Well Since my last MyWeek in Music it became a longer week than normal because it started off slow. Wednesday before last I went to see what was happening at the OB farmers market and found some hip hop dancing kids and mediocre DJ, but then I am not as fond of DJ's. They have to be really good to get my attention. I called around to a couple of my friends to see what was going on but got lackluster results so I went home. Thursday had nothing much at Thursday club so I headed for O'Connells to listen to Sweettooth play unplugged. Sweettooth is one of my favorite local bands and hearing them play their songs unplugged was a real treat. I also got to hear The Barbara Nesbitt Trio who is sounding better and better to me and I have loved Barbara..s songs since the first time I heard her and picked up her demo CD. I also got to hear a new band (for me at least) called The Raymond DiGiorgio Group or just RDG. Which I only heard a couple of their songs because I rode out on a bike and it was going to be a long trip back home so I left early, but what I heard was really good but it was only instrumental. Don't know if they have a vocalist, but that's ok they really cranked out the music.
Friday was a non-music day for me but lots was going on and I just needed to gear up for going to Band Camp the next day.
Saturday was Band camp and I blogged all the bands that were going to be there. If you didn't go you really missed an opportunity to see some of the cream of the crop in the local music scene. It's hard to pick out anybody in particular as being over the top better than anybody else is. Everybody did an exceptional job singing their repertoire of songs. But if I had to pick anyone it would be The Wild Truth, Sweettooth, Steph Johnson, Michael Tiernan, Carlos Almeda and his new band Supermice. But the standout for me was Deadline Friday. I have heard Bill Coomes and Mike Spurgat in the Barbara Nesbitt Trio but I have always missed Deadline Friday because they always played at that time when my ride was leaving. So I always missed them. So I was especially glad I finally got to hear them because they are an excellent band.
The real treat at band camp other than being a giant social event was the sing a long later after the programmed music for the evening was over. Everybody sat around the bonfire pit and played and singed until the early morning. One by one people would drift of to go to sleep in their tents until there was just a few left. I had to borrow a tent from my sister and it was an old fashioned pup tent style and it looked like it was going to be a little claustrophobic in there so I decided to just stay up the whole night. Early in the morning I helped Lynn (Bartender Extrodinaire) and Matt Silvia pick up all the glass bottles on the grounds. After they took off I decided to pick up the rest of the grounds so it would look nice in the morning for people when they got up which they were beginning to do just then. I wanted to make sure the Boat and Ski Club didn't think we were a bunch of unruly drunken slobs and give Cathryn a big problem in the morning.
Sunday was off to a start and I tried to listen to the ladies who were playing that morning, but I was starting to get tired finally. I think I just dozed on and off until it was all done, but I still got to hear most of the music that day. That was really the end of my week in music but I am going to include last night because I really wanted to talk about it and didn't want to wait until next week's MyWeek in Music blog.
Last night I went to the Belly Up to hear the New Acoustic Generation sponsored and hosted by Michael Tiernan. It was also the CD Release for Simeon Flick's new CD. A lot of people probably don't know that Michael Tiernan and Simeon Flick were some of the earliest people I met in the San Diego Music Scene. And I used to go up every week in March and April to the Spotlight Lounge to listen to Michael without his band and Simeon use to show up and do a short set each week too! So I have heard a lot of these guys material when it was pretty new. And we would sit around and chat a bit sometimes. Anyway that is the main reason I wanted to go to the Belly up for NAG. But it was an outstanding lineup of talent and we weren't disappointed. Michael opened with his band and made sure everyone had a high level of great music to maintain. Raising the bar so to speak, and everyone brought it. Kim Devine was next and she showed what an excellent writer she is and why she belongs in this group. I can't remember who was next everyone was so great it kind of started blending for a bit, until Simeon Flick came on. Now I have only heard Simeon in an acoustic environment on his own, so I have never heard him with a band and never with an electric guitar. Boy was I in for a treat! He was great and it was great to hear all the old songs in this new environment. Makes you really appreciate going out to see people in different situations. I really recommend it. Next we heard the special guest, but I cannot remember his first name and I will feel like an idiot when I remember or someone tells me but I will put it in hear when I find out what it was. But his last name was Thomas, I think? But now I am doubting even that! So look for there to be some editing later on this blog! -grin- He sang just a few songs in the old blues style and it was a great change up from what we were listening to and a great opener for the next act, which is one of my favorites. I am even listening to her while I write this and I listen to her CD almost every day. That person being Cathryn Beeks and her band is The Cathryn Beeks Ordeal and I can't say enough about this band. The songs are fun and intelligent and Cathryn is beautiful when up on stage (well really anytime) and everyone in the band from the beautiful and multi talented Marcia Claire to one of the most versatile and talented guys in the group Matt Silvia who plays guitar, writes and does backup. Many of these people are in other bands and half of them are the core for Sweettooth another favorite who didn't play that night. The final act of the night I had heard of before, but had never seen before. His name was Lee Coulter. He's from Australia but he writes a lot of very up sounding songs that are great for dancing to. It was a lot of fun and I am glad I went.
NAG puts on a show at the Belly Up every couple of months. If you have never been to one you just don't know what you are missing and you really should get out and see one of the shows. Many of these acts are playing somewhere in town each week sometimes. So it would be really smart to get on their MySpace sites or their websites and get on their email lists and go to these shows, Many are free to go to and if there is a cover it is always most likely a small cover, and definitely worth it. You don't always have to go see a huge concert production to get a really good night of music. So go out and see some of these guys. You'll thank me later!!
Well I am out but before I go I think I should tell you that Chelsea Flor and a few other acts will be up at the Hot Java Cafe this Friday in Carmel Mountain shopping center. So here is another chance to come see some of these great acts I keep talking about! I'm out
Ciao
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