The J.A.M.S. (hopefully) weekly newsletter
Joshua Tree Association of Musicians and Songwriters
A division of New Moon Records
PO Box 203
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
www.new-moon-records.com
 
Gig reports and editorial comments for the week Nov 29, 2006
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Hey, Hey, Hey-

 
Well, I just got the new PC in the recording studio working and I’ve been transferring and editing three years worth of live recordings from festivals. (How did I ever get to be a computer guy anyway?)  Going through all of recordings, though, brought me right back to the performances I enjoyed so much as I was mixing them.  As time goes on, I enjoy live recordings more and more in comparison to studio recordings.  It hits me something like the comparison of fresh food to canned food, something like that.  Of course, the best thing is to be present at the performance, but that’s not always possible.  The next best thing to that is a really good live recording.  One of the things that got me going on this program is becoming aware of a guy named Maury Handler.  He and some friends of his are part of a loose organization called Colorado tapers (www.cotapers.org ).  They go around the country to concerts, make live recordings, and post them on the Internet (with the band’s permission, of course).  Maury and some of the other Colorado guys have started showing up at a lot of the shows I mix.  They record with a matrix system, I give them a stereo feed from the board, and they record also with live mikes.  Later, in the studio, they put the two feeds together to combine the clean sound of the board with the ambient sound of the audience.  It’s a great sound if the music and the mix are good.
 
My own recordings have generally been made off the board stereo bus, with no live feed from the audience.  Just lately, though, I have started simply positioning a mike at my mix position to record what I hear.  I actually like that sound a lot better than the dry sound from the board.  Problem is, of course, that some crowds can be very noisy, even to a ridiculous extent.  Some of my live tapes have arguments going on while the band is playing.  I’m more-or-less oblivious to that stuff while I am mixing but it’s pretty noticeable on tape.  Next season, we may take along multitrack equipment to get the best of both worlds.
 
I guess what got me thinking this way is that I am now heavily back into performing with the Shadow Mountain Band.  I have understood most of my life that you have to be decent at both to make a living at music.  Recently, though, I have realized how much I prefer performing to recording. The ideal recording, to me, would simply capture a good performance, what else do you need?
 
On a sidenote; talk about a bunch of folks having a good time playing, I give top honors to Steve Brown’s pirate band opening for Richard Grainger at the Playhouse last week. They filled the room with jubilation. (Richard was good, too).
 
Dat’s all for now.
 

Work like you don’t need the money.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like nobody’s watching.
Sing like nobody’s listening.
Stay in tune.

 
Da prez
 
PS: don’t forget Rickie Lee Jones Sat/Sun at Harriet’s
PPS: I have 2 bands posting blurbs for Saturday at the Beatnik. I am assuming that A+A are playing, because their blurb was the most recently posted. Let me know.
 
Check out…JAMS Announcements by Al Murdy..everything that’s happnin’…everything !
 
“There are many ways to liberate a country. Usually the residents of that country rise up and liberate themselves. That’s how we did it. You can also do it through nonviolent, mass civil disobedience. That’s how India did it. You can get the world to boycott a regime until they are so ostracized they capitulate. That’s how South Africa did it. Or you can just wait them out and, sooner or later, the king’s legions simply leave (sometimes just because they’re too cold). That’s how Canada did it. The one way that DOESN’T work is to invade a country and tell the people, “We are here to liberate you!” — when they have done NOTHING to liberate themselves. Where were all the suicide bombers when Saddam was oppressing them? Where were the insurgents planting bombs along the roadside as the evildoer Saddam’s convoy passed them by?”…Also a great essay by Swami Beyondananda…see JAMS Political Supplement
 
…“He’s on a first name basis with the (A)ARP, he don’t take the world seriously. He likes to lay in the hammock and watch the sun go down” (From- Not Quite Ready for the Rockin’ Chair-Lester/Hemingway) For musicians, a deal with AARP is a different matter than a deal with a hip coffee house or a fashion retailer..…see JAMS Attachment
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***gig reports***
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Water Canyon Coffee Company –Yucca Valley’s music café
Music now Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat…
Yucca Valley at 55844 29 Palms Highway.  760 365 7771
 

