Talking to the Press

Both Adam Zerbe and myself were interviewed this week by the Monterey County Weekly on the "sudden" appearance of house concerts in the area.

NO CLUB?

While that may seem new to the Weekly, you and I know we've been attending them since 2003 at our house in Pacific Grove and now in Carmel Valley Village.

We've seen the rise and fall of Monterey Live and Ol' Factory Cafe, as well as the revival of Plaza Linda, the East Village Coffee Lounge, The Works and The Alternative Cafe. Nevertheless, these private parties you've been invited to over the years have been a novelty in themselves.

The now 300 members of our mailing list are testament to just how much fun you can have when you decentralize the control of your free time from the big machine that is society and tap into what's real, visceral and meaningful when people gather together for song.

EXPOSURE

I've never really thought to tell anyone else beyond our mailing list about these adventures. Most of my co-workers don't even know I do this, and some of Juliet's co-workers still think we're holding recitals!

But I think something really cool is happening when more and more people begin to realize there's life beyond the TV or Web, and social networking can actually lead to real encounters with people in your neighborhood. If that inspires someone to do the same, I'm all for it.

INSPIRATION

I've really enjoyed my time hosting these concerets. I'd like more people to realize how much fun it is to become a host, but in talking to the Weekly it will probably mean more people will want to come to house concerts.

I hope that doesn't change the character of our events, and I know many of you can't always make a show. I've enjoyed being under the radar for the last seven years, and I hope the added attention, if any, doesn't take away from what has always been some great wonderful support for live, acoustic music in our house.

See you at a concert!