judah & the Lion, The Barr Brothers and MANY more. (Did you know there is an act called Hibbity Dibbity? You do now.) For lovers of local orchestral music, the award-winning Napa Youth Symphony will also be on stage.

   Dates and set times have not been announced for any of the bands.

   However, BottleRock is not just about the music, man. Returning this year will be the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage which will feature entertaining cooking demonstrations by not only renowned chefs but also musicians, actors, athletes and more. Details for this stage are still being worked out.

   “We are very proud of this lineup. In addition to our amazing headliners, the lineup has something for everyone,” Dave Graham, CEO of BottleRock Napa Valley and Latitude 38 Entertainment, said in a statement. “It's exciting to see BottleRock develop, from the performers, to our wine and culinary programming, our layout…we make great strides each year to elevate the overall event. BottleRockers expect an amazing experience and we believe they will be very happy with all the upgrades we are planning for this year’s festival.”

   The 2017 BottleRock Napa Valley festival will be held Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28 at the Napa Valley Expo, located at 575 3rd St. in Napa. Tickets start at $309 for three-day general admission, and three-day VIP passes start at $659. For more information, visit bottlerocknapavalley.com. 

SUMMER OF '09 ARCHIVES: Love Comes to Town

First of all, yes I did come up with that headline. I generally don't consider myself very good at coming up with those, but sometimes I get lucky, and I consider that to be one of my better ones. It's actually a reference to the U2/BB King collaboration from Rattle and Hum, but I'm not sure how many people picked up on it.

This was one where I had most of the story written but didn't publish it right away because I was still waiting to hear back from Edna Love. I finally did early in the morning on a weekend, but I was still willing to get that interview done, and I was quite happy with it. I always like writing stories about music, and this was no exception.

Rellik to bring piano madness to Benicia every Wednesday

(Originally published in the 4/27/16 edition)

   The Rellik Tavern has long been a prime spot for nightlife in Benicia. In addition to having a full bar, lounge area and tapas menu, it also is a place where patrons can enjoy live music, open mic nights, ‘80s dance parties and a whole lot more.

   Contributing to that whole lot more is the Rellik’s newest weekly event series, Dueling Pianos.

   Every Wednesday night from 7 to 10 p.m., the Rellik will rotate two piano players every week- some local and some just passing through town- who will perform renditions of virtually any song that is requested- emphasis on the any. Tonight will be the first such show, and Rellik co-owner Delando Pagan says he has been meaning to do a dueling pianos event for a while. He and his wife, Rellik co-owner Zoey, are big fans of the format.

   “Whenever we’re in Vegas, we never miss a dueling piano act up there,” he said. “We’ve been meaning to do this for a long time, and we finally got the right crew together.”

   The format of a dueling pianos event is pretty simple. Patrons will go up to one of two piano players and provide tips along with a written request for a song they would like to hear. The piano players will then go through the list and each play a song. What types of songs can be requested? Pretty much anything. Patrons will be treated to not only standard piano fare from Elton John or John Legend but a wide variety of songs from different artists, ranging from Franz Liszt to Franz Ferdinand. From heavy metal to hip-hop to country to dance-pop, nothing is forbidden. If you have ever wanted to witness piano-fied covers of Van Halen’s “Panama” or Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” in person, then Wednesday nights at the Rellik will be for you.

   However, you do not have to feel like you should listen to every song that gets requested. For example, if one of the pianists starts playing a Justin Bieber track and you do not want to hear it, then you can tip the opposite pianist to stop the song, and then the other piano player will play a new song.

   “It’s fun, it’s interactive and there’s a lot of sing-alongs,” Pagan said. “It’s part music and part comedy.”

   Pagan says the event will be a great way to celebrate birthdays or bachelor/bachelorette parties, and it will also provide something new to Solano County.

   “There’s nothing like that in Solano County right now,” he said. “I think the closest dueling piano act is in Danville and San Francisco, so it will be something fun for everybody on this side of the bay to come to.”

   Pagan says the nights will be a fun way for Benicians to experience something new and crazy.

   “Every time my wife and I have ever been to one, once you get caught up in it you’re pretty much there until it’s over,” he said.

   He also believes the event will draw people from outside Benicia as well.

   “Hopefully, it will become a destination every Wednesday,” he said. “People will come not just from Benicia but also outside the area. It will bring more people downtown to our little historic waterfront area.”

   “It will definitely be something new for Benicia,” he added.

   The Rellik Tavern is located at 726 First St. For more information, call 746-1137 or visit TheRellikTavern.com. 

