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Sunday July 10, 2005 12:02 PM
Thanks to Bread & Roses and to Rafael Convalescent for yesterday's gig. Thanks to Monkey Knife Fight for being the band!
Thursday July 7, 2005 3:57 PM
Below is a picture from our gig in Pittsburg last Friday. I'm the guy in the hat.
Sunday July 3, 2005 10:32 PM
Thanks to Mark, Mylea, restaurant staff, and all the Park Chalet patrons for their support during our gig there today. Special thanks to Brandi and to John Ulloa for percussion all through our three sets.
Friday July 1, 2005 6:38 PM
It was hot, we played under a shady tree, few heard us, we had a great time. That was midday today in downtown Pittsburg. Thanks to the two women (one from Pittsburg, one from Lafayette) who cheered us on like a crowd of 50!
Wednesday July 6, 2005 7:51 AM
Echo Beach's monthly residency at Cato's Ale House in Oakland has become a recurring highlight for the band. I'm looking forward to our gig tonight.
Friday July 8, 2005 6:25 PM
Playing tomorrow on behalf of Bread and Roses will be a never-before assembled band which could be called "Monkey Beach" -- it's me plus Justin, Khalil and Michael from Monkey Knife Fight. Khalil's gonna play guitar (he's played bass for Echo Beach before), because our guitarist John will be in Tulsa, OK playing a gig with Inka. MKF is a lot of fun to hear so I'm looking forward to playing with all of them at once.
Friday July 8, 2005 11:02 AM
KRON TV is aggregating Bay Area blog content, and this blog has just been added.
Thursday July 7, 2005 4:00 PM
As I've stated before in this blog, I am very fortunate to play in this band, to lead this band, and to be a musician. I've been playing percussion for 31 years and every time I pick up the sticks or mallets I endeavor to remind myself of the special opportunity I was given in caring about and expressing myself in music. It's the purest language we have, I think. Music is vitally important to our culture and I'm always glad to be involved.
Here is a blog notation in Japanese by a person who heard Echo Beach play on April 3rd this year at Borders Santana Row. I wish that I could read the Kanji on this page!
Streaming BBC Radio 2 on the Real Player is here. A refreshing blast of pop music from all over the place.
Thursday June 9, 2005 5:27 PM
Good layering/texturing of bass, guitar and synth in the Tony Levin track "Utopia" heard on Yahoo Music.
Friday July 8, 2005 6:15 PM
I've heard some great music today. Just as I type this phrase what should come up on my Yahoo radio station but Sarah Brightman's "Phantom of the Opera" urgh! but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of
Thursday July 7, 2005 4:12 PM
With some regret I am resigning from my post as Chapter President for California of the Percussive Arts Society, due to work and school demands on my time. The regret is only slight because I'm confident that our Vice Presidents, and the new Chapter President, are prepared to do a fantastic job in carrying on the work of the Chapter, which is to support music education and appreciation. All the best!
Monday July 4, 2005
Although Echo Beach no longer performs "lounge/exotica/Space Age Bachelor Pad" music by such composers as Martin Denny, I keep an active interest in those genres. I just found this fascinating article on the resurgence of the genres beginning in the '80s.
Monday July 4, 2005 11:36 AM
Patriot musician Frank Zappa was not just blowing smoke when he urged political
involvement, voter registration and voting, and the defense of civil rights. Wishing you a safe, sane and thoughtful
Fourth of July!
Sunday July 3, 2005 1:51 PM
Below are two of several choice pics running on the New York Times website as taken during the various Live 8 concerts around the globe this weekend. Proof that making music keeps you young.
Monday June 27, 2005 6:30 PM
Experiencing live music last week I was witness to agony and ecstacy. The agony was felt at Cafe du Nord on Thursday night by the extremely fine band backing an extremely detached Arthur Lee. For those who appreciate Arthur Lee and Love's music, better to watch this 2003 video clip of "A House Is Not a Motel" than to see Arthur dissing himself, the music, the band and the audience. Corsica put in a pretty fine performance. Their music was well fitted to open a strong Love concert, which this was not.
And the musical ecstacy happened Saturday night at the Herbst Theatre with Beth Carvalho popularly known as the "Godmother and Queen of Samba". I loved her band's playing, her songs (to my ears some of the most pop-flavored samba there could be, wonderfully performed), and the throng of dancers who rushed the stage.
The greatest bonus of these live shows last week was time spent with friends Rick, Mark and Mylea.
Monday June 20, 2005 8:36 AM
Here is the text of a speech delivered by TV producer Norman Lear to the First National Critics Conference last month. It's a powerful set of rigorous thoughts about art and art criticism. I learned in the introduction to this article that Lear is now the co-owner of Concord and Fantasy Records. I can imagine no stronger champion for the quality of a recording label than Mr. Lear.
Wednesday June 8, 2005 5:44 PM
Below is a picture of the wonderful band Plainsong. This picture was shot in their early days as a group (in the early '70s) and I found the picture on the website of band member Andy Roberts. The band at this time included Iain Matthews, Bob Ronga and Dave Richards. In my opinion, Plainsong has consistently been home to some of the best music of Iain Matthews's career and in his case, in a career of exceptionally moving music, that is saying something special. Andy and Iain have found ways to continue the Plainsong magic going for 30 years. Are you a fan of Richard Thompson who hasn't experienced Plainsong? You must check out their music.
Wednesday June 8, 2005 5:44 PM
Your Help is Needed -- The Pride of Oakland Drum and Bugle Corps currently does not own horns, and an opportunity has just come up to purchase used horns from another corps. Oakland youth and the Oakland community will be served by donations to the Horn Purchase Fund. You can make a major difference in a young person's life. If you wish to assist please contact me at my email address. Thank you very much.
Monday June 27, 2005 6:47 PM
Music Choice (via Comcast On Demand) has a free 30-minute White Stripes live show (from Blackpool) running currently. I like it. I like their version of "Jolene" and many of their self-penned modern-yet-not-so-modern country blues songs.
to the Echo Beach Band website .. echobeachband.com
