Tree House Concerts

Carolyn Sills (wrap-up)

2011-12-21T21:33:00.001-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Carolyn Sills to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore

* Our last concert of the year featured a local 40's and 50's singer, Carolyn Sills, from Santa Cruz, where she has performed as Patsy Cline.

* It was also a chance to have my friend, Charlie Wallace, play dobro. Our only other chance was back in 2005, when I almost got him to play in the band Camp Danger, who opened for Sherry Austin.

* Carolyn's band also featured Jerry Logan on bass and Carloyn's husband, Gerard Egan on guitar.

* Charlie plays guitar and pedal steel but used his lap steel last June for a project I'm working on called "Birdie In The Hole," about the CSUMB Men's Golf team winning the 2011 NCAA National Championship.

* If you were admiring Jerry's bolo tie, it's probably because he made himself! And like a dork, I forgot to ask him what kind of stone it was (I'm a recovering geologist), but I'm guessing from the purple red color that it was either amethyst or garnet.

* We had a couple of six year-old girls in the house, and the first few songs got their attention before they went off to play. My daughter came out, though, when Carolyn dedicated and sang "Mele Kalikimaka," which I had been working on this week on the ukulele for the big 1st Grade holiday party.

* It probably helped Carolyn's dedication that I was wearing my only "cowboy" shirt, which was decorated with the islands of Hawai'i.

* Below is a video of "Tacos, Enchiladas and Beans," the old Doris Day song, which Charlie introduced as the "the three wise men," just to fit it into the holiday spirit. If you watch this video in YouTube (click the YouTube icon in the bottom right), you will find a "snow" icon to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Keith Greeninger & Dayan Kai (wrap-up)

2011-11-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Keith Greeninger & Dayan Kai to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore

* This concert was entirely because Juliet wanted both Keith and Dayan to play our house in celebration of our seventh wedding anniversary. Some of you may remember when I proposed at a house concert in 2004!

* We've had Keith at our concert series twice before, once in 2005 when we lived in Pacific Grove and then again in 2009 when we started up our concerts in Carmel Valley Village.

* Dayan was a real bonus. He grew up in San Juan Bautista but had recently moved up to eastern Washington, so he's been a little harder to book. Now he's back in the Monterey Bay area, and it was a real treat to have him join Keith.

* We also had a surprise visit from Steve Uccello's on bass. He was high school buddies with Dayan, and he's also a graduate of the music program at Cal State Monterey Bay.

* It was a busy and fulfilling night, because there was such a demand we actually booked Keith & Dayan to play two shows for a total of 80 guests in Carmel Valley Village.

* The second show was later that evening, just down the road but still in the Village. Our friends Laura & John Siletto hosted and drew from their circle of friends.

* I grew up with Laura in Monterey, and she was responsible for me booking The Rayburn Brothers back in 2009.

* And since we've recorded two podcasts with Keith, he was gracious enough to give up the after-show interview and encore to Dayan and Steve. You can still hear Keith in the background on that third song, belting it away. But as this performance shows, Dayan is good enough to book solo.

* Here's a video from the afternoon show, and here's the original video Keith talks about.

Direct link

Molly's Revenge (wrap up)

2011-06-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Molly's Revenge to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* This was the lads' second visit to our concert series. They were only our fifth concert back in 2004!

* Although their music is upbeat Celtic, they're all living in and around Central California. Stuart Mason (guitar, mandolin) is down in Los Osos. David Brewer (pipes, whistles) is in Boulder Creek. Pete Haworth (bouzouki) is in Soquel. And John Weed (fiddle) is living right here ... in Carmel Valley!

* John and Stuart are also in the trad band Little Black Train and play around California a bunch.

* This was a special afternoon, because Pete recently announced his retirement from the band. This 2011 tour will be his last, so we were lucky to have seen him in his youth and prime. Thank you, Pete!

* One of the funnier moments was when the band egged on the crowd to "like" their fan page on Facebook so they could exceed 1,000 likes. They were already at 982 ... and it worked!

* If you are transfixed with the female singer on their latest cd "Aged 10 Years" then you've just experienced the amazing Moira Smiley.

* We were back and forth all week on whether an unusually cool June rain would force us inside, but despite the hazy sun we had a wonderful time in the back yard. Where did our summer go?

* Here's a glimpse of the band at the end of their second set:

Berkley Hart (wrap up)

2011-05-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Berkley Hart to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* We discovered Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart in 2006 at a music convention in Sacramento (FARWest). I had the rare opportunity to hear them play for just me in a small room, and I was knocked out.

* We had almost had these guys booked in 2010 but the tour fell through. Glad we stayed in touch!

* Jeff and Calman came up from San Diego, where they are big Padres (baseball) fans. They were at Plaza Linda last year when the Giants and Padres went down to the last day of the season, but they had to play a gig.

* They mentioned we could probably book the Giants third base coach, Tim Flannery, who joined them for their gig the next night in Santa Cruz.

* Best moment was when all the kids came up for Calman's song, "Big Bad Barbie Doll".

* Here's a glimpse at the duo.

Raina Rose (wrap up)

2011-04-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Raina Rose, Andrew Pressman and Jack Wilson to Tree House Concerts on (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* We first learned about Raina in 2006 at a music industry convention up in Sacramento. She was walking around barefoot, and I caught a glimpse of her ankle tattoo, which looks a lot like our logo!

* She brought a bass player from Austin, Texas, Andrew Pressman, but it turned out he grew up in Carmel Valley!

* We made it a point to tell our five-year old daughter, Sonoma, that Andrew went to the same elementary school as she does.

* Later on Sonoma fell asleep to Raina in the second set, telling Juliet, "her voice is so beautiful."

* The show was a wonderful excuse for Andrew to bring out Raina to meet the family because they had just gotten engaged (as we found out a few weeks later on Facebook). Congrats!

* Jack Wilson was a very special guest that night, and Raina let him take time to sing a couple of his songs. He also appeared on the after-show podcast. Here's a video of Jack performing "Fell Inside" at our house (courtesy of Ross Hendrickson).

* For the encore that night, Raina had local attorney Richard Rosen come up on harmonica (photo).

* Here's a video from the first set of "Act of God", which both I and Ross Hendrickson independently shot at the same time and put up on YouTube. I think Ross had the better camera!

Johnsmith (wrap up)

2010-10-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Direct download (MP3)

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Johnsmith to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

Johnsmith on stage

* Johnsmith came out all the way from Wisconsin, where he's hoping his Green Bay Packers can go all the way.

* Johnsmith was on his way down the coast to Big Sur, to teach a yearly songwriting class for a week at Esalen. He usually teaches with Marin County psychotherapist, Julie Baker, to "delve into the emotional heart of our personal story, and translate those experiences into song."

* Like Chuck Brodsky, Johnsmith runs musical tours of Ireland.

* We first learned of Johnsmith in 2003, after songwriter Dave Carter passed away. Johnsmith wrote the song "Friend of the Coyote," which he read like a poem at his concert.

* I loved hearing him sing "Father's Day," but then I'm a sucker for anything related to being a Dad.

* This was the first evening concert we've held at our new location in Carmel Valley. We used to have them all the time back in Pacific Grove. It's kinda dark out here and folks have to drive a long way, but we did have 20 folks to share the evening with. Thank you for bringing your flashlights!

Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys (wrap up)

2010-08-28T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Direct download (MP3)

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* The band was Belle Monroe (vocals, guitar), Ted Silverman (mandolin, vocals), Jordan Klein (banjos, vocals), Diana Greenberg (fiddle, vocals), Tom Drohan (bass) and Will Fourt (dobro).

* I don't know about you, but when Belle and the Boys started up, in that wonderful heat and view of Carmel Valley ... I got a little choked up. Bluegrass in the backyard has never sounded better!

* Belle and the Boys came down from San Francisco, where the post-modern explosion of roots music has come and ... well, not gone but definitely hanging out on your front porch asking for a beer.

* When Belle sang "Fire On The Mountain" in full view of the remnants of the old Robles del Rio lodge across the valley, which just burned down last May, I got goosebumps. Here's the view before and after from our deck.

* Belle (aka Pam Brandon) and the Boys are a fixture at the Strawberry Music Festival, and are lucky to be able to perform with almost anybody at any camp, including some well-known Main Stage acts.

* Although I had known of her for years, I first met Pam in 2006 at the Chickwagon's All Girl Revue, a Sunday afternoon tradition at Strawberry at Camp Cowlick. Here's what I wrote in 2006.

* I saw Tom (bass), Jordan (banjo) and Ted (mandolin) back in 2008 in Utah at the (old) Founder's Folk & Bluegrass Festival at Snowbird, performing in the kids band, Toodala.

* As usual, real musicians have day jobs, and Pam's is structural engineer. She helped build the new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Wow!

* Look for Pam in her other band, Lost Weekend. It's western swing and they play mostly in the Bay Area but sometimes get down to Santa Cruz.

* Look for Will Fourt in Lady A and The Heeldraggers. And Diana Greenberg in Female Trouble.

* Belle and the Boys are playing next at the Hobb's Grove Bluegrass Festival in Sanger, near Fresno CA, from September 24-26. Also look for then at Amnesia, 853 Valencia in the Mission.

* As they revealed in the after-show interview, this was their first house concert performance but they have plenty of experience with acoustic shows (e.g. Parkfield Cafe last May).

* For the first time, we used reusable plates and utensils for the potluck. We picked them up at Eco in Carmel, and they're made by Preserve.

Greg Tannen

2010-08-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Direct download (MP3)

Greg Tannen, who last performed in 2005 at our old location in Pacific Grove, dropped by our new house in Carmel Valley for an interview and performance. More photos from his visit.

* Greg was actually on vacation and didn't even have a guitar to perform with, so we pulled out my old Gibson, sat him down in our living room, and recorded a short interview for you.

* We started to record our interviews after a show only a month after Greg played our house (sorry man!), starting with Dana & Sue Robinson (when I only had a vocal mic!).

* Greg has two brothers in the LA area (a screenwriter and songwriter), so he makes it out a bunch anyways to perform and work, but not always to be a tourist.

* He is now off to finish up production of his next album, due out November 1, so this was a much-needed vacation.

* Greg mention having opened for Roseanne Cash and John Hammond. Lucky duck.

* He's going to open for his brother and sister-in-law's band, The Weepies, this November. We had previously discovered The Weepies through Greg and love that band!

* The Weepies new album comes out end of August. Our daughter, Sonoma, liked the new video for Be My Thrill.

* The Weepies play with another Tree House Concert's artist, Beth Amsel, in Atlanta come November.

* That time Greg was on TV? That was an ending shot from the ABC show Dirty Sexy Money, when he performed with The Weepies playing mandolin.

* Catch Greg on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gregtannen

* And yes, that's Greg Tannen in the header of this blog, in a photograph shot by Steve Zmak at that 2005 concert.

Joe Craven (wrap up)

2010-08-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Joe Craven to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* We first learned of Joe Craven by attending the Strawberry Music Festival for many years, where he always seemed to be playing with somebody on the main stage.

* Joe called his assortment of percussive equipment in front of him his "yard sale."

* His two main instruments he played were a mandolin and violin, but beyond that it was anybody's guess.

* He played some bongo drums, an angel food cake pan, a hub cap or serving dish, a garbage can, the jawbone of a donkey, a banjo made from a hominy can, a mandolin made from a bedpan, and a tamborine.

* After the interview/encore, Joe also pulled out his children's cell phone toy to play as well.

* At his feet were an assortment of pedals and boxes, including a green box that allowed him to record and then loop all the "found sounds" in his yard sale. This created a dense layer of percussive goodness that allowed Joe to play against with his mandolin or violin.

* Another artist whom I like that loops like that is KT Tunstall, available in "that great repository of folk" Joe calls YouTube.

* Joe also did a couple of amazing spoken word performances, the second while balancing on the ledge of the stage.

* Joe waxed on about world music and mentioned a documentary film called Throw Down Your Heart, where Bela Fleck returns to Africa to learn about the origins of the banjo.

David Ross MacDonald (wrap up)

2010-07-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool

Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by David Ross MacDonald to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* I first learned of David at the 2001 Strawberry Music Festival, where he drummed for Australian roots band, The Waifs, who were a huge hit.

* Juliet and I actually followed The Waifs on tour for a bit in 2005 during our honeymoon, and that's when we learned that David played guitar on the side. We bought "Southern Crossing" at the merch table and haven't been the same since.

* That same year, David played the now defunct Monterey Live, and I was one of three people who showed up for the first set (thanks Vince and Steve!). David and I sat around, had a few pints, and traded stories. I promised him I'd get a bigger audience if he came back to play our place.

* David was on a break from The Waifs' tour, having just played the Rio in Santa Cruz, and got in just two bookings, one being ours. Count yourself lucky.

* Loved the story about David hanging out with Pam Delgado from Blame Sally to watch the World Cup in San Francisco.

* Someone brought a bottle of wine made by Australian golfer, Greg Norman, from the Limestone Coast, where David says he's from. Good on ya, whoever that was!

* Juliet is still getting all teary-eyed from the fact that David's version of "Waltzing Matilda" didn't make it the House finale (which she remembers).

* The last song, "Who Have a Dream," with the light and all of you enjoying the afternoon ... yah, I got all teary-eyed, too.

* After the show, David and I headed down to Roost House to catch the show. Opening was Carmel Valley gal Meghan Lehman, followed by Raina Rose, who I met in 2006 at FARWest. What a great night of house concerts in Carmel Valley!

* Also in Raina's band was Carmel Valley boy Andrew Pressman on bass. Needless to say, there were a lot of family and friends in the audience for Meghan and Andrew.

* Because of that, David and I didn't record the after-show podcast until the next morning, after he had a plate full of eggs from our chickens in the backyard. There he is re-stringing his guitar, impressing our daughter.

* Check out our daughter, signing David's mailing list. She added a mola mola (sunfish) and then the American flag. She's a big fan since learning the Star Spangled Banner because of the World Cup.

Emory Joseph (wrap up)

2010-05-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Emory Joseph to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* Emory Joseph first contacted us in 2005, wanting to not only play music but also put on a cooking demo. You should have heard him query Juliet about the slow-cooked carnitas she made in a dutch oven on the grill.

* He was living in Oakland at the time before moving to New York City.

* Prior to Oakland, Emory was a DJ at KPIG, with the knickname Lester. He talked up a storm about the old days, both during the show and in the podcast.

