Music Box Series 2009 Shows
“The Place to HEAR the Music”
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Past Shows in the Music Box Series

A word about Kinderszenen ("Scenes From Childhood"), Opus 15, by Robert Schumann, is a set of thirteen pieces of music for piano written in 1838. In this work, Schumann provides us with his adult reminiscences of childhood.

Katy Stephan - Soprano and pianist Katy Stephan's suitcase is well worn and papered with stickers from all over the world. Inside, frilly classical training nestles beside casual pop style, creating a unique sound that is both sweet and smart, delicate and powerful. She offers beautifully crafted sonic valentines made from scraps of Chopin nocturnes, Puccini arias, vintage glass glitter, angels prayers, musical jewelry boxes, and a bloody beating heart.  DK's recommendation: Katy's singing and compositions will positively blow you away! 

Ricky Berger - Singer/Songwriter from Sacramento.  Seductive, but more than that.  "A pillow-if it could sing, candy, a mod hillbilly, twee, home, like 'Putting on my favorite sweater, right when it comes out of the dryer on Christmas', a ton a sugar cookies hittin' you over the head, 'just as healthy and wholesome as an apple pie!"  Ricky Berger: Songwriting, singin', whistlin', yodelin', piano, guitar, accordion, ukulele, organ, banjo, xylophone, flute, and violin.

Christopher Fleeger, Electronic Music - (Noisy Ball: Cadastral Layer, Corner Point)  "Theory runs thick in computer music. Come to think of it, a brisk commerce in signal is a symptom of noisy neighborhoods in general. This is understandable enough. How many other reasonably honest choices are there when confronted with an experience shortage? The whole computing machine dance up until now has been so short -- like a baby accumulating half-truths. Well, if the commonweal's experience-cupboard is bare, then fill it. Should be a perfect playground for fools. When the timbre space goes infinite and has a memory, how do you go about assembling a meaningful piece of time for some particular group of people at some particular place?" --  DK's comment: "Huh?"

This show will include hot jazz violinist Benito Cortez, who has played with the Golden Gate Hot Club and other renowned Gypsy jazz bands.  Definitely a must-see show!

Wednesday
March 4 2009

"...But Sky has a definite talent for melody and structure, and her original songs—eight of them in her 50-minute set, including a couple of ballads with Palmer backing her on electric piano—come off quite favorably."  - Jackson Griffith, Sacramento News and Review

"Autumn Sky and her side kick Samuel Taylor dazzle audiences with her little girl/ big voice presence. You cannot help but notice her on the stage... once she starts singing she transforms. Her songs are upbeat and cute, but don’t be fooled, she has her sad and angry songs too. In fact, for being so happy, she does sad so well. Both (her) voice and songs are extremely versatile. A show is a breathtaking experience...Her debut album release is expected to be nothing less than promising."  - Angela Rosas, Fringe Magazine, August 2008

"Just six songs long, "Diminutive Petite" packs a Goliath-sized wallop..."  - Rachel Leibrock, The Sacramento Bee, November 2008

Adrian Bourgeois - Singer/Songwriter.  The world is watching Adrian Bourgeois! Okay maybe not the whole world (that’d be kind of creepy), but probably Big Brother and at very least a good handful of local entertainment rags, powerpop blogspots, and online independent music reviewers; in short, that small elusive world in which buzzes are born. And they all seem to be saying the same thing. “There’s no doubt he’s a young artist poised for pop greatness,” reads this year’s International Pop Overthrow West Coast Guide, “Definitely one to watch!” “I can’t wait to see what’s next,” gushes an album review on the blog Powerpopaholic and Sacramento music magazine Submerge agrees that, “The future is bright indeed for this pop star in waiting.” Jackson Griffith of the Sacramento News and Review even makes the prediction that “One day in the not-too-distant future, Adrian Bourgeois will be an influential force in pop music.”

Disappear Incompletely, electro-acoustic sextet, will be playing new arrangements of Radiohead. Led by trombonist/arranger Rob Ewing, DI features a diverse cast of improvising musicians. Saxophonist Kasey Knudsen leads her own sextet and is inspired by Joe Henderson and Lester Young. Saxophonist Patrick Cress is the leader of Telepathy and employs loops and harmonizers to give his saxophone an unusual and haunting sound. Keyboardist Michael Coleman performs with numerous Bay Area projects including Beep! and the Attachments. Bassist/Vocalist Joe Bagale is an accomplished songwriter and brings a strong pop sensibility to the group. Drummer/vocalist Jamie Moore is an encyclopedia of beats and textures and has worked with Chris Speed, Cuong Vu, and many others.