This week on the Water Canyon Stage

 
Tuesday evening 6-9PM
Kenny’s Brown Bag Session

 

Thursday Night Songwriting, Poetry , and Rhythm Club 7-9PM

Jules Hamland, Tom Merritt, Sunshine, Arjuna and the mystery guest
 

Friday Night 7-9PM

David “Butter’ Butterfield (1^st time at the WC)

 

Saturday Brunch set 11AM-1PM

Tommy Paul

 

Saturday Evening set 7-10PM

Mike Mucklow with Shaun Crowmwell (blues guitar)
(starts early- see blurb below)

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Harriet’s

 

Thursday, Nov 30 Classic Rock with Biker Larry and The Black Rope

7 pm Classic Rock with Biker Larry and The Black Rope
 
 
Friday, Dec 1, 2006 KCRW PRESENTS Gram Rabbit and The Lovemakers Gram Rabbit hop back into action with Cultivation, the follow-up to their acclaimed debut album, 2004’s Music To Start a Cult To. With Cultivation, we hope to plant the seeds of truth in the minds of listeners, and it is here where the ‘cultivation’ will take place, spreading desert energy everywhere.’
 
The Lovemakers make electronic/rock dance music with a passionate fury. At times aggressive and mythical, other times painfully honest, their music is rich in pop hooks, melody and drama .
 
Saturday  Dec 2  2006 KCRW PRESENTS An Evening with Rickie Lee Jones - Tickets $30. special guest Dead Rock West Doors at 6pm Rickie Lee Jones is one of the most acclaimed and talented singer-songwriters of our time. Her career spans nearly three decades of incredible musical output spanning many genres: folk, rock, jazz, soul, spoken word and pop. Rickie Lee’s music has been a major force in for nearly 30 years, a major influence on the music of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Edie Brickell, Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch and many others.
 
Sunday, Dec 3, 2006 KCRW PRESENTS An Evening with Rickie Lee Jones Special Guest The Thrift Store All Stars Doors at 6pm $30
 
Monday, Dec 4 Monday Night Bingo with Bingo! 6 pm
Please Visit www.pappyandharriets.com
 
www.myspace.com/pappyandharriets for ALL upcoming shows and any other info you may need.. “The Bar Where Everyone Falls Off The Wagon”
760 365 5956 PandHPALACE@aol.com Please Visit www.pappyandharriets.com
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Michael Mucklow

 
Saturday, December 2nd
7:00 - 10:00 pm Water Canyon Coffee Co.
55844 29 Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley This evening will also feature acoustic bluesman Shaun Cromwell from the Los Angeles area. He’s excellent at his craft. The performance starts early - at 7:00 PM. Come on out for some great music and be sure to invite friends and family. I will have holiday priced and FREE CD’s available.
 
Saturday, December 9th
11:00 am - 1:00 pm Water Canyon Coffee Co.
55844 29 Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley
 
“I would recommend this music to everyone that wants to take a break and enjoy your life from a different soundtrack.” - New Artist Radio “A sonic oasis for getting away from it all.” - Midwest Record Recap “Delightful cross section of superbly performed, insightful acoustic instrumental music.”
- 20th Century Guitar
 