* Emory was in town to help celebrate both his daughter's birthday and her black belt.

* He brought with him his friend, Michelle Esrick, who produced and directed the documentary "Saint Misbehavin': The Wavy Gravy Movie," which has had a heralded run in 2009 at film festivals and opens to select theaters later this year.

* Emory is listed as the "composer" for that film. Look for his soundtrack when the film opens.

* Michelle is also connected to the famed 60's folk singer Odetta, who was her adopted daughter.

* Odetta made a name for herself in the 1950's, singing folk songs around clubs in the U.S., including the hungry i, which was originally founded by Juliet's paternal grandfather, Eric "Big Daddy" Nord. Small world, huh?

* Before the show, Emory asked me if I had a tambourine for him to perform with. I could only find my daughter's, and like a good father, Emory was insistant that we clear that with her, just in case she got a lil' possessive.

* I'm still hanging on Emory's line in that song about oil: "The river catches fire when there's oil there in the mud / When the world confuses oil as its blood."

* We almost tried to hold the concert outside, but despite the warm sunshine we had a brisk wind that forced us in. Here's to the next show on July 3rd, with warm temperatures and Australian accents, when David Ross MacDonald joins us, fresh from his tour with The Waifs!

Talking to the Press

2010-05-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Both Adam Zerbe of Roost House Concerts 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 at Roost House, and knowing how it works makes me appreciate Adam and Audrey Morris' efforts even more. 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!

Honeymoon

2010-05-01T23:26:00.000-07:00

A six-person band of friends, siblings and families made a Monterey Peninsula debut at the house concert venue Roost House on May 1st, all to benefit Dorothy's Place in Salinas.

Honeymoon is a collaboration of four singer-songwriters with the remnants of the local band Big American Family. Their musical style is heavy on songwriting but with an upbeat roots sound and individual talents that are exceptional.

Christina Bailey (vocals, guitar), Lauren Shera (vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele), Sara Bollwinkel (vocals, violin) and Andrea Blunt (vocals, piano, accordion, violin) have soloed or banded up previously but got together and surprised each other with their songwriting, harmony and chemistry.

The gals are backed by Matt Bailey (drums) and Matt Bollwinkel (bass), both from Big American Family.

Many are Cal State Monterey Bay graduates and staff. Full disclosure: I work with Christina at the university, but I had never seen her perform. This was true for the majority of the sold-out room of supporters, of whom the band joked, "One of us knows every one you of here."

Roost House

2010-03-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

Juliet and I finally attended our first concert at Roost House in Carmel Valley, and what a great night it was!

We got see two of our favorites, Chris Webster & Nina Gerber, close up and very intimate (Nina dropped by our house back in 2006). The room was big, the sound was amazing, and the vibes were good.

(top: Nina Gerber on guitar, Chris Webster voice, washboard & bass)

Many thanks to Audrey Morris and Adam Zerbe for creating such an inviting setting in their home! I got to meet and talk to Audrey at our Stevie Coyle concert in December, and both she and Adam visited our home in January for Chuck Brodsky.

Although they only started holding concerts this year, it felt like they've been doing it for a long time. They had booked a handful of acts and by all accounts folks are having a good time, but Chris & Nina really got my attention to attend.

As it turns out, Adam (who is Audrey's son) was a local realtor by day but also the founder and president of 4th Street Records, a small music label with a couple of emerging artists. It's pretty clear Adam has had some experience doing this concert thing, and from his 4th Street Records web site you can even see him performing!

I would get on their mailing list, because they are mixing an ambitious booking schedule of national touring artists, their own label artists, and even emerging artists around the Monterey Bay. Although they are going to slow down the pace of booking (and we know that temptation!), I'm particularly looking forward to the May 1st show featuring the brand new local band, Honeymoon, which features my friend and co-worker Christina Bailey from her band Big American Family.

Chuck Brodsky (wrap-up)

2010-01-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Chuck Brodsky to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* Many thanks to Vince Lewis for booking this show (he hasn't missed a concert since we started in 2003!) . He went on that Ireland tour Chuck talked about, pitched the concert, and then Chuck sent us a postcard.

* Also a big thanks to Chuck's uncle, Harvey, who lives in Pacific Grove and says he's the president of the Chuck Brodsky Fan Club!

* We had a few artists in the audience as fans and old friends, including Craig Rayburn, who played our house in September, and Alissa Feinman and Kimball Hurd, who says his old band City Folk with Keith Greeninger, who played our house in May, is officially back together!

* Kimball and Alissa came up to sing with Chuck and got to play their own song. Look for them a lot more around the Monterey Bay area as City Folk books more shows.

* Also in the audience was local author Flo Snyder, who got to talk to Chuck during the sound check about baseball. She was the first person hired when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved west to Los Angeles in 1958.

* I first discovered Chuck in 1998 at the Kerrville Folk Festival, where I also learned about Keith and Alissa. He was hosting an open mic under the Ballad Tree up on Chapel Hill (I said Cathedral Hill in the podcast!).

* Here's the YouTube clip Chuck talked about for his song The Man Who Blew Kisses at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canada.

* And here's that clip Chuck talked about of Doc Ellis, who threw a no-hitter in 1970 ... while on LSD.

* I had to look it up, just because I was so curious when Chuck sang about English bathroom fixtures, but here's why he called the song Armitage Shanks.

* We were just starting a heavy week of rain in our area, so the deck was off limits. So instead, we opened up our downstairs room for food and gathering. Many of you will recognize that we took out a big dividing wall over the winter, to open things up. Glad we did!

* Big thanks to Harry the Baker, who I met at the Jason Harrod concert in Seaside. Harry brought a great tasting wheatless cake and found out he baked our daughter's first birthday cake in 2006.

Stevie Coyle (wrap-up)

2009-12-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Stevie Coyle to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* This was a special concert in the home of fans of Tree House Concerts. We went a mile down the road in Carmel Valley Village to the home of Paul and Elizabeth Lane, where folks filled 38 seats to see former and founding member of the Waybacks, Stevie Coyle.

* Stevie brought his own sound equipment for the warm ranch-style living room, with lots of dark wood and a beautiful view of Garzas Canyon in Garland Ranch County Park.

* Stevie featured songs from his new CD Ten-In-One, which he described as a "concept album" where each track relates a story of our hero Mr. Ostler and his travels to the circus sideshow tent.

* Tree House historian Vince Lewis noted he saw Stevie recently play a CD release party at the Mission Coffee Roasting Company up in Fremont, where Stevie and two band mates played the whole Ten-In-One CD front to back.

* Stevie's humor knocked us out from the start, but a beautiful moment occurred in the first set when he played an Episcopalian hymn and invited all to sing the words, if they knew them. Someone did, and it was a lovely moment.

* Stevie is the second ex-Wayback to visit our home. We had Chojo Jacques come by in December 2006 with Ken Clarkson from Jimmy Chickenpants.

* Stevie had a big day, having to rush off to see Richard Thompson at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga that night.

* I met several promoters, including Audrey Morris (Carmel Valley) and Allan Molho (Watsonville). Audrey has Ken Emerson (Hawaiian/Blues/Rock) coming on January 2, and Allan just had Audrey Auld Mezera on Halloween (she's so good she's played our house twice!).

* I also met a lot of artists and picked up a few CDs. Give a listen to Dan Eyde and Michael Gathier, who's CD came by way of the "small world" connection made by Shelia Prader.

* I loved that Stevie has done lots of house concerts and has hosted them as well. He used the Irish phrase "rolling up the rugs" to describe the very old phenomena of inviting musicians into your home.

* Here's what Stevie mentioned in the encore/interview when you search for "house concerts" and "martha stewart." Good advice, except I would advise not looking like a "public accommodation," meaning a business. Here's even better advice from Russ & Julie's House Concerts down near Los Angeles.

* A funny moment (and there were tons) came in the second set, when Stevie sang the Tom Waits song "Chocolate Jesus," which evidently should never sing in Florida.

* And on behalf of my wife, Juliet and I, thank you again, Paul and Elizabeth, for such a lovely visit to your home and creating such a stolen moment.

How 'bout your house?

2009-10-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

We hit the wall. Having a concert once a month in our house was getting a little too crazy. Not that being two working parents of a four year-old isn't enough.

We love having these parties, but the turn around time, the clean-up, the prep, and the loss of normalcy ... it all adds up.

So we're back to a concert every other month at our house.

But a few of you have approached me about doing these things in your house.

I actually tried this back in August in Seaside, and it worked.

The next concert will feature Berkley Hart in our house on Saturday, November 21st, but the last one of the year will be at another house here in Carmel Valley on Sunday, December 6th, featuring former Wayback Steve Coyle.

It's a win-win for everyone. I have more performers contacting me than I can book, and you all want to try this house concert thing but don't have the experience.

As always, drop us a line is you're interested in hosting a house concert with a fabulous performer and an attentive audience. I'll do the marketing, bring the chairs, set up the sound, and record the interview. All you have to do is open your doors.

The Rayburn Brothers (wrap-up)

2009-09-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by The Rayburn Brothers to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* Originally I booked the show as just Craig Rayburn. Later, he had me throw his brother Keith in the billing. He came with dobro, guitar and harmonies. At the show, they let me know they're billing as The Rayburn Brothers now.

* It was a five-piece band, with bass, guitar, drobro, lead and backing vocals. That's the most we've had since Jimmy Chickenpants in 2006. But we've never had three-part harmony, much less the blood harmonies of Craig and Keith. Nothing better.

* That was Keith Rayburn's son, Keith, on the bass. Eliza James provided backing vocals, and Nick Heinz was on lead guitar.

* I first met Craig and his wife Leslie in 2007 at a Keith Greeninger show in Big Sur, at the Henry Miller Library. And Keith, a two-time Tree House performer, was one of the producers on Craig's latest album, Coyote.

* Laura Cohen has everything to do with Craig and Keith dropping by. I grew up next door to Laura, who is one of my sister Kelli's best friends. Laura is friends with the Rayburns and handed me Craig's CD during a visit last spring.

* Laura's parents were there, too. I remember as a kid being able to hear Jerry and Madeline's house parties in the 70's, with people playing songs in the backyard, right beneath my bedroom. It was wonderful to have them here, if only to return the favor.

* If you didn't get to talk to Laura's father, Jerry Cohen, you missed a brush with history.

* And yes, that was Laura's husband, John Siletto, singing that last song, Tres Pinos, with the band. John wrote it, and Craig put it on the album, with full credit. If you missed it, just reading the lyrics doesn't do it credit.

* We had people coming from as far as you can in California to see this show. Craig and Keith's sister came up from LA, and their parents came down from the Shasta area.

* The parents play in a string band up there, and are now inspired to host house concerts, too!

* It was amazing to learn that Craig is a third grade teacher in the Santa Cruz area but even more amazing that one of his peers who teaches kindergarden came to see him perform, too!

* One of the cutest moments was right after we finished recording the encore/interview. My niece, Elsa, poked her head out of the closed door to the family room and asked what was going on. "I thought I heard some music," she remarked to the 20 folks in the room.

* It was a super extended encore performance we recorded after the show. The band did three originals but the crowd had some requests, so we left everything on and up. Five songs total!

Lila Nelson (wrap-up)

2009-08-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Lila Nelson to Tree House Concerts (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* I first saw Lila in 2006 at Ron Sandidge's house concert in Aptos. She was in Ron's back yard, too, but had to compete with some landscaping equipment nearby.

* Lila recognized lots of names on the backs of chairs, including friends and Tree House artists Brian Joseph, Kenny Edwards, Mark Erelli and Peter Mulvey.

* In his 2005 after-show interview (at 15:50 in), Brian mentioned Lila as someone "wonderful, really bizarre, quirky, beautiful, perfect."

* Kenny Edwards co-produced Lila's latest album, Letter Home. He used to play with Linda Ronstadt and still plays with Karla Bonoff a bunch.

* Was is me or was it hilarious when Lila sang the last line of Dirty Magazines ... in our back yard: "Don't you know they make it hard...for the girl next door not to be hardcore when she's in her own back yard."

* Lila is so laid back that she and tour manager Shiloh decided to head off into the sunset and camp out that night before their next show in Santa Cruz on Sunday.

* For what ever reason, we had a hard time filling the house in August. I looked back and found we had only booked August twice before (emith and Molly's Revenge) and did well. But what I failed to learn was a band that's on our own Wish List, the Duhks, played in nearby Sand City that afternoon, at the West End Celebration. I've liked them all the way back when they were Scruj MacDuhk. Hey, I would have been there, too.

* The after-show encore/interview was too much fun, probably because it included the enthusiasm of Christy, Tracy, Steve, Mike and Paul playing the part of studio audience (picture).

* Also in the encore, Mike (and Pete Seeger) was responsible for that "turn around" folk maneuver Lila used in "American Miracle." And yes, that was Mike at the end, boldly finishing Lila's lyrics (much to her delight).

* Lila's husband took a class at the Panetta Institute at CSU Monterey Bay, where our guest Steve Henderson had worked. Steve is now the Dean of Student Life at the new high school at Chartwell School.

* And another guest, Paul, and my father, Allen, both learned they had teaching overseas in common. In 1973, I lived in New Dehli, India, for a year while my father was principle of the high school at the American embassy.

* And while BBQing the tri-tip, Juliet had a bite that got stuck in her esophagus. Long story short, we ended up going to the ER at 1 a.m. and getting it taken out early the next morning. Long night, lots of napping the next day, but Sonoma never woke up the whole time. Don't try that at home, though!

WORTHY: Jason Harrod

2009-08-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

LISTEN: Interview and encore with Jason Harrod, recorded on August 13, 2009. [ show notes ]

It was a two-fer tonight in nearby Seaside, California, as Tree House Concerts went remote to cover the birth of a brand new house concert venue and the visit of singer/songwriter Jason Harrod.

The hosts were Esther Hobbs and Dan Weinstein, who opened their doors to 25 people, many of whom had never experienced an evening of live acoustic music in one's living room.

Jason was raised in North Carolina and lives in New York City. His music touches folk, country, bluegrass, pop and rock, and tonight he played a guitar and harmonica in an hour-long set.

Esther had only heard of Jason through a Boston friend, who suggested Esther catch Jason's act on his West Coast tour. Instead, Jason was able to convince Esther that she could do a house concert. I pitched in with chairs from our concert series and the small guitar amp that we've used for outdoor concerts and indoor (e.g. Peter Mulvey in 2004).