Sound for the Organization of Society - Portland-based New Jazz.  The music draws from a multitude of musical approaches and languages ranging from contemporary classical music through the avant-garde and jazz to various world styles, including American roots music. The members reflect its broad musical palette, stemming from diverse geographical and musical backgrounds. The group has a strong affiliation with the music and culture of New Orleans, where it was first formed and where most of the members met for the first time. Since hurricane Katrina the ensemble exists only as a touring and recording group with a strong affiliation to the west coast, where most of its members now live. 

John William Gordon Trio - Mutant Jazz.  Second appearance at the Music Box! John grew up and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He started playing guitar at age 14 after becoming obsessed with recordings of Mahavishnu Orchestra. In college he fixated on the music of Charlie Parker then Thelonious Monk. Jazz, free, rock, punk and classical music inspires him. He still plays in a pianoless Monk cover band. Along the way he studied guitar with Harry Andrew (a graduate of New England Conservatory) and Adam Levy (long before his stint with Norah Jones) and learned much in Attila Zoller's Vermont workshops with Jim Hall and others.

Entamoeba is a three-piece San Francisco based ambient band composed of three loop stations, trumpet, upright bass, guitar, and female vocals. Utilizing loop stations, the music is produced from the ground up as the band members create and layer live recordings during performance.  Trumpet swells dance around the avant-garde backbone created by the upright bass; haunting vocals, alternating with a raw vocal style, create an emotionally evocative and ethereal landscape, with complimenting warm and dissonant guitar tones. Each musician manipulates his/her instrument in various song compositions to create non-traditional and experimental sounds and tones.

SORRY!  This show is sold out! 

Shadow Circus Vaudeville Theatre!  San Francisco's most belligerent puppetry troupe, is presenting their first vaudeville event in the Bay Area in over a year!

SHOW SYNOPSIS: When Wesley realizes that his life has been an utter failure, he tries to improve his outlook using the popular self-help book 'The Secret'. Will Wesley be able to turn his life around with the power of 'The Secret', or will his supposed friend Hatchet the Velociraptor just use it as another tool to torment him with? A full night of music, magic & monsters!

Also appearing are special guests Meredith Yayanos aka Theremina (who has recorded with Dresden Dolls, Faun Fables & Sleepytime Gorilla Museum), doing her own set and sitting in with the Shadow Circus ensemble; Hernan Cortez (creator of Popcorn Anti-Theater) doing magic, and Angela Mae Thompson (Vau De Vire Society) doing dance.  With a special musical performance by Victoria & the Vaudevillians!

Combining folklore, mythology, Lovecraftian monsters and pop-culture parody, Shadow Circus Creature Theatre has been one of San Francisco's most popular and outrageous puppetry troupes since it's formation in 2000. Using life-sized latex and foam creatures Shadow Circus creates a world that is utterly fantastic, and yet hilariously similar to our own.   "...the puppets are Grade A" - East Bay Express

There will be no other show like it this year. Order you tickets now because this show will probably sell out!  Note: Admission on this show is $10 advance, $13 door. 
 

Crooked Roads - Americana.  What if Hank Williams grew up listening to The Beatles?  Crooked Roads last CD, Heartbreak Sampler, received some great reviews. Here are some excerpts:  “The lyrics are a literary tour de force.” - Rootstime;  “Every melody sticks in your mind.” - Country Home; “Superlative lyrical angst and heartbreak…” - Americana-UK; "An emotionally powerful piece." - Highbias.com; "An inspired album... absolute authenticity." - Home-of-Rock  Chris Dingman on vocals, guitar, harmonica, Peter Siegel (Commander Cody, Kate Wolf) plays pedal steel; Larry Otis (Ike & Tina Turner, Billy C. Farlow) on electric guitar, mandolin; Tom Peplinski performs drums and harmonies; Rob McCloskey fills out the bill with bass and harmonies.  Now you can see them up close as they break your heart with tales of angst. 

Jenna Lavoie -  Blues singer/songwriter.  She sounds quite a bit like Dolly Parton.  Jenna Lavoie was initially influenced by alternative, punk and hard rock music. As she auditioned for rock band after rock band she started to realize that her voice was better suited for the sweet sounds of Soul and Blues. She started filling her ears with the sounds of BB King, Susan Tedeschi, Billy Holiday, and many others.  Michael Papenburg is a Bay Area native who has worked with a number of local bands and singer/songwriters including Brittany Shane, Matt Nathanson, Penelope Houston, and David Hopkins. His eclectic guitar style incorporates a variety of textural and melodic elements. Together they create their own unique sound. They have performed at the Russian River Performing Arts Center and other outdoor live events. They currently perform as a duo.