http://www.michaelmucklow.com Instrumental Guitar Stylings
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JOSHUA TREE BEATNIK CAFE ALICE & ALBERT & FRIENDS SATURDAY DECEMBER 2, 8 PM     FREE Enjoy an evening of country, folk, rock, laughter and blues with our high desert duo who’s motto is ….’keep on keeping on’. They will be joined by Mark Hugh’s, Mark Griffin, Ray Duff, Samantha White, Autumn & Linnea and REALLYSHOOO on banjo, accordion, keys, guitars galore and antics - listen to Alice & Albert’s students and cohorts in crime as they take you for a visit to their family tree. Peace on Earth and Understanding through Music Ellen and Billy/REALLYSHOOO
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RENEGADE GEEKS – Beatnik, saturday, december 2nd.
http://www.madhappy.com | http://www.myspace.com/madhappy RENEGADE GEEKS - Out Now! …produced by former Talking Heads Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. …electro with hip-hop firmly tucked next to their pop notions. Each track is energetic and bouncy with fun lyrics… and they certainly have the funk down…. Beastie Boys fans who like electronica would love this…I can’t have enough of this eclectic release.
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Radio 60 upcoming schedule…Wednesday, November 29, Old Town La Quinta, 78-015 Main Street, La Quinta, Ca., 92253, 760-771-2567 ext #4, 6pm-8pm…Friday, December 1, Canyon Lake Country Club, 32-001 Railroad Canyon Road, Canyon Lake, Ca., 92587, 951-246-1773, 7pm-10pm…Call Greg Veach for info and bookings at 760-831-9805…
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janet robin Just wanted to send a reminder about a couple of things happening… First off, if you have the time, check out an interview I did for Modern Guitars. It’s quite long but a good read if you’re up for it: www.modernguitars.com
 
Also, check out a video post on YouTube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s8oMfK740c  ….it’s for a series that director Lorene Machado (Margaret Cho) is doing on women who play guitar.
 
UPCOMING SHOWS: Wed. Nov. 29, 9pm Sweetwater Saloon
153 Throckmorton Ave Mill Valley, CA
415.388.2820 songwriter series w/Heather Combs, Adrianne, Amber Rubarth
 
Friday, Dec. 1, 8:30pm Henfling’s Tavern
9450 Hwy 9 Ben Lomond , Ca 95005 … 831.336.9318
 
Sat. Dec, 2, 8:00pm Raising Malawi C.A.P Theater
818.506.5111 A special benefit show to raise money for orphan children in Africa featuring Art, Music, Film, Theater, and Dance, with performances by Selen, Jariya (eve buigues and andrea bensmiller)
 
CHECK OUT www.myspace.com/janetrobinmusic there’s a couple of live performance/interview video shorts I shot with director, Lorene Machado (Margaret Cho) posted up there, so I hope you enjoy…
 
and tune into KCRW 89.9 here in LA, where they are playing a song I wrote with my friend, Anne McCue for her latest cd, Koala Motel. The song is called “Driving Down Alvarado.” Nic Harcourt and also Weekend Becomes Eclectic is playing it quite a bit…. so give a call and request more!
 
still working on the new cd with producers Steve Baughman and David Bianco, so stay tuned!
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Tom Freund  Friday, Dec. 8th @ 8:30 - Abbott’s Habit with tim o gara playing before and Steve McCormick and Eric Lynn after . . .  you know the drill , great local holiday times. Corner of Abbott Kinney and California Ave in Venice, 90291
 
Recent article in Ventura is pretty interesting , here is link, “DIY rocker Tom Freund happy in his autonomous world” on the Ventura County Star Web site:
 
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/music/article/0,1375,VCS_156_5147331,00.html
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From: beekeeper@richardthompson-music.com
Richard Thompson is touring the Eastern U.S., California, and Hawaii this Autumn, in a solo acoustic format:
 
Fri Dec 01 2006 Arcata CA John Van Duzer Theatre
 
Opening Acts include Amy Correia, Kris Delmhorst and Makana. Details available at www.richardthompson-music.com
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Randy Weeks
A long list of international and out of town gigs
See http://randyweeks.com
 
12.02.06 CINEMA BAR, CULVER CITY, CA
10:00
 
12.09.06 THE CONTINENTAL, HOUSTON, TX
9:00
 
12.10.06 FLIPNOTICS, AUSTIN, TX
9:30
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Dear Steve,
We have a GREAT show this week - 5 acts, that’s right, 5 original musical acts.
Kicking off at 9 p.m. (you can hear these artist on Myspace.com):
Ter-Ra - Portland, OR acoustic duo (think Indigo Girls)
Joe Taylor - NYC singer/songwriter
Keaton Simons - he’s back, LA blues rocker with his awesome band
Stereo Suite - CA’s BEST band (!)
Destiny’s Journey - Texas-style blues band
“UNPLUGGED” is FREE and ALL-AGES and runs from 8:45 p.m. to Midnight inside Crossroads at the HOB in Las Vegas. Great food, drink specials and concert tix giveaways every week.
For more info, call 702-632-7607 or visit: www.myspace.com/lvhouseofblues or www.hob.com
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Big Water says: Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Blessings to you all everyday!  Have a great holiday season.  Keep in touch.  Love and a big hug at ya! BW
 