Afterwards, I set up for a special interview and encore performance with Jason in front of the remaining crowd at Esther and Dan's house, and Jason knocked out some intimate versions of his original material.

Beth Wood (wrap up)

2009-07-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Beth Wood to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* Beth came all the way from Texas by way of Oregon, where she and her husband are living these days. It means we'll see a lot more of her on the West Coast.

* I first saw Beth at a house concert in Salt Lake City, when she was living in Colorado.

* Beth has Mark Erelli to thank for this gig. I was in Utah to interview Mark at a music festival, and my friend, Hope Jensen, suggested we go to something called a house concert.

* Beth asked how we knew Mark, and I played her the recording Mark made at our 2004 house concert, where I proposed to Juliet at the break, surprising everyone except Mark, who then sang his song, "Before I Knew Your Name."

* Leon and Jeanne (plus Wayne!) came only because they had seen Beth Wood on a Cayamo Cruise, and became a big ol' fan. He was surprised and thankful Beth was coming to his area, and drove down from Aptos to see her. Now Leon knows there's a local house concert series in Aptos, too!

* Troy and his date came because they heard Beth on the radio on Friday morning with Clytia Fuller on KZSC in Santa Cruz. Thanks, Clytia!

* Beth mentioned specifically it was her first playing with chickens in the audience. She tried to form the band "Beth Wood and the Mother Cluckers" but the hens didn't learn their parts and became victims of downsizing by management.

* Beth played the Freight & Salvage up in Berkeley on Thursday, opening for Hans York, then the day after our concert she returned to Berkeley, to Casa de Linda House Concerts with Linda Oliver & Tom Mongomery, who saw her on that same Cayamo Cruise.

* Beth's mother grew up in Breckenridge, Texas. Juliet's maiden name is Breckenridge, so we had lots to talk about, and Beth drank from a Breckenridge brewery glass during the show.

* This was our first concert outside (all 29 have been inside, either here in Carmel Valley or Pacific Grove. We almost had an outside concert with Keith Greeninger in May, but it was about 10 degrees color than today (80) and cooled off quickly.

* Local singer/songwriter Jennifer Filzen dropped by and even accessorized Beth with the addition of Jennifer's hat, when the wind picked up.

Annabelle Chvostek & Myshkin (wrap-up)

2009-06-12T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Annabelle Chvostek and Myshkin to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* Annabelle started the night, using a guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. Myshkin opened the second set with both a standard and tenor guitar.

* I think the best instruments in the house were their voices. So much control and playfulness.

* One CD Annabelle didn't have with her is Firecracker by the Wallin Jennys, her former band. Pick it up for both her songs "Devil's Painbrush Road" (which she played tonight, strumming her fiddle) and "Firecracker."

* Myshkin came to our attention in 2003 from a Folk Alliance sample featuring her old band, The Road Dog Divas. The song was "Coot," and it featured three strong voices in harmony with irreverent lyrics about a loopy guy, Alcatraz, and a cheerleader's convention.

* They both arrived at our house needing showers from camping in Big Sur. And yes, they attracted some attention singing around the campfire. There's an idea for a concert!

* Each met and decided to tour because of their booking agent, Jessica Byers, who books a lot of similar artists in the Portland, Oregon, area.

* Myshkin gave us her album, rosebud bullets, which features the song, "Annabelle" on track 10. No relation, but it was fun to hear her play it tonight.

* Annabelle gave us a copy of her album, Resilience, which also features a co-write with fellow Canadian, Bruce Cockburn.

* Folks are still talking about the eastern European song Annabelle sang ("Boom Boom"), about a naughty girl who likes to drink beer and .. well, you know.

* I stumped Myshkin on playing "Why Do All The Country Girls Leave?" but you should at least read the lyrics. The song is hysterical. I so wanted to point out the Carmel Valley hills the next morning and say, "see how the mist it clings to the hills the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen."

* I mention I loved the You Tube video that Annebelle did with Rose Polenzani, and Annabelle said she'd put in a good word for us with Rose.

* We talked later that night about a trip to Las Vegas (they got lucky on Wizard of Oz slots), and they didn't know about Garage Ma-Hall, a fantastic house concert venue off the strip. Annabelle vowed to play it!

* We had 34 seats filled tonight, which is remarkable for our first Friday night in Carmel Valley. I never thought folks would come so far out after dark, so thank you! Back to our Saturday afternoon schedule in July, in the backyard!

RIP Monterey Live

2009-06-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Monterey Live is dead. Long live Monterey Live!

The four year-old club on Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey closed its doors after last night's show (5/31/2009).

Prior to 2005, the kind of artist that regularly came through Santa Cruz to play at Henflings or the Kuumbwa (e.g. Greg Brown, The Waifs, Slaid Cleaves, Kris Delmhorst) never came through the Monterey Peninsula.

I had been heading north to see those Santa Cruz shows years before I met Juliet, but we got tired of the two hour round trip. We'd come home after midnight and never be able convince our friends to come, too. It was the big reason we started Tree House Concerts in 2003.

FILLING THE GAP

When Monterey Live opened, I thought house concerts were dead. All the artists would want to play the club instead of someone's home. But that didn't happen. All of a sudden the Monterey Peninsula became a way station for the level of artist who wouldn't play a house concert but could never draw the Sunset Center or Golden State Theater.

A lot of the early success was because of a partnership between Monterey Live and Tom Miller, who had moved his bookings from the old Henfling's to Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton. Tom could double the artist's exposure by booking them both in Felton and Monterey, knowing the two markets really don't overlap.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Tom realized that Monterey Live wasn't marketing well enough, and nobody was coming to the Monterey shows, unlike the Felton shows.

VOTE WITH YOUR FEET

Since then, Monterey Live changed ownership, and it slowly died. Over the years, I was contacted twice by their marketing professionals about partnering (i.e. using my 200+ mailing list to promote). I turned them down and then tried to explain how their 20-century marketing techniques (e.g. CoastWeekly ad or story in the Monterey Herald) wasn't going to cut it. And the 21st century ideas I freely gave away never sunk in.

I had also seen how you all voted with your feet. In 2004, we had Peter Mulvey stop by, and it was our biggest draw still to this day. In 2005, I told that same mailing list of 200+ people that Peter was coming back and playing Monterey Live. I was one of five people to show up.

It's hard enough to compete with all the entertainment in someone's home after 8 p.m., but residents of the Monterey Peninsula really don't like coming downtown to see music. You'd come to our home in Pacific Grove, however, so that was high praise.

I remember booking Jimmy Chickenpants in 2006. The brand new bluegrass band from Santa Cruz didn't have much of a web site, and I had no music clips to send to anyone when the invitations went out. It didn't matter. 30 of you showed up anyways, and we had never booked bluegrass prior to that night.

Amazing to me, you never cared what music I was booking. You just wanted to come over to our house. Even when the club downtown might have seemed cooler, you still came to our house. I booked unknown bands who's music you never previewed, and you still came to our house.

SAD BUT FULFILLED

I'm sad that Monterey Live has closed. I knew the two different owners tried hard, but they were up against a mindset on the Peninsula that was against coming out of their homes after the sun goes down. Traditional marketing didn't make a dent, and we all went back to our lifestyles and missed some great music.

Regardless, I'm also feeling a little fulfilled. Tree House Concerts continues to be an underground, off the radar, non traditional, non commercial, stealing of moments, and nobody else knows how much fun we're having.

Could we turn it into a business? Probably not. But knowing I could book a cross dressing Hungarian harmonica band and you'd still come?

Priceless.

Keith Greeninger (wrap-up)

2009-05-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Keith Greeninger to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

* This was our first house concert since moving in 2007 and then finally finding a house in 2008.

* Keith was actually a last-minute addition for Beth Amsel, who was scheduled to come but had to cancel. We'll have her back, and she was fantastic at our house in 2004.

* Instead of the traditional 7:30 p.m. start, we changed things up with at 3 p.m. start. Well, more like 3:45 p.m., because everyone was having so much fun hanging out.

* Despite the sunshine, there was still a cool breeze from all the fog hugging the coast. I made the last-minute decision to hold the concert inside, but when summer kicks in that patio is going to be a great place to hang out.

* I actually had the patio set up, but the only artist that got to use it was our white cat, Denali.

* Our daughter Sonoma feel asleep two songs in, during "Red Tail" of Wind River Crossing. It's on her Sleeptime playlist, though, for going to sleep at night.

* The kids had a great time playing with the five chickens and two chicks in the backyard.

* Many thank to Aileen (the Traffic Queen on KPIG) for bringing old friend, Sherry Austin. That made for two former Tree House performers in the audience, Keith and Sherry.

* Keith took full advantage and convinced Sherry to come up and sing Kate Wolf's "Give Yourself To Love." Sherry's working on an album called "Kate And Me" of just Kate Wolf songs, and if you get a chance to see her band, it's a great time. Very country and upbeat.

* It was great to see some old friends of Tree House Concert come out, and we made some new friends in Carmel Valley, too. Including our neighbors!

* For the record, that homemade apple pie was my sister, Kelli's, who also lives down the road. Wait until her four peach trees start producing later this summer.

* Keith was nice enough to let me sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on my Kamaka ukulele, while he sang backing vocals. It's a rip of Iz's version, which is in 4/4 time, but I did it in 3/4, which is the universal constant for producing sleep in my family.

* That monkey suit Sonoma was wearing is for her dance recital. We picked it up that morning, and she really wanted to wear it for you. The song she's dancing to is "I Wanna Be Just Like You," which in our house is the Waybacks' version.

* Long after the show was done and dinner was ate, we sat down with Keith for a little chat and an encore performance of three more original songs.

* That first song Keith heard Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer perform at that Kerrville songwriting competition was "When I Go." Here's a version three years later in Portland OR, with Dave much less nervous and a very cool intro. Wait for the lyrics.

* Towards the end, little Ainsley came in to ask if she could have some "brain berries." That's how we trick them into eating blue berries.

* There were a couple of good photographers in the audience, including Steve Zmak. Look for some pictures to show up if they find some good ones.

Holding House Concerts in Carmel Valley

2009-04-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Now that Juliet and I are living out in Carmel Valley, we think we have to make a few changes to how we hold a house concert.

Since 2003 and until we closed in 2007, we always had them at night and on any day of the week.

Now that we live 11 miles further from our target audience of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel, we're not sure you'll want to see a show that starts in the evening, because of the long drive home.

SATURDAY HOUSE CONCERTS

Starting with Keith Greeninger's house concert on May 23rd, we're only going to book a house concert on Saturdays. Between work and a young daughter, it's just too much to have to set up and tear down the house in the middle of the week, even though that's when most artists would be available.

We're also going to start earlier. Much earlier. 3 p.m. start, with two 45-minute sets.

Then at 5 p.m., we'll have a potluck. Many of you in the audience have said great things about the mingle time, especially with the artist, so we think this will be a plus.

Then sometime between 6-7 p.m. I'll set up the microphone to do a live "in studio" interview with the artist, something that will last no more than 15 minutes and might include another performance by the artist. This is something I always did after you all left for the evening, and then I put it up later as a podcast.

WEEKNIGHT INTERVIEW/PODCAST

During the week, if an artist still wants to come by, I would just do the interview/performance for 15-30 minutes between 7-8 p.m.

It's a weeknight, so we don't want to be up late, and we don't want you to have to drive home in the dark. You can come out, but we don't expect anyone to show up after dinner for a 15 minute show.

So there would be no expectation of a studio audience, but we'll throw out the invitation anyways. We won't go to too much trouble setting things up, because we have to work the next day, but we'll make you comfortable.

Afterwards, we'll let you mingle and I will put up the podcast for everyone to listen to that night.

THOUGHTS

Does that work for you? Leave a comment below or write to us. And thank you for the years of music experiences we've shared!

Hootenanny

2009-03-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

Something special happened today in Carmel Valley, California.

Around 40 people who for years got together at a funky little house in Pacific Grove drove 10+ more miles to plan the next version of Tree House Concerts.

It was a combination housewarming and hootenanny, and in the end, I think we successfully revived our tradition of acoustic music in an intimate setting on the Monterey Peninsula.

Singing "American Pie" with gusto.

[ Photo by Tracy Henderson ]

[ More pictures ]

SETTLED IN

Juliet and I sold the original Pacific Grove Tree House in November 2007 and rented in Carmel Valley for about a year as we studied its real estate market. In January 2009, we closed escrow on the exact home we were looking for, within walking distance of Sonoma's eventual elementary school.

MUSIC

Tonight we probably had three different "sets" of music, from bluegrass, to blues, then folk. In between we had a taco bar, a great view and just a tad bit of rain (aka liquid sunshine).

But it sure was fun to see the lil' ones dancing around to all the acoustic music. That's the way I would have like to have grown up!

STAGE

I quizzed quite a few of the guests on where they want to sit next time for an actual house concert, and I think there was general agreement that we could hold a concert both inside or outside.

Outside it seems like folks agree that the patio to the right of the deck would work, but I know I would have to purchase a small PA (public address system) for most solo performers. Many thought the stairs at the edge of the patio that lead up to the gate would be a good spot for a stage, making the performer high enough for the crowd.

Inside everyone thought it wasn't too small of a space to host a solo or duo act standing in front of the fireplace. Making the pathway to the bathroom through the kitchen, having folks enter the house from the backroom, and removing the dining room table ... we could probably fit 30-40 comfortably. I'm inspired but admittedly I was skeptical at first.

HIGHLIGHTS

Steve (banjo) and Bill (slide) started things off with some straight ahead bluegrass.
Young Duncan was channelling Woodie Guthrie throughout with his version of "This Land is Your Land" on his pink ukulele.
We got Pamela to take a few turns on her C harmonica, until she got a little winded!
The kids that stayed later all got faces painted, so the dancers became a little more wild and crazy as the evening wore on.
Don (guitar) wore his Kate Wolf Festival t-shirt and started to play a lullaby that my daughter, Sonoma, listens to every night, played by Nina Gerber, who was part of a Tree House Concert in 2006. Turns out Nina is Don's guitar teacher!
JP (guitar) and Don (guitar) were both catalysts for many guests to start singing, aided by Greg and Sharon, who brought some song books. You know, artist Brian Eno thinks that makes you live longer!
Don finished up the music with some very nice folk selections, including an inspired "Give Yourself To Love" (Kate Wolf), assisted by lyrics shown on an iPod Touch.

