Time for MyWeek in music and boy I have seen a lot this last week. So I guess I should get right into it cause there is a lot!
Well on Wednesday I went to the third installment of Ocean Beach and Beach Music Mafia's presentation of 2nd Annual Ocean Beach Holiday Music Festival. I already mentioned this in my last blog but it was a blast! So much talent! It's a shame we don't get that many people to come out and play for every farmer's market but at least it is always fun.
Later I went to O'Connell's, which always has good music. I got there when Citizen Band was up and this was the night where the marines were in town to collect Toys For Tots and they made a good haul. Citizen Band whipped everyone into frenzy as they kicked ass that night! Then we had Sara Petite and friend and next were The Grams and although they didn't do more than 3 songs Craig the lead guitarist was in rare form. On a bad day this guy couldn't sound bad but this night he was cracking the whip on his guitar. He was so hot on it smoke was flying from his guitar. Several people from other bands were very impressed with his playing that night. This and Craig is a hell of a nice guy too! When I should have bought him a beer for just letting to us listen to that he came over and bought me one! Thanks Craig! And thanks to others who bought me a beer that night. I hate it when I go to shows when I am broke but if I had to have money all the time then I would miss a lot of good music!
On Thursday I went up to the Brass Rail in Hillcrest. It's not just a happy bar anymore because twice a month or more Jeffrey Berringer puts on a great show! This night had Laura Kuebel as the MC/hostess and first up was Brooklyn who is always great! After her was Allegra Barley and she was so good I have a new favorite singer in town. Although she has been here for a while I just had not seen heryet. Sshe has a great voice and really great songs. Next was Kerri Dopart without her normal trio but with a trio all the same. I am going to do a short focus on her later in the page, so be sure to read all the blog today! Next up was Isaac Cheong and I really don't need to say much about him that everybody doesn't know but he is so good and so funny sometimes. Well always funny! Most of the time you can see Isaac on his own shows at Lestat's as he is one of the longest running open mic MC in town. You can always be sure he will please the crowd! Next came the very funny Rob Deez who hip hopped his songs out there and got the crowd participation going strong. Everyone who goes to see a show with Rob is familiar with his songs and how much fun it is to sing out some of the lines form his songs! Towards the end of his set he brought Kerri and Isaac up to help out on a song! It was great fun! Next came Laura Kuebel who was MC'ing for the night! But now it was her turn. Can't remember if anyone introduced her but she deserves one! She had a great set and all her songs are originals. One of my favorites which until recently had no title, but she told me she will call it "Nowhere". Not sure if I got it right, it was noisy when I talked to her but regardless it's a great song as is all of her songs! Next came the indomitable Happy Ron who was wearing Tommy Edwards's black cowboy hat when he took the stage as he belted out several of his songs! It's always fun to listen to Happy's comedy stylings. Last up for this night of great night for music was Tommy Edwards. Everytime I see Tommy he has a slightly different configuration to his band but he always sounds awesome! He has a blues country rock thing going on and he has a great voice for a guy. (I only say that cause I am partial to female singers unless it is headbanging music) He didn't play his mandolin much tonight concentrating on his guitar work as he jammed with his friends. But it sounded like they have all been together for years!
Now here is where I will talk about one of my favorite peeps in town. The beautiful Kerri Dopart! Now I know I always say all women I listen to or write about are beautiful but I can't help it if they all look beautiful to me! But Kerri is very beautiful and very talented. She normally plays around town as the Kerri Dopart Trio although whenever I have seen her she has not had the normal trio with her. Her partners in crime are Kim Bishop who plays a mean box or drum! And Heather Hartwick who plays bass and adds vocals. Now tonight when I saw her I believe it was Heather who was playing with her and Isaac was playing a mean box. Kerri's songs are insightful, soft and mellow and I know she plays piano too but I have never heard her play it live yet! But she is a very good guitarist and she writes all her own songs as many of my friends in town do! Her voice is sweet but with a little timbre and strength in it! I used to give an example of who one of my friends sounded like and compared them to other commercial artists to get people interested in coming to see them play. But I have stopped doing that for a while now; because I find it pigeon holes the artist and is not fair to them. So I just want to say Kerri sounds like Kerri and no one else! If you need a genre for those who cannot drop the silly naming of good music! Then for you I will say Kerri is closer to country than anything else but I like the term Americana because it encompasses folk/ country/country rock /pop and a bunch of other music genres. I can't enphasize how wonderful it is to sit and listen to her songs whatever genre you want to put it in! You can't leave a show without being very impressed with her music! Be sure to listen for "Praying For An Earthquake" or "Garden" two favorites of mine! If you go to a show be sure to pick up one of her CD's you will be very pleased if you do! And if you want to see her play then on Wednesday at Twiggs December 20th, you can see her and many others mentioned in this blog today!