Photo courtesy of Delando Pagan

Jason Marion, a pianist who plays at Venue in San Francisco as well as numerous gigs in las Vegas, will be one of the piano players in the Rellik tavern's Dueling Pianos nights. 

   

   

Peppino D'Agostino returns to Benicia Historical Museum

(Originally published in the 4/24/16 edition)

   Internationally renowned guitarist Peppino D’Agostino will make his return to the Benicia Historical Museum on Saturday. Fresh off the release of his newest album “Penumbra,” the Sicilian-born musician is coming off more than three decades as an acclaimed acoustic guitar player. He has performed in 26 countries, worked with other greats like Tommy Emmanuel and Leo Kottke and was even named Best Acoustic Guitarist by readers of Guitar Player magazine in 2007.

   Before moving to Benicia in the ‘80s, D’Agostino grew up in Torino, Italy where he was drawn to music by his cousin.

   “I began playing guitar at the age of 10 when I heard my cousin Peppino (yes, same name) playing in a church,” he said. “I got a few lessons from him, and then I embarked on a journey of self-study and further exploration on the guitar and in music that continues today. ”

   Early on, D’Agostino was influenced by The Beatles and Italian pop songs and later by electric guitarists like Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin. 

   “After that first phase I discovered the acoustic guitar by listening to musicians such as Leo Kottke and John Renbourn,” he said. “Then I fell in love with Brazilian music, classical music (and) improvised music. Now I listen to everything from Bach, Mozart, Piazzolla and even some pop artists.” 

   D’Agostino believes that music can be a force for good and appreciates the stripped-down nature of the acoustic guitar.

   “Music helps us feel human again and lift all of us to a better state of mind and open our hearts to beauty and emotions,” he said. “Making music on an acoustic guitar is special because the sounds is essentially produced by your fingers in contact with the fretboard and then amplified by a wooden sound box without any special effects or pedals. It's real, beautiful and captivating. ”

   Since living in Benicia, D’Agostino has gotten to know a wide variety of talented local musicians, including Stef Burns, an electric guitarist who has worked with Alice Cooper and Huey Lewis and the News; Jeff Campitelli, a drummer for guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani; Annabelle Marie, the director of the choir group VOENA; and many more.

   “It's amazing to have so many people involved in music in a relatively small town,” D’Agostino said. “The Dunlop Company, one of the most well-known music accessories factories in the world is in town,  as is Masaki Liu at Onewaystudio who's one of the best sound engineer that I ever met, and AnneMarie Martins who's one of the best booking agents in the business.”

   He has also said that whether playing in a small town in America or a larger venue in Italy, he feels the warmth of the audience.

   “In both countries I have family, friends and fans that makes me feel at home when I perform,” he said. 

   D’Agostino has recorded several albums and toured extensively for the past few decades while still finding room for other projects. He recently completed the score for a documentary titled “Journey to Baja: A Tale of Three Travelers,” about gray whales, elephant seals and brown pelicans. The documentary will be shown at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

   “It was a wonderful experience to support with my music such a great American institution that works to protect ocean life for future generations,” he said.

   D’Agostino is thrilled to be playing at the museum again, and he hinted that there may be surprise guests. One of the confirmed collaborators for a few songs will be D’Agostino’s friend Steve Olsen.

   “He plays pedal steel guitar and violin beautifully,” he said. 

   The concert will be held at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 30 in Stone Hall at the Benicia Historical Museum, located at 2060 Camel Road. Doors open at 7 p.m., and there will be a ho-host bar. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at BrownPaperTickets.com or at the museum gift shop, Wednesdays through Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call (707) 745-5435. 

District 3 candidate Gabe Griess to rock the vote with Vacaville music festival

(Originally published in the 4/19/16 edition)

   

   In 1992, MTV initiated its Rock the Vote campaign to encourage its audience of twentysomethings to get out and vote. The maneuver worked, as youth voter turnout in that year's presidential election increased by 6 percent over the previous presidential election in 1988. In 2004, the message was “Vote or Die,” and perhaps feeling threatened by this campaign, the youth made sure to vote, yielding a 10 percent increase from the 2000 election.

   However, with the lack of a youth-oriented voter campaign in 2012, the percentage of young voters that year was 41.2 percent, down 7 percent from 2008. As America experiences its most inescapable election in quite some time, this begs the question: is anyone “rocking the vote”?