I think if we do this again, I'd love to find a way to project a laptop screen so we could show lyrics and chords for everyone in the room. Like hootenanny karaoke!

GIFTS

Thanks for the housewarming gifts. You weren't supposed to bring anything other than a musical instrument and your voice, but we appreciate it so much.

Thanks to Greg and Sharon for the ice wine. New to us!
Thanks to Pamela for the beautiful flowers.
Thanks to Audrey for her gourd artwork. She's made some for you, too!
We had some guests make quite a drive to see us, and that's high praise. Many, many thanks to Bev and Greg, who came down from San Jose from their house concert series, and to Don, who came from Mountain View. Wow!

WORTHY: Craig Rayburn

2008-12-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

I got a special peak at the latest album from Santa Cruz singer/songwriter Craig Rayburn.

It's called Coyote and was produced by Keith Greeninger, who was our 11th house concert in 2005.

It's some great Americana, with superb songwriting by Craig and support from lots of talented local musicians. Those included Dayan Kai and Chojo Jacques, who was our 22nd house concert in 2006.

Special thanks goes to my childhood friend, Laura Cohen, for passing on the CD. Her husband John Stiletto's song "Tres Piños" is the last track on the album, and I saw him perform it years ago at their home. I'm still laughing.

You can preview Craig's sound on CD Baby or iTunes.

INTERVIEW: Mark Erelli (Snowbird)

2008-07-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

LISTEN: Snowbird interview with Mark Erelli, recorded on July 12, 2008. [ show notes ]

PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS

2006 - via Skype, talking about Hope & Other Casualties
2007 - backstage in Salt Lake City, on the Faith Hill & Tim McGraw tour

A year after Mark Erelli came out West with Lori McKenna, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Mark found himself again supporting Lori as she opened the Founder's Title Co. Folk & Bluegrass Festival, at the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.

I sat down with Mark prior to his own and first Utah gig to talk about his upcoming album, "Delivered," due out on September 16, 2008 from Signature Sounds.

INTERVIEW
We sat down just outside The Cliff hotel, where Mark got to stay during the festival, with panoramic views of the Big Cottonwood valley in the Wasatch Mountains, east of Salt Lake City.

We talked about the big changes from a year ago, including the birth of his son, Owen. Mark revealed how he met the new producer for this upcoming album, Zack Hickman. We discussed his barn raising effort to pay for the album itself, and then we talked about some of the songs with an emphasis on the similarities heard in all seven of his studio albums.

FESTIVAL
The festival itself was a three-day event, from Friday to Sunday, with two stages through the resort area. The main stage held the Utah State Instrument Championships through the morning and afternoon, which in itself was very entertaining (lots of young players!). The evenings showcased mostly bluegrass acts, including Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush.

The Plaza Stage was actually free for anyone visiting the resort, in the outside area where you you would load into a gondola or chair lift, with stores and restaurants surrounding. In this case, Mark probably had more people see him perform his solo gig (roughly 80) than if he had been in on the main stage. Here's more details and a set list of that performance.

In addition to the performers, there was a songwriting competition won by T.R. Ritchie from just down the road in Moab, who actually played the Tree House in January 2006 when he visited with Cosy Sheridan.

Friday, Mark played mandolin and acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals in Lori McKenna's band, which also included electric guitarist, Russell Chudnofsky. One funny detail included all of them very stunned but pleased that the festival had oxygen for them backstage, which is at 8,000 feet, and they were playfully thinking of coming out in their masks.

CLIPS
Played from the album DELIVERED, to be released on 9/16/2008.
Man of the Family
Baltimore
Not Alone
Five Beer Moon
Delivered
Unraveled

ARTISTS MENTIONED
Lori McKenna,
Zack Hickman,
Josh Ritter,
Lorne Entress,
Jake Armerding,
Neil Cleary (drums),
Laura Cortese,
video of Zack Hickman on David Letterman show,
Sam Kassirer (keyboards),
Aoife O'Donovan of Crooked Still.

TECH NOTES
I used the same equipment from last year, and you can hear some wind noise as well as birds, squirrels, flies, and the nearby river.

Griffen LapelMic (stereo)
iRiver 799
Apple G4 laptop
GarageBand 3.0

PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS
I've had the opportunity to talk to Mark several times in the past, including:

2006 - via Skype, talking about Hope & Other Casualties
2007 - backstage in Salt Lake City, on the Faith Hill & Tim McGraw tour

Mark was also our second house concert in 2004.

Many thanks again to Hope & Gary Jensen, my dear friends in SLC who provided room, board and transportation. And they discovered house concerts!

WORTHY: Beth Wood

2008-07-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

I came to Salt Lake City to visit with Mark Erelli at the Founders Folk & Bluegrass Festival, and the best new music I discovered was at a house concert.

Beth Wood is a Texas singer/songwriter now located in Colorado, who's voice and guitar technique are only eclipsed by her stage presence. She is one of the better house concert performers I've seen, and the buzz in the crowd was thick.

One reason was it was the host's first house concert, in a warm and beautiful backyard. It was the start of the Rockin' Roxburry House Concert series, but from where I sat it looked like the 20th - nice job, Rockin'! Beth was probably a big help, but most of the folks were were first time house concert guests and stunned that Beth's level of talent just drove up to the door to play.

Beth's style is folk and country, very Americana at times, even soulful, but she covered some standards (one a capella) that were show stoppers. Her voice is simply stunning, and it only adds to her well-thought songwriting and upbeat guitar technique.

She's an independant artist with seven albums to her name, and a savvy business woman to boot. She even brought her own PA, which she says can mean the difference when trying to get a gig.

You should see her out West a whole lot more since moving to Colorado. Her shows are not to miss!

Many thanks to Hope Jensen for the advanced notice, and here's to lots of new music discoveries in the Salt Lake City area.

WORTHY: The Waifs' - Sun Dirt Water

2008-06-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

The Waifs are our favorite band. Period.

We like them so much that we followed them on our honeymoon down the coast of California. And we'd drop everything to see them live. Like tonight in Santa Cruz!

The Australian trio that includes two sisters singing harmony just released "Sun Dirt Water" and it is everything we wanted from this band. Great vocals, blues and folk, stunning guitar leads, and such good energy.

If we could book one concert for the rest of our life, it would be The Waifs!

WORTHY: The Weepies

2008-04-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite bands has just released a new album.

The Weepies are Steve Tannen and Deb Talen, and their music is more folk pop but so well-written.

Their latest album is Hideaway, but we still can't get over their previous album, Say I Am You.

We first learned about them when we got an email from Steve's brother, Greg, wanting to play our house. Greg was house concert #9 in 2005.

WORTHY: Peter Mulvey video of "Black Rabbit"

2008-01-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note that Peter Mulvey has made available a stunning video of him playing "Black Rabbit."

If you remember when Peter played the Tree House back in 2004, this song was the fourth song he played, and all our jaws dropped.

Now you get to look at all his finger work up close and personal. Wow!

This is in advance of his solo acoustic studio album, Notes from Elsewhere. If you liked Peter's performance, this is a must. It's kind of a best-of album but as if Peter recorded it in a house concert setting.

HIATUS: We're moving!

2007-11-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know our house series is on hiatus.

In this very difficult market, somehow we were able to sell our beautiful house as we move to our dream of living in Carmel Valley.

We are taking this busy Thanksgiving weekend to move out to an converted barn that we'll rent until we can find a new house.

In the mean time, we are sad to leave this life behind, and we hope it is temporary.

We're not going to book anything, only because we're not sure if we'll find a new house that would fit you all. But it's something we'd like to do. Cross your fingers and we'll see you at a show in the near future!

BACKSTAGE: Mark Erelli

2007-06-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

LISTEN: Backstage interview with Mark Erelli. [ show notes ]

I first met Mark Erelli four years ago in a small local bar where almost nobody came to hear him perform.

Since then he has played at our house, officiated the night when I proposed to my wife, Juliet, let me start his discussion group, let me gather and publish an archive of his Monthly MP3's, and always listened to my seemingly good advice.

The last bit he like so much that I flew to Salt Lake City for the weekend.

LONG HOT SUMMER
Mark is on the road this summer, criss-crossing the US and Canada, playing guitar for Lori McKenna, who is opening for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw on their Soul2Soul 2007 tour.

Lori's stock has been rising ever since Faith picked three of Lori's songs for her last album and its name, Fireflies (read more). She eventually made it on Oprah and then got picked up by Warner Brother's in Nashville. Her new album, Unglamorous, was co-produced by Tim and is due out in August.

Mark's known Lori for a decade, having both been on the same small label (Signature Sounds), but he's been playing lead guitar for her off and on for the last two years. In a video of Lori's career, look for Mark on the right in a red shirt in the band shots when Lori's performing.

So when I heard about the tour and whimsically suggested it would be fun to do a backstage interview, Mark got excited. Well, as excited as you can in an email.

SALT LAKE
I have a childhood friend, Hope, living in Salt Lake City, where Mark would play after stops in Nebraska and Minnesota. I called Hope and asked if she like to come. She's more of a blues fan but loved Lori's story and later bought Tim McGraw's greatest hits album to get ready.

Mark pulled a few strings, and thanks to Lori and her tour manager, Autumn, Hope and I got backstage passes for Monday night's sold-out show at the 20,000 seat Energy Solutions Arena. Or the center formerly known as Delta (read the review from the Salt Lake Tribune).

Going to Salt Lake is always a great excuse to get outside so close to the city. The view of the Wasatch Mountains still takes my breath away, so I came out a few days ahead to do some hiking with Hope and her family.

Along the way, we made quite a few Lori and Mark fans, as we got to tell the story over and over again of why I came out and what Hope was going to do Monday night at the concert.

ARENA
We got to Will Call at the arena in downtown Salt Lake City and picked up our tickets. We were shocked to find out we'd be sitting not only on the floor but only five rows away from the stage, which would be at half-court if there was a basketball game. Extending from the stage were four runways, all 90 degrees apart, and at various times that night, either Faith or Tim would be as close as an artist in a house concert.

Mark, Lori and Russell Chudnofsky all took the stage to a pretty full house. They played five songs, mostly from Lori's new record, the last three being "Witness To Your Life," "Stealing Kisses," and "Unglamorous." I still can't get "Witness" and "Unglamorous" out of my head!

Lori and her band stayed in the center for their set, with Lori moving from one side of the circle to the opposite side to give the fans a glimpse of her in a patterned white tunic, jeans and knee-high brown leather boots. Mark and Russell stayed put for most of the show; Mark only had the one mic to sing backing vocals while performing on guitar and mandolin. Russell had a bit more freedom to roam, since he was only playing lead guitar.

The sound wasn't oppressive but it's still an arena, so if you didn't know Lori's songs, you'd have a hard time picking out the lyrics. Having said that, Mark and Russell filled out the rest of the sound behind Lori's vocal quite well, even without bass and drums.

BACKSTAGE
After their short set was through, Mark met us at an elevator to take Hope and I down into the backstage area underneath the seats of the arena. Mark walked us in to what would otherwise be a sports locker room to meet Lori and Autumn and thank them again for such good seats. Lori went back to her Mac laptop where she was trying in vain to use iChat to talk back home as they had the night before, much to their delight.

Then Mark and I pulled up some chairs and recorded a 15-minute interview live to tape...or really live to MP3. You'll hear Faith echoing through the walls as Mark and I talk about the tour, the perks, songwriting, etc. And in an exclusive, Mark revealed that just that day he and Lori wrote a song together. It was a waltz, since Mark and others thought Lori didn't have enough songs in 3/4 time.

LISTEN: Backstage interview with Mark Erelli. [ show notes ]

TECH NOTES
My apologies for not having my digital camera with me, but it was enough to think of how I was going to get recording equipment into a major sports arena, and my brain fried on any other details. The images I did get were from a cell phone, but the equipment I used for the audio recording (iRiver 799, Griffin stereo LapelMic) was discrete and worked well. Many thanks to Hope for snapping the photos of Mark and me and suffering through my avocation!

13 JUN - Check out some great pics and a wonderful write-up of Mark and Lori's travels two days later in Portland, Oregon.

Sara Hickman (wrap-up)

2007-05-20T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Sara Hickman to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

* Sara Hickman was a main stage performer when I attended the 1998 Kerrville Folk Festival, and she was absolutely engaging. She had a full band, and as I mentioned in the after-show interview, threw out crowns during "I Wear The Crown," much to the delight of the crowd.

* I was very surprised to see that she would play our house. It was only because I saw a gap in her schedule: She was playing KPIG on Sunday morning (Please Stand By) but Don Quixote's Monday night. Felton is far enough away from us on the Monterey Peninsula, so we were lucky ducks!

* The scheduled guest for June was to have been David Ross MacDonald, but he couldn't make it due to a family emergency. David's fine, and it's the second year that we've tried and failed to have him come by. He's that special (even when he's not drumming with The Waifs!), and I can't wait for all of you to hear his fingerstyle guitar.

* Prior to the show, we had three mothers (counting Sara) eating dinner with two toddlers, so the child-raising stories we're flying back and forth. It was nearly a Mommy & Me class!

* We had some of the best weather all week, and the sun was shinning through brightly through the windows during the first set. But it was still cold for a Texan, and Sara needed to sit by the fire and wear the fuzziest socks Juliet could find.

* Last time I saw Sara was in 2002, at the old Palms in Davis. I was the "single guy" that night, much like Steve Zmak was, and Sara wrote on my copy of her Spiritual Appliances CD: "You're on my to do list!"

* The highlight of the night was hearing "Simply," just because it's such a beautiful song. There's a live version of that one on The Best of Mountain Stage Live, Volume 2.

* But the other surprise tonight was Sara's version of the Stones' "Mother's Little Helper" off her current album, Motherload. You almost couldn't recognize the original from Sara's, and now I can't get that rhythm out of my head. That's the mark of a good cover.

* I got to sit in the studio at KPIG that Sunday morning and watch Sara's three song set, and she showed her range very well. The first song (Everything's Red) was upbeat, almost rockin'. The last song (Too Fast) was a fun little farce, with a bit about her love working at a popsicle plant. But the middle song was a stunning song (The One), very slow and deliberate, sung from the perspective of the one victim of the Virginia Tech shootings the media left behind...the mother of the shooter. Sara was tearing up towards the end, it was so powerful.