Join MySpace and you will instantly be connected to Big Water, and to each of Big Water’s friends. Click Here to Join: http://www1.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&id=97C591AE-27C2-4016-AD97-6F9D5284D4CC
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Lewi Longmire

(too much to post, please see):
info@lewilongmire.com http://www.lewilongmire.com http://www.myspace.com/lewilongmire
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Beatnik - Visit www.jtbeat.com

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Kokopelli’s Go to www.myspace.com/kokopelliskantina 369-6660
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A DIFFERENT KIND OF MUSIC - EXTREMELY WORTHWHILE EVENTS
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2006
Create:Fixate, 89.9 KCRW and The Onion Present “Alive in Los Angeles” - five-year anniversary celebration featuring, among others, (our own) Linda Carmella Sibio
 
1530 Ivar Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
Besides the plethora of visual art from over 30 participants, each artist will create a unique piece expressing the evening’s theme.  The one-night only art exhibit, complete with a diverse one-of-a-kind musical soundtrack, will take place at its new Hollywood location.
 
4:00pm - 7:00pm - early preview $5.00
7:00pm - 2:00am - $15.00 All ages
 
310-590-7199 www.createfixate.com
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Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Clause will play Saturday evenings, December 2 & 9, at 8:00 PM, and Sunday afternoons, December 3 & 10 at 2:30 PM.  Groves Cabin Theatre is located at 8768 Desert Willow Trail in Morongo Valley north of Highway 62 (look for the large red, white, and blue stone on the north side of the highway).  Tickets for all seats are $10.  For additional information and reservations call! (760) 365-4523.
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RETRO XMAS 3D SLIDE SHOW TO BE PRESENTED IN PALM SPRINGS
 
On Monday, December 11, the RETRO XMAS 3D SLIDE SHOW will be presented at the Rock Garden Cafe in Palm Springs.
 
This unique presentation will feature music and live narration by Christopher Perry, A.K.A. Doctor 3D.   Rare 19th Century stereocards will be used to present the evolution of the icon we all know of as Santa Clause.  Other segments of the show will be 1930’s TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 1940’s RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, a 1950’s tour of SANTA’S WORKSHOP AT NORTH POLE, NEW YORK, and 1950’s Amateur 3D Snapshots.
 
An original 1950’s 3D Projector will be used along with polaroid 3D glasses that will be provided for the audience members.
 
This 1 hour program will be presented one-night-only at 7 P.M on Monday December 11 at the Rock Garden Cafe located  at 777 S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Admission is $8 per person.  For more information call (760) 365-0475.
 
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JAMS Announcements-

NOW POSTED AS AN ATTACHMENT FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

(And mine)
*note, since our attachments editor, Al, doesn’t stay up as late as I do, we will have to cut off announcements for the week at noon on Tuesday.
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comments
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steve lester wrote: Swami-
Another great editorial! Do you mind if I reprint it in the newsletter this week?
stev0
PS: here’s my ed. from last week
:
Well said, Steve, and of course you may reprint the piece.
Swami
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Steve, Good on ya!  I thought this (19th -26th Nov) was your finest editorial yet.  You found a way to frame several difficult ideas and made it look easy.  It seems as though “one world” by way of corporations is probably the other viable but not desireable alternative to finding our own conscience and living by what we discover.
 
Really, Steve, this was your Gettysburg Address.  Must be that old time good time music work’n its mojo on you.    Al
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thanks, Al. The hillbilly music has healing power for sure!
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Wow!  How well articulated your opening to the gig report was … Here, here … Your writings need to be distributed more widely.  Cheers –Amara
Hey — Check out www.ChuckwallaFest.com !
 