   Well, Gabe Griess, a Democratic candidate for California's 3^rd State Senate District (which includes Benicia), certainly is. He is doing so with Polipalooza, a free political music festival at Vacaville's Buck Mansion aimed at encouraging the youth to get out the vote.

   “The number one goal of this campaign has always been to inspire participation at all levels, but the group with the most room for growth is young people, who voted at 8 percent last election cycle,” Griess said in a statement. “So we are hopeful this will motivate people to register to vote and continue to be civically engaged. Your voice and your vote counts!”

   Griess is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and veteran pilot of the War in Afghanistan. He is also a board member of the Solano Community College Educational Foundation, Rebuilding Together Solano, Vacaville Rotary Club and a trustee with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

   The concert will feature six performers, three of whom come from Vacaville.

   The first local star to perform will be Lyndsey Elm, a former contestant on NBC's “The Voice” who got to be on Gwen Stefani's team. After the show propelled her into becoming a hometown hero, Elm has since sung the national anthem at a Golden State Warriors game, performed at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's “Holidays in the Park” and recently released a new single “Nothin' On Me.” Her debut EP is slated to be released in the spring.

   The Used Blues Band are an award-winning blues group who perform popular blues and jazz standards, renditions of classic top 40 hits and selections from the Great American Songbook as well as their originals. The group has performed all over the Bay Area.

   Taryn Cross, a country singer who began performing at the age of 15 and is currently recording in Nashville, will also be playing. Cross has released two albums and had the opportunity to perform with country music superstars like Randy Travis and Eric Church.

   Also performing at Polipalooza will be San Francisco-based folk singer Steve Meckfessel, San Francisco soul singer Nina Grae, Chicago-based singer Sue Schultz and slam poet Neelam Kumar.

   Polipalooza will be held noon, Saturday April 23, at the historic Buck Mansion in Vacaville, located at 225 Buck Ave. The event is free for those who RSVP at VoteGabe.com/Polipalooza. Beer and wine will be served to those ages 21 and older, and food will be provided by chef Brian Wollin. Attendees must be registered to vote. For more information, visit VoteGabe.com/Polipalooza.  

Eight finalists chosen for Dixon May Fair's Battle of the Bands

 (Originally published in the 3/31/16 edition)

  The Dixon May Fair will be holding its first Battle of the Bands since 1977 and will feature some of the most promising bands in the Solano/Yolo/Sacramento area.

   After sifting through many demos from various entires, fair officials were able to settle on eight groups. The lucky artists to be selected were Sacramento alternative rock band Average League, Sacramento indie rock group Epsilona, Folsom hard rock band Heat of Damage, Davis Americana group The Nickel Slots, Vacaville alternative hard rock band They Went Ghost, Auburn avant garde indie rock group Trikome, Galt alternative rock band Some Fear None and Elk Grove alternative hard rock group Screwloose.

   “It is truly amazing the caliber of bands that entered the competition,” Fair CEO Patricia Conklin said in a statement. “We have bands that have been recognized with awards, opened for national recording artists and offer unique new sounds and exceptional vocals.”

   All bands will be performing on Friday, May 6 starting at 6 p.m. on the Picnic Stage. The winner will receive a $3,000 grand prize and will be automatically entered into the finals of the San Diego Battle of the Bands to be held in June. They will also receive a $2,000 travel stipend to compete in San Diego and a spot in the California State Fair to be held in Sacramento in July.

   The Dixon May Fair will be held from Thursday, May 5 to Sunday, May 8 at the Dixon Fairgrounds, located at 655 S First St. Other performers will include country singer Buck Ford, Beatles tribute band Hey Jude and “The Voice” contestant Lyndey Elm. There will also be a car show, a junior dog show, a demolition derby, a tractor pull and much more. For information on tickets, visit DixonMayFair.com.  

Allison Au Quartet to play First Street Cafe on Friday

(Originally published in the 3/2/16 edition)

   The top floor of First Street Cafe has hosted several musical talents over the years and will do so again Friday. The difference is the guests will come from America’s neighbor to the north.

   The Allison Au Quartet are a Toronto-based jazz group featuring Todd Pentney on piano, Fabio Ragnelli on drums, Dan Fortin and John Maharaja alternating on bass and the leader Au on saxophone. Together, they blend traditional jazz with other genres for a unique style.

   “I am trying to use song forms that pay homage to the jazz standards, but I’m trying to apply a lot of the sounds and textures in compositions derived from classical music and world music as well,” Au said. “It’s kind of a combination of things.”

   Au was drawn to music at a very young age. When she was about 5 or 6, her parents enrolled her in piano lessons.