* Sara's been shocking audiences for 20+ years with her wit, songwriting and amazing internal beat, and you'll find a lot of it on a DVD of her performances. Made up of videos, performances, guest appearances on TV, the gem is seeing Sara in 1990 on the Tonight Show. Not with Jay Leno, but with Johnny Carson. There's also a touching home video of Sara meeting with her childhood hero, George Burns.

* The DVD was co-produced by Gene Cowan of Cowan Creative out of San Jose. He also does Sara's website and was her driver and host on the Northern California tour.

* The reason why the quality of the interview with Sara was less than normal was because a few days prior I lost the hard drive on my Mac. I replaced it the next week, but it meant I had to go with Plan B for recording. That would be using equipment which is now unavailable, including an iRiver 799 and a Griffin LapelMic. The iRiver records directly to MP3 and the mic is stereo but suffers from distortion if the voices get too loud. But that set-up is great for field recording; the iRiver takes one AA battery and that's all the equipment you need.

Small Potatoes (wrap-up)

2007-04-06T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Small Potatoes to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

* Rich Prezioso and Jacquie Manning were amongst the six New Folk competition winners at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1998. One of the two songs they played was "Waltz of the Wallflowers."

* Officially, Jacquie won the competition, having written the songs, but Rich had one that never made the final round (but should have!) called "1000 Candles, 1000 Cranes."

* I was attending Kerrville that year, but there was little to do during the week that didn't involve hot sun and dust. So I got to watch every performer in the New Folk competition, and that meant seeing Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer perform (and win!). I also liked finalists Joel Cage, who would win in 2001, and Dan Gediman, who's was also recording a segment about the festival for NPR.

* It's a small world in the house concert biz. Last year I made a positive reply to a post about Small Potatoes on the Yahoo discussion group dedicated to house concerts. Someone on the list forwarded it to Rich, and he wrote me back personally. That's how it works sometimes!

* Jacquie played some unusually looking Irish whistles that sounded great. They looked like they might be made out of wood, but upon further inspection it turns out they are made of PVC pipe. Wow! Jacquie says there used to be a fellow who made them all the time who has since passed away, so she treats them as collector's items these days.

* Our 19-month-old daughter made it through most of the first set and only fell asleep upon hearing Jacquie sing Juliet's favorite song, "Give Yourself To Love" by Kate Wolf. Juliet remembers when she was young and walking in on her mom in the kitchen one day talking to Kate Wolf.

Melanie Hersch & Kenny Edwards (wrap-up)

2007-02-03T23:44:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Melanie Hersch and Kenny Edwards to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

* We first contacted Melanie because Brian Joseph mentioned her in his after-show interview in October 2005. Melanie sings backing vocals on on Brian's albums, and after listening to the first minute of "Be More Right," the first track off her album, Waiting For The Moment, and we knew she'd be great in a house concert.

* The bonus came when Melanie asked her friend, Kenny Edwards, to come along. She originally asked Brian, but evidently he was a little slow getting back to her. Imagine if all three came!

* Kenny's first band was the Stone Ponies, which included Linda Ronstandt. Later he was in the band Bryndle, which included Karla Bonoff.

* Kenny's actually playing with Karla Bonoff next weekend at the Sunset Theater in Carmel. Then he's off to tour the US with Karla. he sings backing vocals and plays guitar in the band, but not lead guitar. That's Nina Gerber's job. Remember Nina, from last October?

* Kenny says he usually opens for Karla in those shows. The Carmel show, however, features Livingston Taylor as the opener. Yah, that's James' younger brother.

* Melanie's day job is being a teacher, high school it sounded like. Some of her students even know of her MySpace page.

* This was the first show our daughter Sonoma didn't even make it for the first set. She usually falls asleep during that set or right after the break. This time she fell asleep on Juliet's shoulder in front of everyone. So well-behaved. She did enjoy the soundcheck and all the instruments in the front room.

* A few songs in, Melanie made us all laugh with the Ugly Dress song, about a bad bridesmaid dress she had to wear. In the audience, however, was the mother of the bride! Fortunately, she knew the story and appreciated that Melanie got a song out of it. The mom is also the newest fan of Tree House Concerts!

* The encore was "Troubled Mind" by Catie Curtis, who Kenny had just played with. Catie had come through the area last November with her sideman, Mark Erelli, who was our second house concert.

WEBSITE: Pandora

2007-01-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

Last year I stumbled on to the website Pandora through a musician's discussion group, and then I heard about it on the KCRW podcast, On The Beat.

Imagine a radio station where you start with a single artist and they offer up another artist who is similar. Then based on your thumbs up or down, they play more music that's similar. And so and so on.

Like it? Don't look it from terrestrial radio. Look instead toward the Music Genome Project, a very ambitious attempt to create a database of the musical qualities of a song and the artist. Some of their keywords are "acoustic sonority" and "melodic phrasing".

It's interesting to see the depth the MGP has gone to create an artificial measure of the music. It's not perfect, although your choices ultimately refine your future selections. And don't look for obscure artists or those on independant labels. For example, I couldn't find anything by Tree House performers, Mark Erelli or Brian Joseph.

But I have found a bunch of artists that I like, many of whom are on our Wish List and have even played our house. The first artist to play our house that I "discovered" on Pandora will be Edie Carey, coming in December 2007!

Here's my playlist, what Pandora calls my "station":

http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh80898642488003474

You'll need the Flash plug-in and an account to login, but it's free and they have a strong privacy policy.

Enjoy, and send me your stations, too! I'll post them here for the rest of us to enjoy.

---

STATIONS
(1/25) Greg Pool's "Tree House Concerts Radio"
(1/26) Ed Pare's "Blue Man Group Radio"
(1/26) Bonnie Burnell's "Carbon Leaf Radio"
(1/26) Bill Stacey's "Bob Marley Radio"

Chojo Jacques & Ken Clarkson (wrap-up)

2006-12-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Chojo Jacques and Ken Clarkson to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

* Lemme see if words can describe the chicken incident in the second set.

* Chojo is, of course, one of the founding members of The Waybacks, and I recall them performing "Cluck Old Hen" off the the album, Devolver, but never with a chicken orchestra like we heard and saw tonight.

* The one chicken was an electronic contraption that used to lay eggs until Chojo went in and wired it up. That little yellow tail is an instrument cable with a 1/4 inch plug so he can add it to the soundboard on stage. I can't imagine what it's like for the soundguy to have to mix in the constant clucking.

* The other chicken was a rubber toy that you squeeze the air out of, letting the air rush back in and make a little diaphragm vibrate like the bird is making a chicken call. But it almost sounds exasperated and strained, like the squeezing is a little uncomfortable to the rubber chicken. Ok, that's anthropomorphizing, but my daughter loved that thing during the pre-show!

* So right in the middle of "Cluck Old Hen," Chojo turned on the electronic one, let it cluck a different pattern every few seconds, and tried to reproduce that on the mandolin (or banjo, for Ken). Then Chojo picked up the rubber one, put it under his arm and created this cacophony of sounds as they played out the rest of the song. Visually stunning and aurally impressive at the same time.

* It was good to have Ken back in the Tree House, especially with his resophonic banjo, or dojo (cross between dobro and banjo). Last time when he was here with his band, Jimmy Chickenpants, he only had his normal banjo. I think "Dawn Patrol" sounds better on the dojo!

* I think my favorite banjo tune of the night, however, was Ken and Chojo doing "Whitewater" by Bela Fleck.

* The encore was equally satisfying. It started off with Chojo playing The Doors' "Love Me Two Times", followed by something I didn't recognized, and then finishing with "When You Wish Upon a Star." At that point, I realized Ken didn't know that was coming, and it was entertaining to watch Chojo lead Ken through the musical darkness, like a master and student.

* Last time Ken was here, he and I realized we had both been living/working on the Big Island of Hawaii at the same time. This time it was Juliet's turn to find out she and Ken both went to the University of Fairbanks and studied in the same wildlife biology department. Juliet was an undergraduate and Ken was finishing his masters, although their overlap was only when Ken came back to defend. They did share a common experience of working on a project involving watching ravens at the local dump. Crazy.

* We finally found a great place to hang our logo, just over Ken's shoulder, in the window. It was originally designed by graphic artist, Steve Zmak. While at the Fall Strawberry Music Festival, Juliet and I met artist & designer, Sten Hoiland, who does wire drawings, ceramic sculpture, and photography up in Chico. He was able to take Steve's logo off a business card and create a wire drawing that we could hang in the living room. We love it! Contact Sten at laughingplanet at hotmail dot com or 530.898.9086.

WORTHY: FAR West Sacramento

2006-11-26T20:49:00.000-08:00

In November Juliet and I got to attend the third annual Folk Alliance Regional West (FAR West) in Sacramento.

Imagine a hotel full of artists and promoters, with an entire floor dedicated to showcasing all that talent to the people who could book them a gig. Every room on the fourth floor had their beds pushed back so the artists could perform acoustically to the handful of promoters going from room to room until 2 a.m. It felt like a college dorm party.

I met up with quite a Tree House artists, including Molly's Revenge, Keith Greeninger, Sherry Austin, and Audrey Auld Mezera.

But between Juliet and I, we found lots of artists we'd love to bring to the Tree House, and we missed seeing a ton of good ones perform.

Joel Fafrad
Blame Sally
Moira Smiley
Chuck McCabe
emith
Jill Knight
Rita Hoskings
Raina Rose - She has a tatoo (see image) that looks remarkably like the Tree House Concerts' logo!
Andrew McKnight
Berkely Hart
Kaedmon
I See Hawks in LA - That's the Hawks in the image at the top, with Chojo Jacques.
Annie Gallup
Kevin Danzig
Fish Tank Ensemble

The two-person band emith was particularly fun to discover. Stevie and Carol are two different kinds of singers and performers, but together the create a stage presence that is really something. The lyrics and music come off as mysterious and funny, with Stevie singing more irreverently and gravelly and Carol sounding both like an ingenue and a sophisticate at the same time. "Mysterioso, rootsy, and darkly atmospheric..."

Just another note on the Fish Tank Ensemble. Oh my goodness. This band was amazingly entertaining, and not just because it was 1 a.m. The buzz that left the room was thick, and I was right up in front. I had so much fun. Here's a grainy video from YouTube to at least catch their sound. sound.

Audrey Auld Mezera & Nina Gerber (wrap-up)

2006-10-28T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Audrey Auld Mezera and Nina Gerber to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

* When Audrey played last, she gave us a baby towel we still use when our daughter comes out of the bath. It's the "Audrey Auld Towel" and the softest thing in the nursery!

* A lot of folks are still talking about Audrey's version of "Morphine," which Bonnie Parker (of Bonnie & Clyde) wrote in jail. The track notes on the album refer to this as "the first recording of her song. The original hand-written lyrics reside in a private collection in Austin, Tx. The tune is taken from the ‘30s song ‘M-O-T-H-E-R’."

* Audrey recently played a concert in San Quentin prison, on behalf of the organization Bread & Roses. She wrote a song for the occasion, which she played this evening. Check out the lyrics and story on her blog at MySpace (October 16, 2006). And here's some pictures of the day.

* Nina Gerber was an accompianist, collaborator, and producer with the late Kate Wolf, who will always be on our Wish List.

* Audrey and Nina drove up separately, but both commented that coming up Highway One through Big Sur was a wonderful thing. Nina said Kate started out playing music in Big Sur.

* I forgot to ask Nina, but in looking closely at the picture of her guitars from tonight, I discovered that Nina was playing Kate Wolf's guitar. It was made by David Matlin. Here are Nina's guitars, including Kate's.

* That makes Nina's performance of Kate's "Backroads" even more special. Nina dedicated it to all the Kate Heads in the audience. Audrey chimed in and corrected Nina with "Kate Mates" instead. Sounds better with an Australian accent!

* Both gals were traveling alone with with their dogs. Audrey had Gypsy, who you can see on the back on Audrey's new album, Lost Boys and Angry Girls. Nina had Tootsie Roll.

* I used to watch Nina perform with her late dog Ticket, who would lie at Nina's feet on stage during the performance. Nina said that Tootsie has had one shot at the stage but is still working up to it.

* One of the highlights was having my mother-in-law, Eve, come down from Napa County to see Nina perform. Eve has seen Nina many times and knew Kate Wolf. Juliet remembers coming home once in Calistoga to find Kate in the kitchen, talking to Eve. Somewhere Juliet has a postcard from Kate to Eve. If I find it, I'll take a picture and post it here.

STRAWBERRY: Three Worthies!

2006-09-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Fall 2006 Strawberry Music Festival, held over Labor Day, was a big event for my new family. It was my daughter's first visit, so we didn't get to see as much music as we would have liked. Thank goodness Hog Ranch Radio (88.1 FM) filled in the gaps!

But this was the first time I've ever approached Main Stage performers to see if they'd like to come by for a house concert. I even "discovered" a great performer, one of the coolest vocalists I've heard in the late-night camp jams at Strawberry.

Even if these folks never make to the Tree House, they are all worthy for you to check out!

BLAME SALLY
These gals are already a big deal in San Francisco, even having made it to KFOG's Acoustic Sunrise. It was their first visit to Strawberry, and they were really entertaining. We saw them in a workshop, on the Main Stage, and even on the porch of their cabin (see image above). Their harmonies alone are worth experiencing, but they also have a lot of fun on stage with each other. They all have day jobs, but they'd love to visit the Monterey Peninsula for a house concert.

TOM BALL & KENNY SULTAN
I've known of these guys for years, and I've seen them at Strawberry a couple of times. If you like blues, harmonica, and very funny lyrics, these are your guys. I ran into Kenny and we got to talking about house concerts and Monterey.
They hang out in Santa Barbara and have played the Monterey Blues Festival a few times, so we'll see if the stars align for a house concert.

And Tom by himself would be a catch. He actually plays solo fingerstyle guitar and has release a couple of classical albums that are extraordinary.

BELLE MONROE
Pam Brandon (aka Belle Monroe) is a vocalist/guitarist for a bluegrass band in San Francisco who knocked me out late one night as I was wandering from camp to camp after the Main Stage ended. I heard her singing jazz standards, blues, country, and bluegrass. I caught up with her at Camp Cowlick when Chick Wagon put on their big Sunday show, and she stole the show. She has so much stage presence and a sultry, smoky voice. I asked if she ever wanted to just come down and sing whatever style she wanted. She's that good.