The Universe continually unfolds our choices before us.  Did you know you can choose Love?’  –me
yup, we’re in trouble unless we can figure out this time thing … –Graham Schuster
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Hey,
 
Great opening statement, Steve…and so right on; I take pride in our friendship.
 
Glad you got in the “bribe” bit (we won’t master integrity in government until we get the Big Bucks out of the game) and, particularly, the Project Censored link; it’s a read that everyone could benefit from–and between the lines, it certainly says something about our “liberal” media sources of information.  How can any insightfully thinking person actually buy the “liberal media” tag?  I receive a couple of newsletters devoted to highlighting and documenting spin, misinformation, distortion, and omission in media sources (information contrasting with verifiable facts), and the preponderance is consistently (and by a large margin) in the right-wing direction.  I think, perhaps, having a healthy future as a society will ultimately be determined less by the media and political parties than by our individual respect for and pursuit of integrity–in our own lives first, and then, outflowing into our combined social structure, media, and government.
 
It’s really up to each of us to weed out the bullshit and to honor what’s actually so.  It’s hard enough in life to deal effectively with what is; it’s damn near impossible to deal with what ain’t (Hmmm, that brings to mind one of my favorite quotes: “The trouble with we humans lies not with what we don’t know, but in that we know so much that ain’t so”).
 
May the holiday season be a blessing for us all.
 
~Me
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Da Prez,
 
I agree with you about your thoughts concerning the beginnings of this holiday…strange how the pilgrims didn’t think religious freedom applied to the hosts of this land they invaded! I’m grateful and thankful for this land that developers haven’t f**cked up yet and for my friends that I’ll be hanging with today, but usually I would work 16-hour shifts for the holidays and make double-time pay and take a Hoodia to chaw on for the day…I’ll be more thankful when the Real Estate market plummets, this mindless building stops and people get a chance to buy these houses as repos… Hava good one!
 
Calamity Babs
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nicely said, steve. gandhi’s prophetic ideal: the law of love, is going to bring us to all of our senses, which, when combined, becomes common sense. there is no master, no teacher, no guru (to paraphrase van morrison). ‘it’ is within us all. when the layers of conditioning are stripped away, it is discovered that it has been there all along, like dorothy’s ruby slippers, to take us “home,” to who we really are. peaceful holidays to you & your family, which is really all of us. ted
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(a communication about the SPRC)
Y’know, I really appreciate the opportunity to play at WCCC and believe me, I’m not being a prima dona or angling for more playing time AT ALL, but I live in Cat City and without traffic and perfect weather it’s almost an hour one way for me. I guess I didn’t realize the true scope of the gig when I agreed to do it, or it didn’t register or whatever. I have a lot going on right now in my life and some crazy things like details have been slipping past me. Would you think ill of me if I took a raincheck this time? J
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J- No problem at all; thanks for letting me know. I can relate; for years, I drove to the low desert to play with bands or solo, and that was when gas was 75cents and I was getting paid pretty well. It was still hard, and I was always driving home at 2AM thinking about a nice easy day job, especially after a tough audience.
 
The Thurs (SPRC) show is a musical family, a little community of folks doing the yoga of creating and performing and observing ourselves in the process. I really consider it more of a workshop than a show. We are learning from each other how to refine our art and our performance. The only reason for an artist that doesn’t regularly attend the show to come in one time and perform might be to experience a truly supportive audience of other artists (although I do use the SPRC to help find performers for the paid weekend shows at WC). That said, there is really no reason to make the trip one time only to play. We are a community of artists supporting, growing with, and learning from each other. It is a continuing process.  Sorry you don’t live closer, but maybe there is something down there that is similar.
 
Hope to see you soon.
 
stev0
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SteveO,
 
I have no idea why you’d object to carrying concealed women into our national parks.  Hell, that’s how I met my first wife.
 
jb - Ramona, Ramona. Where for art thou, Ramona?
 
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If going to church makes you a Christian,
does going to the garage make you a car?