   “I started doing it without knowing if I really liked it at that point yet,” she said.

   However, what really gave her a love for the medium was from exposure to her father’s diverse record collection. 

   “My dad had a really amazing vinyl collection at home, and he played all sorts of styles of music,” she said. “Anything from opera to jazz to a lot of world music.”

   Au was particularly inspired by the sounds of jazz music, especially jazz vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

   “That was something that really hooked me into jazz because it just captivated my interest,” she said. “There’s some kind of wonder about it.”

   Au was further influenced by a lot of saxophone players, ranging from legends like Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker to modern greats like Will Vinson and Seamus Blake. Au also takes cues from classical and world music and blends them together in what she describes as a “mishmash” of styles. 

   “With so much access to iTunes and all the streaming stuff we have now, there’s so much I try to check out on a regular basis,” she said. 

   Au met Petney and Ragnelli in their music studies program at Humber College in Toronto. After graduating, they recruited Fortin as bassist and The Allison Au Quartet was born. The group has released two albums: 2013’s “The Sky was Pale Blue, Then Grey” and 2016’s “Forest Grove.” Both releases have been nominated for Juno awards, which honor Canadian artists. “Forest Grove” is eligible for group jazz album of the year, something which delights Au. 

   “It’s really a privilege to be included in a category with so many amazing musicians from Canada as well as to be recognized in a city along with so many other cities because this country is huge,” she said. “It’s a celebration of a lot of different talent from as far as Halifax on the East Coast of Canada to Vancouver on the West Coast.”

   Au says she gets along really well with the other members of her band, and they are close enough to give each other honest suggestions. 

   “I feel like I can really trust the guys now,” she said. “When I bring in new music, it has the chance to develop because we have this really honest dialogue. Even if I bring a tune in and I’m not completely sure if it’s finished yet, the guys have a lot of constructive feedback.”

   “The music has a chance to grow because we’re all tossing around different ideas, and the guys are giving me ideas on how to change things and how to make sections better and sometimes we cut sections altogether,” she added. “Since we’re all friends, that communication has really made the music grow in a way that I don’t think it would have a chance to in another context.”

   The band has played jazz venues in Toronto as well as more intimate venues like restaurants and bars in Canada and the United States. In the fall of 2014, the group did its first tour in western Canadian provinces like British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The group has chosen to revisit some of those venues for their 2016 tour, but this time they will be touring both Canada’s and America’s west coasts. The quartet has played at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley and the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco and will be playing Benicia Friday.

   “This is our first time in California,” Au said. “This is all very new for us. It’s awesome though. The weather is blowing our minds right now because it’s super cold in Canada.”

   Au says she is very happy to expose her creativity to the denizens of Benicia.

   “I’m very excited to share my music with a new audience,” she said.

   The Allison Au Quartet will be performing from 8 to 11:15 p.m., Friday, March 4, upstairs at First Street Cafe, located at 440 First St. The usual menu will be available along with a selection of wine and beer. For more information, visit AllisonAu.com or call the restaurant at (707) 745-1400. 

Vallejo Symphony to present debut performance of string quartet

(Originally published in the 2/26/16 edition)

   For its final production of the season, Vallejo Symphony will be presenting a chamber performance by New Falcon String Quartet. 

   The group is comprised of violist Raphael Gold, cellist Burke Schuchmann and violinists Joseph Gold and Dan Kristianson. On Sunday, March 6, the quartet will be performing their debut gig together, but Kristianson says all four members are accomplished musicians and he and Schuchmann had worked together previously. 

   “We’ve given concerts in Mendocino at the arts center,” he said. 

   Schuchmann was principal cellist and soloist with the Salzburg Solisten in Austria, and has been principal cellist and soloist with the Sacramento Symphony and Mendocino Music Festival. 

   Joseph is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he studied under legendary violinist Jascha Heifetz. Joseph has performed throughout the Bay Area and was the subject of the 2011 documentary “Gold Violin: Bow of Death,” which was an Official Selection for the Mill Valley Film Festival that year.

   Joseph’s son, Rafael, has played in several orchestras and chamber groups throughout the Bay Area and has performed in international music festivals in Mexico, Spain, Nicaragua and beyond. 

   Finally, Kristianson has been performing with the Vallejo Symphony for 14 years as assistant principal second violinist, and has been a member of a group called Symphony Orchestra of Northern California which has performed in venues in Fairfield and Napa. Additionally, he received his music degree from Yale University and studied in Japan under Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the Suzuki method, which posits that musicians learn from their surrounding environments. He has also been the assistant principal second violinist for the North State Symphony of Chico and Redding for 20 years and was the gust principal second violinist last season for Symphony Napa Valley and Solano Symphony. 