Mike Beck (wrap-up)

2006-07-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Mike Beck's visit to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview):

I first met Mike Beck one Sunday morning outside the KPIG studios, during "Please Stand By." We both started talking and took in a surprise visit from Guy Clark.
I met Mike again a few months later at an Arden's Garden show, and he was all excited about getting to see in Bob Dylan in Oakland and going back stage. "What do you say to Bob Dylan?" he asked me. Not a clue!
You'll find Mike playing electric guitar around town with his band, The Bohemian Saints.
The morning after she attended the concert, KPIG DJ Arden played Mike's "Amanda, Come Home" on her show for the "Sunday Morning Prayer for Peace."
Mike's ranch is on the slopes of Mount Toro, in the Santa Lucia Mountains overlooking the Monterey Peninsula to the north. When he mentioned the lights from the antenna site, all I could think was how much snow that elevation gets each winter. That's tough living.
Mike grew up just a few streets over from the Tree House. Imagine what it must have been like to grow up on the sleepy, staid Monterey Peninsula and get to attend the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, as he mentioned in the after-show interview.
A friend of Mike's asked for an invitation a few days before the show, and it turned out to be a former student of mine a CSU Monterey Bay. Small world!
And what can you say about his friend, Ramblin Jack Elliot, coming down from Marin County to hang out with Mike? I'm not sure we'll ever have another Grammy winner in the Tree House, so it was especially neat to see Eric ask Jack to sign his guitar after the show.
Ramblin Jack won that Grammy for his 1995 album "South Coast" (Red House Records).
When Ramblin Jack played "If I Were A Carpenter," he expertly tuned Mike Beck's Gibson guitar to a double dropped D tuning (DBGDAD) and knocked out a great performance. After his first two songs, I had thought he was tired and not up to it, but he later told me it's because he's used to a PA with a monitor instead of the acousitc setting, and he wasn't hearing himself well enough.
Ramblin Jack Elliot's new album on the Anti- label is called "I Stand Alone."
Did you like Sonoma's red cowgirl boots? Those came from our friend Gail at Dancing Cat Records, who is a big ol' cowboy fan herself.
And Sonoma's shirt had a pair of cowboy boots on them with the caption "These boots are made for crawlin'!"

WORTHY: Abigail Washburn

2006-06-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

Abigail Washburn is enchanting.

I first heard her on The World Cafe podcast and was floored by her stripped-down style of banjo playing. Then I heard this articulate American woman sing in Mandarin Chinese, and my jaw hit the floor.

Next my friend Dan, who works with my wife Juliet, told me about Abigail all over again, and he didn't even like the banjo! I knew then something magical was happening.

Finally, it all clicked when Arden sent me the line-up for KPIG's "Please Stand By" live music show this Sunday morning, and it mentioned Abigail in the 10:30 a.m. slot was playing at Monterey Live that night. Dan and I were already planning to drive to Santa Cruz on Monday to see Abigail at Don Quixote's, but this Sunday's show wasn't on Monterey Live or Abgail's website. I called ML, confirmed the show, and now it's listed.

ABIGAIL WASHBURN
Sunday, June 11
8 p.m.
Monterey Live
$12 adv / $15 ( tickets )

WORTHY: The Weepies

2006-05-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

Remember Greg Tannen, who visited the Tree House in March 2005?

His brother, Steve Tannen, is in a band with Deb Talan called The Weepies, and we love their sound.

It's very laid back, folk-pop but with great lyrics. And there's something very interesting about the way Deb sings.

They were both independent artists before meeting in 2002 and starting writing songs together. Now they're on the label Network Records, but their unique sound and songwriting hasn't changed.

They're coming through the Monterey Bay area on Wednesday, May 24th, in Santa Cruz's newest club, The Attic. It's a beautiful club from all accounts, and Juliet and I can't wait to check it out for the first time.

UPDATE: 9 SEP 2006
The Weepies were featured on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday! Woo hoo!!

Corinne West (wrap-up)

2006-05-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Corinne West's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

Corinne hails from Quincy, up in Plumas County, which makes the story she told of that old gandydancer even better.
Corinne had just returned from a tour of Georgia. Southern hospitality aside, Corrine was very glad to playing our place, her first show back in California.
Corinne's bass player was Joshua Zucker, who brought great rhythm but also some wonderful harmonies.
Her guitar player was Jim Lewin, who I've seen play with Tree House artist Sherry Austin. He was a ringer, for sure, and he added some backing vocals as well. Jim's a member of Harmony Grits, the bluegrass band that first inspired Gillian Welch!
Corinne's manager, Sara Mertz, turned out to have a Hawaiian connection. She grew up on Oahu and left for the Mainland after high school.
Fred Monroe and his finance Sharon came up from Atascadero. They're planning to start up a house concert series in October called Música Del Río. Looks like Corinne might be stopping by their house in the near future!

WORTHY: Mark Erelli

2006-03-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

INTERVIEW (25 minutes): I recorded an Internet phone call between Mark and I, discussing his upcoming new studio album, Hope & Other Casualties.

Clips played from Hope & Other Casualties
Imaginary Ways
The Only Way
Snowed In
Undone
Here & Now

Artists mentioned
Lorne Entress
Julie Lee

WEB: Mark Erelli's visit to Tree House Concerts in April 2004.

TECH NOTES
Originally recorded on 13 MAR 2006
Skype 2.0
Audio Hijack Pro 2.6.6
GarageBand 2.0
Behringer XM8500 (Dynamic Vocal Microphone)
M-Audio FireWire Solo (recording interface)
Apple G4 laptop

Jimmy Chickenpants (wrap-up)

2006-03-18T23:35:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Jimmy Chickenpants' visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

This was the first concert that I booked without having heard any of the artist's work. The 30+ folks that showed up really impressed me, because I wouldn't have thought anyone would come just on my recommendation alone. Thanks for the trust!
Fortunately, KPIG DJ Arden Eaton let me know I did the right thing when she wrote in an email: "Gotta be there for those Chickenpants boys, they are so awesome!"
The one thing JC and I have in common in the twice annual Strawberry Music Festival, and that's where I first met Ken Clarkson, the banjo player. After missing last Fall's because of my daughter's birth, we'll be skipping Spring to return this Fall. And now I have five more reasons to stay up late and play music!
As he left, I had one guest ask if the music Jimmy Chickenpants played was bluegrass. Technically, we only heard some bluegrass tonight. We also heard blues, folk, jazz, gypsy guitar, and even some surf rock. Nevertheless, I answered, "Yes, that was bluegrass." He proclaimed, "I like bluegrass!" Hey, my work is done here.
Banjo player Ken Clarkson lived on the Big Island of Hawaii for four years in 1991, just overlapping my time there, but we never met. I was a geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and he was a biologist in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Good times.
During the aftershow interview, Ken Clarkson mentioned he was in the Hawaiian bluegrass band, The Voggy Mountain Ramblers. Vog is volcanic smog related to the continuous eruption from Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Guitarist Rob Clayton first learned of bluegrass while in England when he first heard an LP album of bluegrass guitar legend, Tony Rice.
Mandolin player Hide Kawatsure was in a bluegrass band in college in Japan.
Jim Davies' bass was only the second time we've had such a big instrument in the Tree House. Mark Whittington played one when the band Camp Danger opened for Sherry Austin.
Besides having a super voice, Joni Matthews also let us know she's engaged...to Jim!
When they all sat down to sign one of the 24 chairs we use for the audience, the band smartly chose one of the chairs that had received a dent over the years. Like a dolt, I encouraged them to sign a smooth one, but as you can see in the picture to the right they found a very creative way to incorporate the dent into their worldwide message of hope and love (see full chair).
During sound check, JC performed the Kate Wolf song, "Here in California." Juliet excitedly held up the phone for her Mom back in Napa County, who's a big Kate Wolf fan. And although she passed away in 1986, Kate will always be on our Wish List.

WORTHY: KT Tunstall

2006-02-26T02:38:00.000-08:00

KT Tunstall is Tree House Worthy.

I don't usually buy music unless I see the band live or if they fulfill my Rule of Three: If I hear about the music from three independent sources, then I'll buy it.

I first heard of KT Tunstall on the NPR podcast of World Cafe (2/13/2006 - link). I then saw KT's album reviewed in Paste Magazine (#20 Feb/Mar 2006). And finally, good friend Jenny de la Hoz told me she heard about KT on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday (2/4/06 - link). That's when I bought KT's album, Eye On The Telescope on iTunes (link).

UNIQUE LOOPING
Here's what I like about KT. She writes and arranges her own stuff. She's smart and articulate. And she stands out immediately with her ability to create more sound than just her and her guitar.

Give her a listen, but do check out her videos under ALBUM on her website, especially the live version of and "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree." Her ability to loop a lot of sounds, like voice and rhythm, makes a very cool presentation. And don't be suprised if I obtain some of that equipment in the near future!

The technique is not that novel. There's a lot of musicians who play these tricks, like Joe Craven, but KT is something special in her folk-pop sound. It's probably because, unlike the rest of us, she didn't listen to a lot of music growing up, and it's lead to a very unique sound.

- Greg Pool, TreeHouseConcerts.org

FYI: KT's website is Flash driven, so if you don't have the Macromedia Flash plug-in installed, you'll see a white page.

Cosy Sheridan (wrap up)

2006-01-22T23:30:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Cosy Sheridan and TR Ritche's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

I had first discovered Cosy Sheridan in 1998 at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas, where I ran into Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer, Slaid Cleaves, and future Tree House performer, Keith Greeninger.
TR Ritchie actually wrote a manual on how to hold a house concert. We hadn't seen it before we booked Cosy, but it turns out we did everything right, according to TR!
It was Cosy's first time drinking wine before her performance, and TR let her know she was doing just fine. Welcome to California, Cosy!
When they first showed up, TR asked if he could make a run to the Trader Joe's he saw on the way in. TR and Cosy live in Moab, Utah, and evidently it's tough to pick up a case of Two Buck Chuck around town. Or any place else in Utah...
Juliet and I offered up our stash of Panda Express fortune cookies, and Cosy's was "You are a buddle of energy, always on the go." That's spot on!

Cosy had the coolest ear rings, made from Baskin & Robins 31 Flavors spoons. Evidently she gets in a bit of trouble when she doesn't wear them during a show.
After hearing it during the aftershow interview, we lent them Bill Bryson's book on tape about his travels across Australia, In a Sunburned Country, and we tossed in David Ross MacDonald's CD "Southern Crossing," about David's journey from one Aussie luthier to another, playing their best guitars and recording the sessions.

I got to wear the perfect t-shirt for the evening, from Life is Good. Thanks to Juliet for getting it for me.
Our five month old daughter Sonoma it made halfway through the first set, then crashed the rest of the time. We had the baby monitor on visual throughout the second set, and Juliet had to miss a few songs as Sonoma woke every 20 minutes. She knew something was going on downstairs!

Cliff Eberhardt (wrap-up)

2005-11-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Cliff Eberhardt's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

Cliff made a late booking and quick tour stop up the West Coast, and we were lucky to have him. He was on his way to headline at the Gig Harbor Folk Festival that weekend.

And he usually doesn't perform at house concerts, especially on the East Coast. I see a few in PA, IL and MN on his schedule, however.

Nevertheless, that makes Chris' story so much better. He lives in Connecticut, but his father lives here on the Monterey Peninsula. Chris did the math and combined his annual visit with a request for an RSVP. I was humbled!

It meant I was able to say that we had folks attending from across the street and across the country!

Cliff's performance was stunning. He's one of those rare performers who can dip into his deep songbook and never have to play a cover.

He can also play instrumental to his own rhythm guitar. That's when you could tell he was a seasoned performer. In fact, he revealed in the after-show interview that he's been a performer since he was 14. That would put his start in the late 60's. What a time to be hanging around live acoustic music!

Cliff's song "Memphis" was one of the cuts off the successful album, Cry Cry Cry. Although Richard Shindell sings the song to Lucy Kaplansky and Dar William's background vocals, Cliff thinks Dar picked the song.

Dar writes in the liner notes say: "Cliff's a really happy guy with a creek behind his house, a little red barbecue and neighbors (like me) who love him. However, this song is the midnight truck stop phone call of the soul."

Cliff also plays guitar on the album's Greg Brown song, "Lord I Have Made You A Place In My Heart."

He mentioned pre-show that all his back-up singers seem to go on to great careers and joked he won't hire any more back-up singers. One of them was Lucy Kaplansky from Cry Cry Cry.

Our three month old daughter, Sonoma, slept through most of the show. Don't worry; we'll let her know what she missed.

Brian Joseph (wrap-up)

2005-10-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Brian Joseph's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

We first saw Brian at Ron Sandige's house concert series in Aptos last July, when Juliet was 30 weeks pregnant. That really got Brian's attention, and he sung his "new father" songs to her all evening. That's when we knew he'd be the perfect artist to re-start Tree House Concerts, and we booked him right there and then, because we knew he would understand if we had to cancel.

That was a memorable night, especially when Brian broke a string and I ended up getting to re-string his guitar while he played ukulele.

Tracy and Steve, who will be new parents around Thanksgiving, sat in the "splash row" at our show. Tracy's pregnant belly was the apple of Brian's eye all evening, much like Juliet's was last July. And Tracy made the perfect model for Brian's Diaper Crew hat.

At one point, Brian realized that at least three people in the audience were named Judy. When he asked how many others were named Judy, everyone raised their hands.

Brian's wife is 8 month's pregnant, their second child, so he's almost ready to loose sleep all over again.

Brian was fresh off the main stage of the Fall 2005 Strawberry Music Festival, where his five-piece band included multi-instrumentalist, Joe Craven, who just played Arden's Garden in Monterey.

It was our daughter Sonoma's first Tree House Concert but her third actual concert. Her first was Joan Baez at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at six weeks, followed the next day by Tree House artist Mark Erelli at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley.

Sonoma slept through the first set, but was wide awake at the break and was all excited throughout the second set, talking and kicking.

Sonoma's favorite song was "King of Echo Park," which is in heavy rotation on her lullaby playlist on our iPod.

In the after-show interview, the "nude" podcast Brian refers to is Juliet, who was breastfeeding Sonoma during the recording.

Brian was completely at home holding Sonoma before the show, even while he was eating dinner. Hey, I thought we were the hosts!

