SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL

Mary McCaslin's Roundup

February 13, 2009

 

 

FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THE CAYUGA VAULT

 

            Around five years ago musician Joe Weed was asked if he would mind having his email address given to a singer-songwriter named Cosy Sheridan, who he had never met. She believed she and Joe were second cousins and wanted to contact him. It turns out that Joe’s grandmother and Cosy’s grandfather were brother and sister.  Cosy’s song, “George and His 88 Keys,” is a moving tribute to her grandfather, George Sisson. Joe’s grandmother’s name was Marion Sisson, though she became known as Granny Weed. The family came from upstate New York.

            Soon after Cosy contacted Joe by email they met in person at a Fiddling Cricket concert she was doing at the Espresso garden Café in San Jose. Joe drove from his home in the Santa Cruz Mountains to meet her and they have been friends ever since.

            Tonight Cosy Sheridan, Joe Weed and singer-songwriter Chuck McCabe will be performing for Fiddling Cricket at the Cayuga Vault in Santa Cruz. Cosy will be accompanied on bass by singer-songwriter T. R. Ritchie, who is an accomplished solo performer in his own right. They will play some of his songs, along with hers. Each has a new CD. Cosy’s is called Eros and T. R.’s is called My Father’s Wildest Dream. Joe will also be sitting in with them. Then he and bassist Rolfe Wyer will join Chuck during his set.

            Chuck McCabe is an award winning songwriter, who has played nearly every well known venue in the country, as well as having toured southeast Asia, Japan and the Philippines for the USO. His song, “The Minimum Wager,” won the Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition. He has numerous recordings to his credit, his most recent being on the BlahBlahWoofWoof label. He has many “irons in the fire,” playing bass in an Irish group, lead guitar in an oldies band, 5-string banjo with some folkies and running songwriting workshops. Chuck’s humorous songs go well with his self deprecating style and his serious songs, such as “The Minimum Wager” are thoughtful social commentaries.

            In 1995 Joe Weed formed an acoustic surf band called the Vultures with Norton Buffalo, David Grisman, Rob Ickes, Todd Phillips, Joe Craven and Jim Boggio. They recorded a wonderful CD of guitar instrumentals from the `50s and `60s.

            Later he put together another outstanding recording called Swanee – The Music of Stephen Foster. This is a beautiful selection of Foster’s songs performed by an all-star ensemble of singers and players including Marty Atkinson, Laurie Lewis, Tim O’Brien, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Joe Craven, Tony Trischka and others.

            Along with making his own recordings, Joe runs Highland Studios, a successful recording studio in the mountains above Los Gatos. He and Chuck McCabe have worked together on Chuck’s most recent recordings.

            This evening promises a selection of songs that speak of the truth and the absurd, along with some incredible musicianship. Cosy Sheridan’s songs, “The True and Terrible Trials of Waldo the Dog” and “Turbo Yeast” have been featured on the Dr. Demento Show, and her “Botox Tango” is slightly reminiscent of Tom Lehrer, who played the piano at her childhood home in New Hampshire for a George McGovern benefit in 1972. Her songs display both wittiness and poignancy. She can bring an audience that was giggling moments earlier to tears. Not a lot of songwriters can do that.

 

Mary McCaslin plays Don Quixote’s in Felton Wednesday, February 18th. Email her at roundup@marymccaslin.com.

 

WHAT: Cosy Sheridan, Chuck McCabe and Joe Weed Concert

WHERE: The Cayuga Vault, 1100 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

WHEN: Tonight, 8 P.M.

DETAILS: 475-4938