   Kristianson says the diversity of talents among the group often comes into friendly conflict.

   “The best and the worst thing is that we are all highly opinionated,” he said. “We have strong musical opinions, and there’s a wealth of different musical ideas that are generally quite well-founded and well-grounded, but then we have to duke it out in rehearsal to see the way they’re presented when they’re actually performed.”

   Nonetheless, the members of New Falcon String Quartet enjoy each other’s company, especially when the senior members share stories. 

   “Burke and Joe are loads of fun to work with because they are filled with literally hundreds of thousands of anecdotes about musical performances and famous musicians they’ve collaborated with,” Kristianson said. “We break the tension with a story and probably talk a little more often than we ought to in rehearsal.” 

   The quartet will be performing three orchestral pieces from three different eras of symphonic music. The evening will begin with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Divertimento in No. 3,” which Kristianson says was unanimously chosen by the group as the introductory piece.

   “It’s a very optimistic and forward-moving piece, and it’s a great piece to introduce yourself to an audience,” he said. “You don’t want to start off with anything that’s too tragic or too wistful.”

   The group will continue with Felix Mendelssohn’s “String Quartet in E Minor,” which Kristianson described as a good middle piece due to it being performed in E minor— a step above what has been cited as “the saddest of all keys.”

   “It’s a little bit more dramatic in nature,” he said. 

   The evening will conclude with Antonin Dvorak’s “American” quartet.

   “Of all the great European composers, (Dvorak) was the one most adopted by American styles,” Kristianson said. “It’s great European music, but it has some great flavor of the United States.”

   “He had studied the spirituals and folk music, and you can hear it in his composition,” he added. 

   Kristianson believes the three pieces will be strong showcases of three different musical periods, with Mozart representing the classical era, Dvorak representing the Romantic era and Mendelssohn representing a bridge between the two. Additionally, he feels the audience will be treated to great music.

   “You will hear some of the finest string playing you’ll have heard in Vallejo in years,” he said. “You don’t often get a chance to hear musicians of the caliber.”

   New Falcon String Quartet’s concert will begin at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 6, at the First Presbyterian Church in Vallejo, located at 1350 Amador St. Tickets are $10 for students 13 and older, and $20 for adults. They can be purchased at BrownPaperTickets.com. For more information, visit VallejoSymphony.org. 

   

Local musician remembers late Tower of Power founding member

(Originally published in the 1/26/16 edition)

   Mic Gillette, a founding member of the legendary Oakland-based funk band Tower of Power, died of a heart attack Jan. 17. He was 64 years old.

   In recent years, Gillette was a member of the Mic Gillette Band. The group featured his daughter Megan McCarthy on vocals and a variety of Benicia residents, including keyboardist and trumpeter Ryan Habegger, guitarist Jason Stewart and saxophonist Andres Soto.

   “I met Mic about five years ago,” Soto said. “My friend started taking trombone lessons from Mic, and we all played together at my friend’s wife’s birthday party.”

   A year ago, Soto learned that the Mic Gillette Band was looking for a new saxophone player, so he sat in on a few songs the group performed at Armando’s in Martinez and was asked to join the band in May. 

   “When I first joined, he put his arm around me and said ‘Welcome to the family,’” Soto said. “He treated the band as an extension of his family.” 

   Soto was thrilled to be working in a band with Gillette.

   “Growing up in Richmond, we idolized Tower of Power,” he said.

   Tower of Power formed in 1968 as The Motowns and quickly gained a reputation in the Bay Area after playing in clubs in Oakland and Berkeley. Within a few years, the newly christened Tower of Power went on to play large venues such as The Fillmore and scored six top 40 R&B singles in the process. Gillette was the lead trumpeter during the band’s peak period, and his trumpet lines on hits such as “What is Hip?,” “So Very Hard to Go” and “You’re Still a Young Man” are instantly recognizable to listeners. 

   “One of my fondest memories was standing next to him playing the introduction to ‘You’re Still a Young Man’ and hearing that amazing trumpet,” Soto said. 

   Soto enjoyed playing Tower of Power songs with one of its original members, and he also enjoyed being able to collaborate on original music with Mic.

   “One of the big thrills for me was playing with him and hearing our sound blend into a singular horn section whether it was on trombone or trumpet or tenor saxophone,” he said. 

