Mary McCaslin's Roundup

April 2002

WHAT'S IN A NAME

A couple of months ago when I was in the hospital, a nice elderly man who was a volunteer delivered a bouquet of flowers to my room. As he sat it down he noticed my last name and asked something like, "Is that the great one?" When I asked what great one he was referring to, he said, "Why, Don McCaslin of course."

He, like so many others before him, expressed great surprise when I told him that I am not related to Don McCaslin. After all, the name Don and I share is not terribly common and the population of the Santa Cruz / Monterey area is relatively small.

I doubt that the volunteer at Dominican knew I play music, but the fact that both Don, other members of his family and I are all musicians has added greatly to the perception that Don must be my father. In fact, I've only had the pleasure of meeting Don McCaslin one time since I moved to Santa Cruz in 1990. I've never met his son Donny or any other member of his family.

When I was introduced to Don, we exchanged stories of encounters with people who were astounded that we are not related and we had a good laugh. He is a truly fine musician and gentleman and I could do far worse than to claim him as a relative.

Don McCaslin and I are not the only musicians who share the same last name. Folk singer-songwriters Cheryl Wheeler and Erica Wheeler have surely had to wade through times of great confusion in the minds of folk music fans who for some reason heard only a last name and could not distinguish between the two. One can imagine how frustrating this must be to both of these tremendously talented, but very different artists, who are also not related. I suspect part of the problem comes from the very source that brings this type of artist to us in the first place - public radio.

Cheryl Wheeler, who has some zany songs, is heard on KPIG occasionally, but both are heard regularly on public radio's many folk shows. Often public radio djs play long blocks of music by as many as ten or more artists in a row, then back announce names and song titles. It's understandable that a listener can become confused, especially a new listener who may not be familier with the vast array of folk singers out there on the air waves.

It is surprising how many people and enterprises that have gone on to national or world prominence have either come from or got their start in Santa Cruz. Camper Van Beethoven comes to mind. Over the years, there have been rumors that this somehwat eccentric music group's name came from a reference to a couple of the UCSC colleges. A few years back a young dj at KZSC attempted to explain this connection, but it still seemed vague at best to me.

Greg Lisher, a member of Camper Van and whose family owns Artisans on Pacific Ave., says that the name Camper Van Beethoven simply comes from a very bad pun and owes nothing to any UCSC college name.

Speaking of Camper Van, the group Cracker will be playing at the Catalyst on Sunday, April 28. Cracker's lead singer is David Lowery, who was also the lead singer of Camper Van Beethoven. Occasionally Greg Lisher performs on the bill with Cracker, a re-union of sorts.

There are so many name connections just here in the Santa Cruz area that they would not all fit into one column, so stay tuned for more fascinating name facts in the months to come.

COMING UP

In the next few weeks the music scene is heating up with some very cool events. One particularly unique musical experience is a theremin concert taking at the UCSC Recital Hall on Sunday, April 28 at 8 pm by Joseph Minicello. He has gone from a student of this marvelous musical instrument to performing pieces written especially for the theremin.

What is a theremin? It is an electronic instrument played by moving the hands around its two "antennea" to produce sounds in various pitches. Remember all those 1950s science fiction movies with the spooky high pitched sounds heard in the background? They came from a theremin. Almost everybody has heard the Beach Boys' classic song, "Good Vibrations". The high wailing fade out at the end was played by Brian Wilson on a theremin.

Joseph will play a selection of compositions including one written for and performed by Leon Theremin in 1929 and an original piece which utilizes the theremin as a MIDI controller, enabling multiple notes to sound simultaniously. This performance is free. To learn more, e-mail jojo@thereminworld.com.

Santa Cruz is the home of new monthly concert series, the Otter Opry, sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass society. From the hills of Marin to the hollers of Carmel, the Otter Opry will present fine bluegrass and old-time hillbilly blues.

The first show features the music of longtime Santa Cruz favorites, Homefire. Steve Palazzo is the lead guitarist. And what a guitarist he is!

Also playing is Santa Cruz's new up and coming bluegrass band, Crosstown, who have been wowing audiences with their hot picking and creative repertoire.

This all ages show takes place Wednesday, May 1st at the Santa Cruz Veterans' Hall on Front St., starting at 7 pm. Call 338-0618.

More bluegrass comes our way on Saturday, May 4 at the 15th Annual Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair. This free event takes place from noon to 5 pm at the Duck Island Stage in San Lorenzo park, which is behind the Santa Cruz County Buildings.

The Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair has always been a great kickoff for the outdoor concert season and is held the first weekend in May to celebrate Bluegrass Music Month. This year's line-up is one of the best in recent years and features Eric and Suzy Thompson with banjo master Bill Evans, Sidesaddle & Co., along with local favorites Strungover and Harmony Grits.

There are food and drink booths, a bluegrass raffle and an afternoon of good music. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and plan on a great time.

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY AND A BENEFIT CONCERT

Last December I had the great honor of becoming friends with Ashwin Batish and his father S.D. Batish when I wrote a piece on them for the Sentinel.

Ashwin is a world renowned sitar player and S.D. has played and composed music since the 1930s, becoming a household name in his native India. S.D. can be heard on the soundtrack of the Beatles movie "Help" playing a musical instrument similar to the sitar.

The Batish family has lived in Santa Cruz since the early 1970s and S.D. will turn 85 this year. On May 18 the Living History Concert Series will present S.D. Batish's 85th Birthday Concert at the First Congregational Church, 900 High St. in Santa Cruz. In addition to S.D.'s performance, singing and accompanying himself on the harmonium, there will be a photographic exhibit of his life in the entrance to the sanctuary. This is a chance to meet and hear one of the world's living treasures who happens to live here in Santa Cruz. Call the Community Music School at 426-9155 for additional information.

And finally, on Saturday, June 15, Mitchell / Collins Productions, in conjunction with Snazzy Productions, will present The Girls From Santa Cruz. There will be two concerts, both to benefit Lacy J. Dalton's Let `Em Run Foundation, which is attempting to secure a large piece of land in Nevada for a wild horse sanctuary.

Both shows will take place at the newly refurbished Santa Cruz High School Theatre and will be filmed for a PBS Television Special. I am thrilled to be included on the bill with Lacy J. and Ginny Mitchell. We are horse lovers all. For information, call 427-2941.

That's about it this time. Happy trails.

E-mail Mary McCaslin at roundup@marymccaslin.com