Mary McCaslin's Roundup

July 20, 2000

FIRST ROUNDUP

It all started when I ran into Wallace Baine at the Robert Keen Texas Uprising/KPIG Swine Soiree in Watsonville last month. Really, I only meant to offer my compliments on the Sentinel's new Arts and Entertainment sections and to ask if some sort of "What's Happening" column covering local music events would return as a regular feature. Wallace said the position for a writer was open and that's when I heard myself say that I could do it. So, here I am embarking on a new career at the age of fifty-three.

By the time I was fourteen years old I knew I wanted to play guitar and sing. I also fantasized from time to time about being a country DJ. Over the decades I played music throughout the U.S. and have made a number of recordings. I have also hosted my own programs on public radio stations and even subbed briefly on KPIG in 1990. But I never, ever considered the possibility of becoming a "writer", a songwriter sometimes, but a "writer"? Greg Brown's line, "Who woulda thunk it?" keeps running through my mind...

At the same time, I must admit that I've never been at a loss for something to say about what's happening in our musical neighborhood. In this column I will offer glimpses, asides and updates about musicians, promoters and radio folks.

Speaking of radio, when I moved here I was thrilled to discover that the local airwaves are graced by four great non-commercial stations (KUSP, KZSC, KAZU and KKUP) as well as KPIG. It's truly a radio listener's heaven on earth right here in "Surf City". I hope to feature our on-air personalities in upcoming columns, so stay tuned...

Well, we've passed the July 4th milepost for this year, and what a day it was! Our friend Paula hosted a grand bash in her backyard, complete with the usual amenities: BBQ, great pot-luck dishes and water gun fights. Everything was splendid but the highlight of the day was a performance by Will Strickland. At one point, he broke into a beautiful rendition of "On the Street Where You Live". His lovely singing washed over the scene of old friends, new acquaintances and family laughing, listening, eating and playing, and for that few moments something happened that I cannot put into words. It was one of those "time stands still" experiences and, sigh, you would've had to be there...

If you've ever heard, "I got a Hog Call for you baby__", you've heard Will Strickland. The only thing better than hearing Will is seeing him perform live. He has a vast repertoire, is captivating on stage and is a master of spontaneity. He can take any idea, word or phrase and immediately turn it into a song.

Now living in Southern California, Will seldom makes it back up here to his old stomping grounds. So we must be content with occasional visits by this wonderful performer.

The Riders are coming! The Riders in the Sky that is. On Sunday, August 13 at 4pm, they will do a show at the new Bret Harte Hall in Felton's Roaring Camp. Just think, our own old time grand opera house (with the latest sound and lighting technology) right in the neighborhood - a perfect setting to see and hear Ranger Doug, Too Slim and Woody Paul. The Old West lives on, as only the Riders in the Sky can preserve it, complete with "cac-ties" and palindromes. However, beneath the veneer of comedy is an abiding love of the West. I defy anyone to hear the Riders sing "Home on the Range" without getting a lump in their throat. (Call 479-9421 for information.)

Also in Felton is the Cowboy Diner. It's in the old Felton Deli location on Hwy 9 between Felton Liquors and the Grocery Outlet. Serving seven days a week, the Cowboy Diner presents live country music on Friday and Saturday nights. A couple of Saturdays a month the Western Swing band, Saddle Up and Boogie, plays from dinner time til midnight. Good food, country music and that funky Santa Cruz mountain atmosphere - my kind of place. You can call the Cowboy Diner at 335-2330.

Another place that hosts country music is the Windjammer in Aptos. Larry Hosford plays there every Thursday night with his band. Larry is a "California Okie", born and raised in Salinas, whose original songs fit so well into the mold of true country music and yet, they stand out in a class all their own. There has been movement to re-issue at least one of his LPs onto CD and his brand new CD, Windjammin, is now out.

Like Larry, I grew up hearing and singing the kind of country music seldom heard on "today's country music radio". One of my treasures is the cassette tape he gave me of Freddy Hart's early 1960s recording of "The Wall". Stop by the Windjammer on a Thursday night for a dose of the real thing and maybe pick up a CD.

We are so lucky to have promoters who regularly bring great musicians and performers to our town. One of them is Tracye Lea Lausanne who for almost twenty-three years has presented first rate performers, usually at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. The roster of artists ranges from Ani DiFranco, Chris Williamson and Tret Fure, Cheryl Wheeler, Ferron, Holly Near and Ronnie Gilbert to Wild Mango, the Uppity Blues Women and Toshi Reagon. And these are only a few. Tracye has also brought Tom Paxton, John Gorka and Richard Shindell to the Kuumbwa stage.

It was my great pleasure to attend the recent Richard Shindell and Mary Gauthier (pronounced "Go-shay") concert at the Kuumbwa. Both are awesome songwriters and great singers. Richard's songs have been recorded by Joan Baez and his song, "Money for Floods" is just one of my favorite Richard Shindell songs. Mary Gauthier is fairly new to the scene. Her songs are stark and beautiful and she's incredible on stage. Don't miss Mary when she returns to our neighborhood in the next months.

When Tracye started Lea Lawson Productions, her idea was to showcase the vast variety of styles of music performed by women artists. I would certainly say that she has succeeded. To find out more about her fall concert schedule, give Tracye a call at 426-7828.

Coming up in late July and late August are two outdoor music festivals. The first is the Fat Fry Summer Music Festival at Aptos Village Park on Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30. Saturday's lineup features the Indigo Girls, Altan, Mumbo Gumbo and Joules Graves. On Sunday the Fat Fry brings on John Hiatt and the Goners, Bruce Cockburn and his band, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum. For more information, call 420-2800.

On Saturday, August 26, The Connection Magazine presents the Heart, Spirit and Groove Festival at Highlands Park in Ben Lomond. This one day extravaganza will host three stages of live music, along with food, beer and wine, arts and crafts, dance, an eco village, a hemp haven, drumming circles and much more. Performing on the main stage will be headliner Michelle Shocked, along with Elvin Bishop, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha's, Fantcha "The Barefoot Diva" and the Waybacks. Audience members are invited to come in costume to create a circus like atmosphere. Highlands Park is a lovely place and any event held there is made all the more special by this beautiful location. The number to call for tickets and information is 459-0522.

I talked to Tom Miller, who is the co-ordinator for this festival, and he came up with the most brilliant idea I've heard in a while: Santa Cruz should become the Branson, MO of good music!

That's about all for now. Suggestions and leads about venues, projects and performances are most welcome. My experience as a DJ has taught me that listeners are valuable sources of support and information. Readers can be no less important to a columnist. Please be in touch. I'd love to hear from you.

(Mary McCaslin can be reached by e-mail at: mccaslin@juno.com or c/o the Santa Cruz Sentinel

PO Box 638, Santa Cruz, Ca 95061. She also hosts "The Fat Farm" on Thursday afternoons

from 3 to 6pm on KZSC, 88.1 FM.)