   One of the things Soto said stood out about Gillette was his sense of accuracy in playing.

   “Mic was a very unique musician in that he could play trumpet and trombone with equal precision,” Soto said. “In particular, his ability to play high notes on trumpet as the lead trumpeter and also play trombone at the bottom end of the horn and the top end of the horn with equal precision was very unique.”

   Gillette was also a member of the Bay Area bands Cold Blood and Sons of Champlin and played trumpet with Blood, Sweat & Tears in the early ‘80s. Gillette also worked as a session musician, having played with legendary acts like The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Santana, Rod Stewart, the Doobie Brothers and numerous others. In 2008, he provided the horn arrangements for a few songs on Sheryl Crow’s holiday album “Home for Christmas.” Gillette would perform songs from many of his associated acts and would provide stories abut working with them at Mic Gilette Band concerts.

   “We did The Rolling Stones’ version of ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ where he had done all the horn arrangements,” Soto said. 

   Gillette left Tower of Power in 1984 to raise his daughter. He rejoined the band from 2009 to 2011 but found a new calling with the Mic Gillette Band. As lead vocalist, McCarthy would bring her sons Maverick and Wyatt to shows, and Gillette’s wife Julia booked a lot of the band’s shows and wrote them checks.

   “It was a family operation,” Soto said. “At the core of his values, he was a family man.”

   Additionally Gillette founded the Music in the Schools program to promote the importance of music education, and he performed the national anthem on trumpet before a San Francisco Giants game in 2014.

   “He could do it all, and he did it all,” Soto said.

   A private memorial will be held up in Oregon in December. Additionally, McCarthy is looking to put together a musical memorial on May 7, which would have been Gillette’s 65th birthday.

   

Mic Gillette, holding grandson Maverick McCarthy, performs the Tower of Power classic "So Very Hard to Go" at the San Luis Obispo Jazz Festival in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Megan McCarthy

   

  

Rebel Rebel: A tribute to David Bowie

(Originally published in the Forum section of the 1/15/16 edition)

   I woke up Monday morning to look at my phone and saw a notification from my New York Times news application. It read something to the effect of “David Bowie, the legendary rock star, has died at 69.” I re-read it to make sure I was not misreading it in my sleepy state, but no. It was definitely referring to The Thin White Duke himself.

   I am honestly not affected by every celebrity death I hear about, but I spent nearly the entire day reflecting on Bowie. I drove to work listening to “Hunky Dory” and thinking about how the music world has taken a huge hit.

   The interesting thing is that while I definitely consider myself a Bowie fan, I have not yet reached the rank of “super fan.” After having heard a good number of his songs over the years and mostly associating him with his hilarious cameo in “Zoolander,” I only started exploring Bowie’s catalogue during my first semester of college, and I still have a long way to go. Nonetheless, even if I never liked a single Bowie song, I would still owe him a debt of gratitude because a lot of the other music I listen to is very much Bowie-derived.

   I think that is true for a lot of people. No matter how small your iPod playlist may be, there is a good chance you listen to at least one artist who was inspired by Bowie on some level. Many acts become popular but do not leave much of a legacy. This is not true of Bowie. He crafted an image that nearly every pop star of the post-MTV era has tried to emulate on some level, and he had perhaps the widest-ranging influence this side of The Beatles. His impact is not limited to one narrow genre but cuts far deeper from the college rock and hair metal bands of the ‘80s to the industrial sound of the ‘90s. Queen, Talking Heads, Prince, Duran Duran, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Madonna, Lady Gaga, The Killers and The Arcade Fire are just a few of the artists who have emulated Bowie in vocals, style or wardrobe. It is almost an “It’s a Wonderful Life” situation. If Bowie had not existed, many notable performers would not be making music or would sound very different, and we'd be a lot worse for it.

   Influence is just part of the story though. Even if Bowie had somehow managed to record without attracting an audience, then he would have left a legacy of excellent music. He projected a sense of charisma into everything he performed and had a vocal style that was unmistakably his, at least until others started copying him. He also worked with great producers and collaborators like Brian Eno and Mick Ronson to develop the glam rock sound he was known for. Whether he was knocking out great guitar-driven songs like “Suffragette City” or “Rebel Rebel” or beautiful melancholy pieces like “Starman” or “Life on Mars,” Bowie’s work in the ‘70s was unmatchable. 