On Friday I went to a show at the Boat & Ski at Mission Bay to see a Christmas Show put on by "The Bigfellas". Now I had a little trepidation for going to this show because I had heard some friends doing Christmas songs and thought that maybe they should stick with their own tunes because they write them to their own talents. But I was very pleasantly surprised. I gave a list of who played in my last blog but everyone did a great job and everyone did a stellar job! Santa and Mama's Kitchen would be proud of how the night went! I don't know how much food was actually donated to Mama's Kitchen but I am sure they appreciated it!
On Saturday I went to see Brooklyn sing again at Kirin Sushi, where she was joined by Mitch Budd on Drum and the beautiful Alicia Ruggierio playing her Violin. (Which has a name but I don't know if she wants people to know it [grin]) It was a fun night because the music was good and so was the food! Lots of friends dropped by to listen! Mitch played a couple of songs on the guitar with an accompaniment by the ladies and the songs were a couple of Dave Matthews, which is a favorite of mine as well. It was a great night and I got to hear Brooklyn's version of Rudolf, which was very good and very different, a sort of bluesy style. If fact I think it was better than the original, more contemporary! If you get a chance to go see Brooklyn at Kirin Sushi or even some of the other artists who sing there occasionally like Barbara Nesbitt. Please toast a sake bomb in my name with them and say Scott sent us! Also I want to make sure you don't think I am slighting two more beautiful women in this blog so I will just say they are Goddeses of Beauty and I am of course talking about Brooklyn and Barbara Nesbitt. I just figured if I said beautiful one more time someone would walk up at a show and slap me [grin]
Sunday was the most fun I had all week I went to two private parties' that had just music and friends. I won't comment on more than that, it was just a great time and great music from the San Diego Music Scene. What could be better!
Now don't forget the Winter Ball is tomorrow at Winston's in O.B. and it is formal attire optional but come dressed it will be fun! There will be a food drive and you will get a raffle ticket for a can of food and two for two cans of food! The raffle will have lots of fun prizes and CD's and the music will be off the charts. So come on down and drink a few and listen to the music and donate some food for the needy too! Tefflon, Charlie Of Bigfellas, Nisha, Cathryn Beeks, Not Your Mom, Simeon Flick, The Castners, Derren Raser, Lisa Sanders, Deadline Friday, Barbara Nesbitt, Brian Holwerda, Sven-Erik Seaholm, Shawn Rohlf, Citizen Band, Matt Silvia, Scott Wilson and maybe more! Provided by ListenLocalSan Diego and Idynomite Media Music.
Also at Winston's the next night will be the Holiday Bash with many of the same artist but some new ones and they will be having lots of fun as well! Come hoist a few and have fun listing to some of the best artists in town. The Grams, Podunk Nowhere, Call Down Fire, Gully, Simeon Flick, Scott Wilson Electric, Chelsea Flor and possibly others. Presented by Beach Music Mafia!
Or if you just can't get down to O.B. then be sure to stop by Twiggs where a whole bunch of people are having a holiday party as well on Wednesday the 20th. Dana Ralston, Jimmie Lundsford, Ted Friedman, Shannon St. John, The Handsome Devils, Tommy Edwards, Hugh Gaskins, Rob Deez, Isaac Cheong, Kerri Dopart, Aaron Bowen, Erika Davies, Gregory Page, Jason Mraz & Toca Riviera, Tim Mudd & Johnny Cicolella
So tomorrow I expect to see the places packed for the holidays and listening to the great music here in San Diego. I'm Out!
Ciao
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