Audrey Auld Mezera (wrap-up)

2005-07-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Audrey Auld Mezera's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

Audrey made it to the Tree House because of Sherry Austin, who played our previous house concert.
I met Audrey for the first time around a camp at the Strawberry Music Festival in 2004, where Sherry and Audrey were performing. I asked them both if they wanted to play our house, and they said yes!
Audrey came all the way from Stinson Beach, stayed in Sherry Austin's house, and played on KPIG the next morning, on Please Stand By.
Audrey owns and runs Reckless Records, which she founded with Bill Chambers, father of Kasey Chambers.
Audrey met her husband, Mez, 20 something years earlier when he came through a bar in Tasmania while in the U.S. Navy.
Audrey dropped a lot of names during the after-show interview, including Sam Baker and Kimmie Rhodes. If you want to hear their live performances, I found a gold mine of Texas singer-songwriter stuff on KUT radio's website, out of Austin, Texas. Specifically, the archives of the Eklektikos show.
We raffled off a bunch of live CDs and t-shirt, with all proceeds going to Audrey. The discs include two live records of Tree House Concerts shows, including Peter Mulvey (thanks Joe Navratil!) and Mark Erelli (thanks, Mark!). I also threw in a live CD Redbird did while in Chicago. And Steve Zmak, who designed our logo, made up several t-shirts to give away.
Audrey sang a Fred Eaglesmith song "He's A Good Dog," which was appropriate because she and Mez showed up with their chocolate lab, Gypsy.
Juliet got a lulaby song during the encore, called "Sleep Baby Taylor," which was the first song Audrey wrote on her Baby Taylor guitar.
I wore my Aussie outfit, or the best I could. Juliet and I took her mother, Eve, to see The Waifs in Napa, so I picked up a t-shirt. And I wore my Blundstone boots (Cuthbertson series), because that's what Josh from The Waifs was wearing the first time I saw him.

Sherry Austin (wrap-up)

2005-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of Sherry Austin's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

Sherry Austin is a singer/songwriter from Soquel, near Santa Cruz, California. She performs around the Monterey Bay area and Northern California, and you'll hear her often as the "official audience" on KPIG's Please Stand By live music show on Sunday mornings. She's also able to fill-in at the last moment when an artist doesn't show up.
Sharon Allen, who sang harmony and sang a couple of her own songs, sings blues with the Firebirds up in Santa Cruz.
Check the podcast for more details, but Sherry talked about how Danny Levitt, who played guitar, is from Souther California but knew Sherry's boyfriend, Dave Gorden. Danny talked during the show about having done the theme song for the well-known L.A. radio show Folkscene.
Tonight was the first time we had an animal in the audience, enjoying the show. Sherry's poodle, Phoebe, took in Sherry's set while sitting on Dave's lap.
The opening band, Camp Danger, played all covers. Here's the setlist:

Open All Night - Bruce Springsteen
Midnight Train - Mark Erelli
Crocodile Man - Dave Carter
Passin Thru - Randy Scruggs/Johnny Cash
Cowboy Singer - Dave Carter
Key Chain - Slaid Cleaves
Camp Danger came together about a month prior, when Sherry only wanted to do one set and was gracious to let us open for her. Nick Chiulos (guitar) and Mark Whittington (bass) are regulars at an impromtu camp ground up at the Strawberry Music Festival. I've wandered past their camp for the last three years and made a bunch of friends playing in their song circles.
Both Nick and Mark live here in Pacific Grove, so we were able to get together a couple of nights to practice. Using GarageBand on my Mac, I even recorded a demo CD for them to practice with. Both Nick and Mark were more than gracious in letting me choose the set list from my repertoire, because everybody at Camp Danger seems to have about 50 songs they can pull out at the drop of a hat.
The recording of Camp Danger's set came out well. It's 28 minutes long and available as a CD for anyone who comes to the next concert with Audrey Auld Mezera. Let me know you want one, and your's will be in the stack!
I used Audacity to capture the song digitally on my Mac laptop. I also used a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone, which means I was able to capture all three of us fairly well. The result gives it a very live feel, much like it would have been at the real Camp Danger. There is one digital blip for a half-second at 0:30, but the rest is great.
Juliet got to throw in a passionate "MAN!!!" at the end of Dave Carter's Crocodile Man, something she always does when I perform this by myself. I knew it would be a perfect addition tonight.
Sherry and Camp Danger both performed a Slaid Cleaves song that night. Slaid was performing the same time up in Santa Cruz, at a show Sherry and I wouldn't have missed otherwise. Like Mark says, however, the gig always trumps. Sherry did "Broke Down" and Camp Danger did "Key Chain."

Strawberry Spring 2005

2005-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

As I've done since 2001, thanks to Charlie Wallace, I've been attending the Strawberry Music Festival twice a year up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, near Yosemite.

This last Memorial Day I was able to bring up my sister and her family and share the experience. Between the six of us, we had some great musical experiences.

I had a tough go, however, with a soar throat and fever for most of the time. But thanks to a lot of rest and the pirate radio station at Strawberry, I was still able to take in some great music.

It's hard to have a bad time at Strawberry, but starting with the best performances, here's some music you should check out...

1. Kevin Welch & Kieran Kane & Fats Kaplin
GENRE: acoustic alt-country
HOOK: genuine sound, great lyrics
There's the main stage performances at Strawberry and then there's Amy's Orchid Cafe on Friday and Saturday nights. This Saturday featured a wonderful acoustic and very close up show, much like a Tree House Concert. Their show was acoustic, with three mics picking up both vocals and instruments (no cables!). I've always been a big Kevin Welch fan, but the three of them were the best experience at Strawberry.

2. Crooked Still
GENRE: bluegrass, blues, neo-traditional
HOOK: upbeat and irreverent reworking of old standards
This young band gets the award for best new find. There always seems to be a band I hear that really turns my head. In 2001 it was The Waifs, 2002 it was Tim O'Brien, 2003 was The Waybacks, 2004 was Railroad Earth. This year's band included a local angle, since the bluegrass cello was being played by Rushad Eggleston, who grew up in Big Sur and went to Carmel High School. My sister remembers him coming in to Cornucopia when she was still working there!

3. Railroad Earth
GENRE: bluegrass, jazz, folk, jam band
HOOK: Their beat is infectious and full of musical treats
Last year's best find came back again, and it was just as good. They're a mix of bluegrass and acoustic rock, and the fiddle player is something to see. Their best album is still The Good Life, but I could listen to their first recording, Black Bear Sessions, all day.

4. Eddie From Ohio
GENRE: folk rock
HOOK: funny! funny! funny!
I was so surprised by this band, having heard about them for years and never getting up to Santa Cruz to check them out at the Kuumbwa. They were definitely the funniest band in between songs and had the best stage presence. But their latest CD, This Is Me, has a least five genres on it, and each are stunning. Plus, I knew they were big fans of Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer. Big points in my book.

5. Del McCoury Band
GENRE: bluegrass
HOOK: they perform with a single microphone
These guys are straight-up bluegrass and so amazing to watch. I first saw them at Strawberry in 2002, and it's still fresh. They play to single microphones and are constantly moving around gracefully as their parts come up. They play fast and fun, and I love their accents. My father's side traces back to Kentucky, so these boys are pro'ly kin!

HONORABLE MENTION
Biscuit Burners - This young bluegrass band out of North Carolina was my sister's first CD purchase at Strawberry, which totally surprised me. But they played the Birch Lake stage on Friday, so I got a good listen. Now I know why she digs 'em.

Riders in the Sky - I could only hear the show on the radio, but it sounded like so much fun. These traditional cowboy singers are such good showmen. I'm going to have to be much sicker to miss them again.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2005
The Strawberry Music Festival's Fall 2005 lineup looks even better, perhaps is one of the best we've ever seen. It was sold out prior to the Spring 2005 festival, AND WE MAY NOT GET TO GO! I have tickets, but our daughter Sonoma will be 3-4 weeks old at that point. I may have to hold a contest or something...

Keith Greeninger (wrap-up)

2005-05-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a wrap-up of Keith Greeninger's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

Greg first saw Keith at the 1998 Kerrville Folk Festival, near San Antonio, Texas. Keith and his family set up camp next to Greg, who never realized who Keith was until after Keith had played the main stage a few days later.
Back then, Keith pulled up and left before Greg had a chance to say hi. Greg's still stunned he came so far to discover an artist who lives just up the road.
When Keith first drove up to the Tree House, he noticed a bunch of cars already lining street. I had to break his heart and let him know it was the weekly Samba drum practice session across from us and to give it an hour. Then they'd all be for him!
Keith looked out the window during sound check and noticed a kid with a guitar case going into another house across the way. Now Keith thinks it's music central here in Pacific Grove!
Tonight was a sell-out, with 38 chairs filled! We haven't had that many in the Tree House since last June, when Peter Mulvey dropped by.
Keith brought a couple of guitars, one being a beautiful Santa Cruz Guitar, and a mandola.
Keith's old band, City Folk, is still getting together for gigs infrequently, including the Kate Wolf Festival in the end of June. That will be Keith, Kimball Hurd & Roger Feuer. Kimball plays a lot with another local singer/songwriter, Alisa Fineman.
We fed Keith some wild-caught Monterey bay salmon, since the commercial season opened last month. Juliet is a master of BBQ salmon, and there's just no way you'll ever eat farmed salmon once you've gone wild!
Keith said he's recently run out of his copies of Wind River Crossing, but you can still go to CDBaby.com to get the last few copies. He'll replenish soon!
One of my favorite songs from that album is "My Religion." Keith didn't get a chance to play it tonight, but you should check out the lyrics.
Keith's funniest moment during the show was his performance of the song Tumbleweed, which is a "hidden track" on his last album, Back To You. Juliet said that Sonoma was kicking the most during that song.
Juliet wore a t-shirt that said "Future Rock Star" with an arrow pointing down at her 27 week-old pregnant belly.
Keith's got two children (10 & 5), and his best advice to Juliet and I is to enjoy that early time connecting to Sonoma as much as possible.
Keith is a carpenter by trade and has done a lot of work up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including work on Jeff Emery's house, where Jeff holds his house concerts.
Thanks to Judy for bringing a little plushy kitty toy for Sonoma!

Tree House Radio 1.5

2005-04-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the final radio broadcast of the semester. We'll see what happens in the fall, but it sure has been fun. Many thanks to Tessa for letting me fill in!

CSU Monterey Bay has run the OtterStream since 1997 as an Internet-only radio show, under the mentorship of Prof. Steven Levinson and his TAT 338 class.

PLAYLIST
I was flying by the seat of my...laptop! I have over 1,400 songs in my iTunes library, so I took requests as they came in for whatever subject, whether someone was doing the laundry or cooking dinner.

--- 5:45 p.m. ---

Tony Furtado and Dirk Powell - Courtney's Promise
The Waifs - Fisherman's Daughter
The Waifs - A Brief History...
The Waifs - Bridal Train

--- 6 p.m. ---

Poi Dog Pondering - Bury Me Deep
Molly's Revenge - Whistle Reels (for Pamela!)
Poi Dog Pondering - Thanksgiving
Poi Dog Pondering - U Li La Lu

Indigo Girls - Get Out The Map (for Juliet & Sonoma!)
Lunasa - Cregg's Pipes (for Marc & Sue)

Mark Erelli - Ghost
Mark Erelli - Goodbye
Mark Erelli - Midnight Train

Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer - Ordinary Town
Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer - Cowboy Singer
Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer - Crocodile Man

--- 7 p.m. ---

Tracy Grammer - When I Reach The Place I'm Goin'
Tracy Grammer - Gypsy Rose
Tracy Grammer - Phantom Doll

Suzzy & Maggie Roche - Clothes Line Saga (Dylan) (for Juliet & Sonoma!)
Bob Dylan - shelter from the storm (for Steve!)

Redbird (live) - Moonglow (Mills)
Redbird (live) - Shotgun Singer (Delmhorst)
Redbird (live) - 4 & 20 Blues (Foucault)
[Redbird is Kris Delmhorst, Jeffrey Foucault, and Peter Mulvey]

Chuck Brodsky (live) - The Food Pun Song (for Juliet & Sonoma!)
Jann Arden - Good Mother (for Arden!)
Sara Hickman - Woman Waiting To Happen (for Bonnie!)
Matt & Shannon Heaton - f-stop (for Marc & Sue!)

Poi Dog Pondering - Pulling Touch (for Juliet!)

---

Thanks everyone who wrote and listened. Hope I get to do this next semester! See you at the next Tree House Concert!!

Tree House Radio 1.4

2005-04-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

A big thanks and well-wishes to the Zmaker and the Purple Otter, who couldn't be in today at noon on the OtterStream at CSU Monterey Bay. That means you get to hear the type of music I'd like to see at a Tree House Concert!

More pictures of me playing Cartagena and
Mamma Mia, and Andrew playing Lost Cities.

--- 12 noon ---

Blue Highway - Monrobro
Nickel Creek - Cuckoo's Nest
Waybacks - Turkish Stalemate
---
Siucra - The Strands of Magilligan
Molly's Revenge - Whistle Reels
Old Blind Dogs - Forfar Sodger
Lunasa - The Merry Sisters of Fate
---
Peter Mulvey - Two Janes
Jeremy Toback - You Make Me Feel (live)
Luka Bloom - Delirious
Joel Cage - Streets
---
Dave Carter with Tracy Grammer - The River, Where She Sleeps
Waybacks - I Wan'Na Be Like You The Monkey Song
Mumbo Gumbo - Fizz
Nellie McKay - The Dog Song

--- 1 p.m. ---

Todd Snider - Beer Run (live)
Steve Forbert - Complications (live)
Slaid Cleaves - Sinner's Prayer
Myshkin - Country Girls
---
Pieta Brown - Without You
Jeffrey Foucault - Mayfly
Keith Greeninger - My Religion
---
Patty Griffin - Mad Mission
Tracy Grammer - When I Reach The Place I'm Goin'
Shawn Colvin w/ Neil Finn - What I Get Paid For (live)
Finn Brothers - Angel's Heap
Lindsey Buckingham - Never Going (live)
---
The Mammals - Fall On My Knees
The Duhks - The Trooper and the Maid
Nickel Creek - The Fox
The Greencards - You Pulled Me Out

-- extra innings! ---

Brad Mehldau - Dear Prudence

Tree House Radio 1.3

2005-04-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! I was able to spent two hours on the OtterStream at CSU Monterey Bay playing the type of music I'd like to hear at a Tree House Concert.

Oooh! I got to start at 5:45 p.m.!! Quick...think fast!

Peter Mulvey - 29 Cent Head
The Duhks - The Green Fields of Glentown
Road Dog Divas - Coot
Steve Forbert - What Kind of Guy
Jimmie LaFave - The Perfect Combination

-- 6 p.m.