   Bowie also had a knack for lyrics, whether it was “Space Oddity’s” heartbreaking tale of an astronaut who cuts off communication and floats into space or “Fame’s” biting look at the notion of being a celebrity. Even as Bowie went pop in the ‘80s with hits like “Let’s Dance” or “Modern Love,” he did not sacrifice the things that made him who he was.

   Finally, Bowie was cool. He was not concerned over his offbeat outfits or style being perceived as too weird. He existed as someone who appeared to be out of this universe, and with it he opened up the floodgates for countless performers to just be themselves. As sad as it is that Bowie is gone, it almost feels like he will always be around because his influence is never going away. My hope is that others can continue to carry the torch. 

Golden Bough to bring Celtic sound to Benicia Historical Museum again

(Originally published in the 1/6/16 edition)

   For the past 36 years, Modesto-based Celtic folk band Golden Bough have toured the globe, playing haunting melodies reminiscent of traditional Irish folk songs and have gained fans in several corners of the world.

   One of those places happens to be Benicia, where the trio will play at the Historical Museum, Jan. 16.

   Golden Bough- fronted by husband and wife Paul Espinoza and Margie Butler and rounded out by Kathy Sierra- formed in January of 1980 with the goal of combining the traditional music of the six Celtic nations- Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, The Isle of Man and Brittany- with their own contemporary songwriting. The group utilizes several diverse instruments, including a Celtic harp, mandolin, accordion, violin and penny whistle, and their harmonizing has become a hallmark of their music. 

   Golden Bough have performed all over the world, including in countries like Holland, Germany and Ireland. In just a week, they will bring their traditional Celtic sound to Benicia.

   According to museum curator Beverly Phelan, the trio first performed at the venue in 1998.

   “It was the first time we had a Celtic concert,” she said. “They were very well-received.”

   The museum has since had several Celtic bands play, including The Black Irish Band and Men of Worth. Phelan says Golden Bough stand out for their strong instrumental abilities. 

   “They’re the only group who plays the Celtic harp,” she said. “And their violinist (Sierra) is one of the best that I’ve heard.”

   With their performances at the museum, Golden Bough have gained a bit of a following in Benicia.

   “Last year when we had them here was a sellout,” Phelan said. “They’re very popular, and the reason we have Celtic groups is because they are popular. They have a following that goes up the Gold Country.”

   Having toured for 36 years, the band has amassed a large amount of stories that they like to share at performances.

   “Margie’s father was an Irish tenor, and she tells lovely stories about her father and his experiences singing all over California and the United States,” Elizabeth D’Huart, executive director of the Benicia Historical Museum, said. 

   D’Huart also praised Golden Bough for their authentic sound.

   “A lot of the songs that they sing are familiar to the folks who came to work on the railroad in California,” she said. “A lot of the songs have a historical tie-in to the area because of that.” 

   Phelan believes that even those who are not fans of Celtic folk music will come away with an appreciation of the genre, and those who already enjoy it will have fun as well.

   “People get what they expect, and that is quality Celtic music,” she said.

  The concert will take place in Stone Hall at the Benicia Historical Museum is located at 2060 Camel Road. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the concert will run from 8 to 10. There will also be a no-host bar with beer, wine, coffee and water, and attendees will be allowed to explore the museum during intermission. Tickets are $20 for general admission and are available at the museum. They can also be picked up at Bookshop Benicia, located at 636 First St. or online at BrownPaperTickets.com. For more information, call 745-5435. 

Mic Gillette Band to perform New Year's Eve show at Empress Theatre

(Originally published in the 12/29/15 edition)

   The end of 2015 is nearing. People have a variety of ways they can spend their last few hours of the year. They can stay home and watch “The Twilight Zone” marathon or Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin make playful banter until the ball drops, or they can go to the Empress Theatre in Vallejo and have a very funky New Year’s Eve.

   Empress Theatre will be presenting its New Year’s Eve Party with the Mic Gillette Band. Gillette was a founding member of Tower of Power, an Oakland-based funk/soul/jazz/rock group who had several charting R&B singles throughout the ‘70s. Gillette played brass for the group but left in 1984 to focus on raising his daughter Megan. He also was a member of numerous other bands, including Cold Blood, Sons of Champlin and a brief stint with Blood, Sweat & Tears. His resume as a session musician extends even beyond that, having recorded with acts including The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Santana, Heart, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, The Doobie Brothers, Huey Lewis and the News and more. 

   “I’ve been performing since I was 5 years old,” Gillette said. “I was given a gift from my father of musical expression, and I’ve just followed it all my life.”

