Mary McCaslin's Roundup

Apr 17, 2003

MARCH 2003

A couple of weeks ago I took the afternoon off and walked around downtown Santa Cruz. I couldn't stop thinking of all the things I should be doing, like calling or e-mailing to try to book some gigs for the summer and fall. I knew I should be working on a song, or developing a writing idea.

For a folk musician like myself waiting until "tomorrow" to contact a venue or folk music society can mean the loss of work. Most venues that present folk performers are booked up months ahead. Folk societies often present only one show a month and can be booked as much as a year or two ahead. But even with this knowledge and the guilt procrastination brings, it's so easy to put off those calls and e-mails because it's hard to sell yourself. This is why a good agent is a godsend. There just aren't enough of them to go around.

My Catholic upbringing and education instilled me with a finely honed sense of guilt. It's so easy to forgo something like the simple pleasure of an afternoon walk because it seems that every minute has to count.

In spite of guilty feelings I wandered the streets visiting the friends I've made at the shops downtown. I stopped in to see a very special friend named Lola Belle. Miss Lola is the seven month old basset hound who has become the official greeter at the Vault Gallery on Pacific Avenue. She is following in the tradition of her beloved predecessor Lucy, the store's previous greeter and "floor manager" who was also a basset hound. There is no doubt that she will fill Lucy's large footsteps with distinction. (Have you ever noticed the size of a basset's feet?)

Not to be confused with the Cayuga Vault, the homey music and performance venue a block from the Rio Theatre on the east side of Santa Cruz, the Vault Gallery downtown specializes in fine jewelry, art glass and clothing. Lola Belle's presence gives this upscale gallery a homey touch, as her legion of admirers will attest. She's never too busy to greet a visitor, unless she is napping.

THE CAYUGA VAULT

Here in Santa Cruz we are truly blessed with a number of fine places to see and hear performers. One of my favorites is the aforementioned Cayuga Vault.

Located at the corner of Soquel Avenue and Cayuga Street, the Cayuga Vault is in a historically preserved bank building, built in 1915. The main room has wood floors and high ceilings, offering excellent acoustics for musical or spoken word performances. The sound system, engineered by co-founder Pete Coates, is first rate, with multi-track recording, post-concert mix-down and CD production capabilities. The popular local bluegrass band Strungover recorded their CD at the Cayuga Vault.

The mission of the Cayuga Vault is to support emerging art, music and culture in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. This venue has become known for its offerings of cultural programming that represents the broad tastes, eclectic styles and ethnic diversity of the Santa Cruz community. Established artists, such as folksinger Garnet Rogers also have discovered the Cayuga Vault.

Founders Linda Kimball and Pete Coates have put heart and soul, plus an average of 30 hours apiece every week in volunteer labor since opening in September, 2000. They also survived the city's permitting process, which closed their doors for 3 months last year. By then, the Cayuga Vault had made such a positive impression on the community that folks stepped up in support, some speaking at the planning commision's public hearing and others making private donations.

The eastside of Santa Cruz has become an evening hotspot for entertainment and dining, due to the performances presented at the Rio Theatre and the Cayuga Vault. Santa Cruz landmark eatery the Crepe Place has always served into the late evening, and is now joined by other newer eastside restaurants serving after show food and drinks.

The Cayuga Vault also doubles as a rental facility which can be used for a variety of functions such as meetings, presentations, classes and workshops, fundraisers, receptions and private parties. It also can be set up for photo and film shoots, rented by promoters for concerts and other performances and can be used for public events. Inquiries can be made by calling 421-9471 or e-mailing info@cayugavault.com.

Linda and Peter present many, but not all of the performances and concerts at the Cayuga Vault. More than once they have been flattered by an artist's request to return to this comfortable venue with the great sound when passing through Santa Cruz.

I recently enjoyed a performance at the Cayuga Vault by the Mammals, a young string band from upstate New York. The fiddler in the band is Ruth Ungar, who is Jay Ungar's daughter. Jay played the beautiful violin piece "Ashokan Farewell" in Ken Burns' Civil War documentary. The Mammals are making their way like so many young musicians before them and the road can often bring pleasant and unpleasant experiences. In my days of traveling from gig to gig, places like the Cayuga Vault were always much anticipated stops along the way.

SAD DAYS FOR COUNTRY MUSIC FANS

Earlier this year country music fans lost a long-running favorite radio program, the Lost Highway, when KUSP re-arranged its format. Originally hosted by Genial Johnny Simmons and Charlie Park, later joined by Dave Bob Nielsen, this program was one of the very few chances to hear country music and western swing on the radio. I'm talking about the real thing: Lefty Frizzell, Kitty Wells, Hank Thompson, Loretta Lynn and other country music greats, not the southern rockers who have claimed the "country music" airwaves over the last two decades.

To make the situation even more sad, Charlie Park lost his fight with cancer in January. Not only was he a truly wonderful person with a great heart, he also possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of western swing. Charlie came from Snyder, Texas and every year he would return to this small town for its annual Western Swing Convention. He would bring back recorded treasures to share with listeners.

At the memorial gathering on the Chardonnay to scatter his ashes old friends and family recounted hillarious stories of his youthful escapades. Charlie Park was one of a kind and he'll be missed.

The latest blow to country music radio listeners is the coming departure of my KZSC Fat Farm radio co-host, John Patterson. John is another person with a wealth of country music knowledge. Listening to his programs is not only a step back in time to 1930s, `40, and `50s country radio, the listener is often transported to those golden KFAT days.

John is moving out of the area and it's not possible for him to commute like KZSC folk dj Stephen Meadows did for a couple of years after moving up near Placerville. John and Steve will also leave a hole in the local airwaves.

That's it for now. Stay in touch. Happy trails.

Mary will be teaching a fingerstyle guitar class at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in Ben Lomand in June. E-mail her at roundup@marymccaslin.com