Greg Pool - Get Away Car (made w/ GarageBand!)
--
Erin McKeown - Queen of Quiet
The Waifs - The Waitress
Railroad Earth - Bread and Water
---
Siucra - Peggy-O
Lunasa - Aoibhneas
Tim O'Brien - The Crossing
---
Ryan Adams - Firecracker
Tift Merritt - Stray Paper
Lori McKenna - Mr. Sunshine
Kathleen Edwards - Six O'Clock News
--
Mark Erelli - Little Sister
Jeffrey Foucault - 4 & 20 Blues
Peter Mulvey - Shirt
Kris Delmhorst - East of the Mountains
--
Peter Case - Icewater
Chris Smither - Crocodile Man (Dave Carter!)
Dave Alvin - New Highway

-- 7 p.m.

Peppino D'Agostino - Costa Rica
Nickel Creek - House of Tom Bombadil
Dixie Chicks - Lil' Jack Slade
Bazar Bla - Stomping Ground
--
Liz Carroll - The Cup of Tea
The Duhks - Giuliano's Tune/Something/Eleanor Day #2
Lunasa - Taylor Bay 4 a.m.
--
Greg Brown - Ain't No One Like You
Kris Delmhorst - Come Home
Dana & Susan Robinson - The Cuckoo
Tracy Grammer - Laughlin Boy
--
Mark Erelli - California Blues (Jimmy Rogers)(live on KPIG)
Bruce Springsteen - Open All Night
Jimmy LaFave - Red Dirt Roads At Night
Randy Scruggs - Passin' Thru

Dana & Susan Robinson (wrap-up)

2005-04-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a wrap-up of Dana & Susan Robinson's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

The night was special for Susan, because she once lived in Pacific Grove and worked at CSU Monterey Bay, writing grants for the Watershed Institute and the Earth Systems, Science & Policy department. Many of the audience were old friends of Susan's and who were more than amazed at her rock star status.

Dana & Susan probably tied Molly's Revenge for the most instruments on stage, including fiddle, two guitars, mandolin, and banjo.

I stand corrected! Dana & Susan met at a house concert not in Felton but in Santa Clara. That Felton house concert was the catalyst, though. You can hear more in the interview I did with Dana & Susan.

That interview marks the first podcast I created, using GarageBand and a Mac laptop. We recorded the interview with a unidirectional vocal mike that we sat around, which means you don't need much to do this. Dana commented at the end that it was "as good an interview as I've ever had on the radio."

They were married in June 2004, so like us they are still newlyweds. In the interview, Susan talks about discovering and then meeting Dana.

Also in that interview, you hear a clip from Dana's song "Heaven." He said that was a period when he was trying to sound like John Martyn and recommended me getting his album Solid Air.

Dana & Susan sang "What Would Woody Do?" in reference to Woody Guthrie, and I jokingly reminded Dana we have a Toy Story coffee cup with Woody on it. Don't want to confuse the kids, right?

Dana's CD "Avenue Of The Saints" was the first swag we ever received at the Tree House. Swag...stuff we always get. I remembered being shocked that the artist would send me the CD for free when I could listen to clips on the Web.

Dana & Susan's car had a weathered Mammals sticker on it that read, "Trad Is Rad!" The Mammals, who are on the Tree House wish list, had played the night before in Santa Cruz, and sadly none of us could go.

Dana was once a baker in Vermont and held small venue concerts in his shop. At dinner he described his spinach wrap that was a lunch staple, so next time they come by the Tree House...no music. Just baking!

Susan had breakfast the morning after the show with another old friend, who couldn't make it to the concert but actually lived in the Tree House many years ago.

Dana & Susan are driving back to Asheville, North Carolina, with eight redwood saplings, a gift from Jeff Emery the day before. Dana thinks they'll take to the climate of Ashville fairly well, so look for a little bit of Northern California out there in a few decades.

Booking for 2006

2005-03-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

With our early August arrival of Sonoma Breckenridge Pool, we'll close the Tree House for concerts and consider opening back up either in the November, if we get our "sea legs," or more likely in January 2006.

THE SHORT LIST
I saw John Weed of Molly's Revenge at the Funhouse house concert in March and asked him if he wanted to do at least a set. Joe busks down along Cannery Row, usually in front of the Aquarium.

Mike Beck wants to come by. I met him up at KPIG while Greg Tannen played, and then saw Mike again at Arden's Garden when Larry Hosford played. He's local (Carmel Valley?), so I'll have a pretty good chance to squeeze him this Winter.

Erica Wheeler contacted us about coming out this winter. She's on the Signature Sounds label, and they've been good to us with Mark Erelli, Peter Mulvey, and Jeffrey Foucault.

And there's this ringing endorsement from my good friend and fellow Strawberrian, Mary Ellen Kane:

"...there is a performer I would love to see in the area. [Sleepy] John had him open for Peter Rowan a number of years ago and I absolutely became his #1 fan! His name is David Nachmanoff and he is a little dynamo. High energy, excellent singer/songwriter...I just love him. If you have him come down, I would be the first to sign up (even before you and Juliet)."

Anyone else you are thinking about? Let us know at info at treehouseconcerts dot org (like my anti-spam technique?).

THE LONG LIST
Other artists I had in mind for 2005 but never contacted included:

Anne Heaton *
Brian Joseph *
Billy Jonas *
Emory Joseph
Johnsmith *
Kenny White (thanks Mary Ellen!)
Martyn Joseph
Paul Curreri & Devon Sproule (friends of Jeffrey Foucault!)
Small Potatoes
Vienna Tang *

* I got these from reading the House Concerts Yahoo group.

WHO ELSE?
Then there's the Tree House Concert's Wish List, many of whom will never play a house concert or have moved on to exclusive gigs at Heaven's Bar and Grill.

Peninsula Acoustic Music Scene

2005-03-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

The local promoters of these quaint, tucked away concerts you've been attending have teamed together to create a clearinghouse of all the events.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsulamusic/

BACKGROUND
I went to Marc & Sue Rush's first house concert and had serveral people ask about all the other events they had only heard about. I realized they were missing out and there was just too much to tell.

It was a problem begging for a solution, so I created a group over at Yahoo, where I've created a bunch in the past, most notably the Mark Erelli group.

Each promoter will contact the folks on the email list they've kept for their shows, and encourage them to opt-in if they want to know more about other events.

Then they announce new shows not just to their own list but to the PAMS list as well.

BIG PICTURE
At the very least, the promoters will begin to fill the few empty seats left at their shows, maybe even have to hire a bouncer for the waiting list.

But in the long run, it will be a true measure of interest for live acoustic music in this area. That might mean this community grows to a point where we might
individually or collectively promote shows at larger venues.

Wish us luck! Actually, wish you luck!!

Santa Cruz Music Scene in SJ Mercury News

2005-03-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Wow! I was just at Arden's Garden on Friday to see Larry Hosford, and today he shows up on the front page of the A+E section of the Sunday San Jose Mercury News.

The article was "Live From Santa Cruz: While Silicon Valley sleeps, a vibrant scene serves Surf City's vast array of musical tastes" by David Beck.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/music/11155901.htm
(free subscription required)

FIRST LOOK
All the Santa Cruz promoters are mentioned, including John Sandidge of Snazzy Productions, who makes it clear that bands love playing where there's good local radio support. Amen.

There are also 10 great photographs that went with the article and are available at the website, too, including a first look at the new Don Quixote's in Felton, where the Henfling's music series has moved.

Unfortunately, the best image of Don Quixote's is only in the newspaper. It's of a small, raised stage holding six band members with very colorful murals on either side walls. Folks are dancing in front or dine at tables, each lit with candles. Can't wait to experience it in person!

TREE HOUSE CARPOOL?
Which reminds me, the first time Juliet and I will be heading up to Don Quixote's for sure will be May 2nd for Redbird, which is made up of not only Kris Delmhorst but Tree House performers Peter Mulvey (last June) and Jeffrey Foucault (last October).

But we might make it up earlier for Vance Gilbert (April 7) or the South Austin Jug Band (April 12).

Tree House Radio 1.2

2005-03-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Today was my second guest spot on Steve Zmak's "The Dark Side of the Dune" on the OtterStream at CSU Monterey Bay, and in fine Irish tradition for St. Patrick's Day, I wore the Irish national soccer jersey and played a bunch of upbeat Celtic stuff.

Today's playlist featured:

Siucra - Without You
from Here Among Strangers
They're American but that just adds a good kick to the traditional arrangments. Two of the members, Matt & Shannon, have played the Tree House twice (pictures).

Tim O'Brien - The Crossing
from The Crossing
This is Tim's "going home" album, when he visited and played with Irish musicians. This tune has a lot of great energy, but there's a lot more to Tim than his Irish stuff.

Molly's Revenge - The Whistle Reels
from Revenge Is Sweet
This local Monterey Bay band has so much energy and talent. They played the Tree House last August (pictures).

Lunasa - The Merry Sisters of Fate
from The Merry Sisters of Fate
One of my favorite Celtic bands, because they combine such a great upbeat style with traditional sounds. Thanks to Andrew Porter for the tip on this band a few years ago!

Lunasa - Morning Nightcap
from The Merry Sisters of Fate
Thanks to Clay for letting me know Lunasa was mention on NPR's "Morning Edition" this morning, and they were featured live on NPR's Studio 4A (listen to that 30 minute show).

Lunasa - Taylor Bay, 4 a.m.
from Otherworld

NEXT SHOW
My next show will be a full two-hour fill-in for the 6-8 p.m Thursday, April 7 slot on the OtterStream. I get to do the same thing on Thursday, April 28!

Greg Tannen (wrap-up)

2005-03-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a wrap-up of Greg Tannen's visit to the Tree House (pictures of that night):

Greg first contacted us in January about coming out. When I looked him up on CD Baby and started listening to music clips, liking what I heard, I realized I was listening to his brother, Steve! It only got better when I realized my mistake and found Greg's stuff.

Greg was a wonderful story-teller and showman. He told great stories, even mixing story into song about meeting a woman in North Carolina and driving all the way to New York City that same night ("October," which will be on the next album). He went from quiet to soul to rock and back again, all with a very rich voice to match.

Greg and I spent this morning at KPIG on "Please Stand By." He got to play three songs (including "Vegas Baby") and did pretty well at the small-talk with "Sleepy" John Sandidge of Snazzy Productions.
Prior to Greg going on, they interviewed someone for agricultural questions, but they didn't have any. I offered up "What's the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?" only because I thought Juliet might be listening. BabyCenter.com says at 18 weeks the fetus is the size of a small sweet potato. She wasn't listening, but thought it was funny anyways.
After Greg's performance, we both watched recent Grammy-winner Laurence Juber in the KPIG studios, and he was simply stunning. Laurence played with Paul McCartney in Wings in the 70's. Today he was playing acoustic stuff but was all over the fretboard. He ended with an amzing "Strawberry Fields." The following Monday Laurence was sold-out at Don Quixote's in Felton.
While hanging around the KPIG studios, I met and talked to local singer/songwriter, Mike Beck. He really wants to come down to the Tree House. After listening to his CD on the drive home, I really want to book him! Nevertheless, I had to let him know we had booked through August, and after the delivery well see if we can pull off a house concert in the Winter.
I had lunch afterwards with KPIG DJ, Arden Eaton, and we talked about the Peninsula Acoustic Music Scene mailing list I want to start.
The song Greg sang in the first set at the Tree House, about the woman he met in North Carolina that ended up hating October in NYC? That's coming out on his next album.
Greg's shirt was a limited edition cartoon from a group of artists in San Francisco called Gama-Go. They think streetwear fashion lacks a sense of humor. Greg's was a picture of a TV set with the Yeti beating Deathbot in a wrestling match.
I had my good friend and best man, Steve Zmak, hang four of his black-and-white photographs on our walls. My favorite is the Andrew Molera Dinosaurs.
Greg's good friend, Dan, came up from L.A. and was the inspiration for all the heckling in the back of the room. He was responsible for Greg's amazing try at a song titled something like "Existential Superhero." Dan said that Greg probably hadn't played it live in 10 years!
Greg's last song in the second set? Bruce Springsteen's "Open All Night" from Bruce's worst selling album, Nebraska. Don't get me started on how influential that album is to me.
The next day, Juliet took Greg and Dan to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Both of them dive but never on the West Coast, so they seemed awe-struck by it all. Our plan worked. (insert evil laugh here)
Greg's on his way to L.A. after this for some kind of award for a song that appears in a show on the ABC Family channel. All that "Dawson's Creek" stuff he talked about is in addition to songs that have appeared on "Party of Five," too.

Tree House Radio 1.0

2005-03-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

Today marked the first time I've been able to DJ a radio show, at least for thirty minutes.

CSU Monterey Bay has run the OtterStream since 1997 as an Internet-only radio show, under the mentorship of Prof. Steven Levinson and his TAT 338 class.

My good friend, photographer, and best man Steve Zmak has had the Thursday noon to 2 p.m. slot since 2004. As "The Zmaker" on the Dark Side of the Dune, he plays "the full spectrum of rock."

Last week he started to let his friends guest DJ for a half-hour.

Today's playlist included:

Fruit - Alameda
Jonatha Brooke - Linger
Kathleen Edwards - Back to Me
Mark Erelli - Free Ride
Peter Mulvey - 29 Cent Head
Jeffrey Foucault - Tulane

That last one you can still download from Jeffrey's site!

NEXT SHOWS?
Steve is going to let me guest DJ again on Thursday, March 16 starting around 1 p.m. PT.

Then I have the good fortune of being able to fill-in twice for another DJ in April. Tune in to the Thursday 6 - 8 p.m. slot on April 7th and 28th. I'll have the full two hours to play a great assortment of Americana, folks, blues, country, and Celtic.

Final line-up for 2005

2005-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

I'm just finishing up the booking of Keith Greeninger for a May visit to the Tree House. My hope is to get him on a Saturday, since he lives in Santa Cruz. That worked for our June artist, Sherry Austin, who lives in Soquel, and I was lucky to get Audrey Auld Mezera to agree to a Saturday.

I've always assumed most artists would be passing through our area on their way to or from Los Angeles or San Francisco, so we're real lucky to get some Saturday gigs.

NOTE: (12 MAR) Just booked Keith for Saturday, May 14. Woo hoo! This means we'll be having three Saturday shows to close out the 2005 season.