   Gillette also is known for his philanthropy. He founded the Music in the Schools program to keep music programs alive in schools across the country. He does so by touring America and performing with schools’ jazz bands, sometimes by bringing in other professional performers.

   “I’ve been very active in helping students get scholarships to colleges,” he said. “There’s so much money available out there for kids who will apply themselves and spend a couple of years working on recording stuff. I can help them audition, and I can provide recommendations for some of the best music schools in the country.”

   Gillette currently leads the Mic Gillette Band, which features two Benicia residents- Jason Stewart on guitar and Andres Soto on saxophone- and daughter Megan Gillette McCarthy serving as vocalist and percussionist as well as the band’s manager. The group has put out two albums and performed songs by Tower of Power as well as other bands Gillette has performed with and numerous originals.

   “I’ve been blessed enough to play with many big name bands and artists all over the world for many, many years, and this is my favorite band I’ve ever played with,” Gillette said. “It’s just an amazing group of musicians, and I’m actually doing a little bit of singing but only as a background vocalist.”

   The idea to perform the Empress’ New Year’s Eve show came from Stewart, who knows Empress manager Don Bassey.

   “He said ‘Have Mic call me. We’d love to have him up here for New Year’s,” Gillette said. “I called, the ball got rolling and here we are.”

   The group will be performing a variety of original compositions as well as songs by acts Gillette has performed with.

   “I’ve got stories to go along with some of the songs,” he said. “We consider ourselves to be a dance band. People love to get up and dance when we play, so that’s why New Year’s Eve is gonna work.”

   The doors for the Empress Theatre’s New Year’s Eve Party will open at 8 p.m. with the show beginning at 9 on Thursday, Dec. 31. The Empress Theatre is located at 330 Virginia St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at TicketFly.com. For more information, contact the Empress at 552-2400. 

Photo courtesy of The Empress Theatre

   

   

Clairdee to perform holiday concert for Vallejo Jazz Society, Dec. 6

(Originally published in the 11/20/15 edition)

   Internationally renowned jazz vocalist Clairdee will be providing atmosphere for the holiday season for her Dec. 6 show “Clairdee’s Soulful Sounds of the Season” at Vallejo’s Empress Theatre presented by the Vallejo Jazz Society.

   The Vallejo Jazz Society is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2010 with the goals of raising awareness of jazz in Vallejo and surrounding areas, providing opportunities for the greatest Bay Area jazz musicians to perform and reaching out to the community by bringing concerts to local schools and youth organizations.

   In just five years, Vallejo Jazz Society has put on 29 concerts featuring some of the Bay’s top jazz talents, including Larry Vuckovich, Denise Perrier, Pamela Rose and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. For its 30th concert, Vallejo Jazz Society has chosen Clairdee to bring her soulful vocals and jazzy renditions of holiday classics to the stage.

   “She’s a wonderful performer,” Chairman Bryan Girard said. “She does a blend of jazz, soul and pop music. She’s very flexible and good at what she does.”

   Clairdee has performed across the globe, often playing to sold-out venues, and she has played with a variety of performers including Boz Scaggs, Bucky Pizzarelli and Chuck Redd. She has also opened for legendary acts like the Count Basie Orchestra, Johnny Mathis and Etta James. Additionally, she is a faculty member with the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley and has worked as a vocal jazz instructor for UC Berkeley and Diablo Valley College. 

   “We consider it a real coup to have gotten her to perform for Vallejo Jazz Society,” Girard said. “We can’t pay as much as some of the for-profit venues. Clairdee believes in what we’re trying to do and was willing to play for somewhat less than what she could normally command for a performance.”

  Clairdee’s setlist will consist of jazzy renderings of holiday songs, something she is very familiar with. In 2003, Clairdee released an album titled “This Christmas,” which featured jazzified renditions of standards like “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The CD also featured interpretations of lesser-known holiday songs like Charles Brown’s “Bringing in a Brand New Year.”

   Girard expects audience members to have a lot of fun watching “one of the best vocalists around singing great music and backed by a five-piece band.”

   He also encourages people to support nonprofit jazz organizations.

   “Nobody gets paid,” Girard said. “We work as hard as we can just to keep this music alive and growing.”

    “Clairdee’s Soulful Sounds of the Season” will be performed from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Empress Theatre, located on 330 Virginia St. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $7.50 for Vallejo Jazz Society members. They can be purchased at the door or online at VallejoJazzSociety.com. Up to two children 18 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, contact (707) 533-4593 or visit VallejoJazzSociety.com.