Lily is collaborating with Rain Willson on a piece called "Soul Song". Lily is also collaborating with guitarist Michelle Webb, reinterpreting jazz standard "Lazy Afternoon" and Stevie Wonder's "They Wont Go When I Go". This will be Lily's triumphant return to the Climate Theater stage.

Lily will do two sets this evening.  You will be amazed.  --dk

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch - Bluegrass Legends.  The Music Box Series is pleased to present world-renowned bluegrass banjo player Bill Evans and 6-time national award winning fiddler Megan Lynch together on our stage!  

Bill Evans (Dry Branch Fire Squad, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, and author of the popular book Banjo For Dummies) and National Champion Nashville fiddler Megan Lynch (Pam Tillis, 3 Fox Drive, Jim Hurst) blend tradition and innovation, mixing original instrumentals with creative interpretations of modern tunes and a few well-chosen standards. Fast banjo and fiddle duets? Most definitely!  But you’ll also be surprised at how well these celebrated bluegrass sidepersons blend their voices on bluegrass, folk and swing material from such diverse sources as Rose Maddox and Ralph Stanley to Van Morrison and John Gorka. We're happy to be able to catch Megan and Bill midway in their Southern and Midwest festival and teaching camp tour this year. 

Uh, wait, trumpet violin?  Yes, this early 20th Century instrument was a must for the vaudeville stage and wax recordings where the trumpet horn amplified the sound of the violin.  McPuzo & Trotsky make music the old-fashioned way.   

Armchair Geographers - Although the origins of the Armchair Geographers remain vague, the 16th Association Of Armchair Geographers, six great academicians—Lombard, Gaines, Higgensengenensen, Henderson, Macgreggor and Pinsford—focus their boundless energies on the problematic, though no less salient diatribes of missing anthropological theorist and pie eating champion, CF Hibbens. It was through the early efforts of Hibbens that the Armchair Geographers were reformed after nearly 400 years of dormancy. The oft maligned anthropologist is known not merely for this singular achievement, but for his vast contributions to the study of tribal penis sheathes and for his devotion to an outsized, 400 pound Middle Caledonian manwife, "the womanly Mertz." Perhaps the most astonishing of CF Hibbens' great discoveries, however, are the great wooden balls, or "sailing balls" he allegedly unearthed during the problematic Third Trobriandian Expedition of 1915. The Armchair Geographers now continue on where the great Hibbens left off. Furthering the study of penis sheathes, defending and translating the impregnable body of work left behind by the tortured savant, and expounding upon subjects of dire importance: sailing balls, Trobriandian man-wives, big game hunting, and the vagaries of competitive pie consumption. To make such discourse more palatable to the lumpen, the armchairs provide musical accompaniment including ribald oceanic ditties, original compositions and exciting manly dances guaranteed to inspire and invigorate anyone lucky enough to witness them. Their recent acquisition of rare archival films from the National Ethnographic Museum in Wels, provides each lecture with a fascinating audio/visual component.

Guitarist, banjoist and singer Erik Pearson has brought his textural instrumentation and voice to the likes of Mushroom, Billy Talbot, and the Crooked Jades, and writes elegant compositions of his own. Together, Hunter and Pearson blend roots, folk-rock, and pop into a unique, 60s-reminiscent brew.

Emily Bezar - Singer/songwriter.  Do you call it Jazz, Art-rock, Fusion, Cabaret, Modern Opera? Emily Bezar’s prismatic music defies convention around every unpredictable curve. Her intricate songs are rich with jazz harmony and classical vocal precision but they flirt with pop structures and burn with the intensity of rock. They are honest and true, full of passion, elegance, conflict and order. She has sung Mozart and Ravel, Weill and Joni Mitchell, Gershwin and Sondheim, but she’s most at home in the sound world she creates around her own voice -- some alchemic and magical combination of these influences.
 

Queer Performers Showcase This special GBLT showcase (in purple) featured four shows, eight acts, representing an assortment of great gay, bi, lesbian, and/or trans performers! This series was an Official Event of San Francisco Pride.  Click on the Pride logo for more SF Pride information. 

Bernadette - Singer/songwriter.  She has played the Grand Rooms of San Francisco- The Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, Independent, Slim's, Bottom of the Hill, Café Du Nord and festivals around the Bay. Backed by co-conspirateur, Garrin Benfield on guitar, the two harmonize and play together akin to Gillian Welch & David Rawlings but with a brutally honest, soul-bearing live performance. With the tightest, in-the-pocket rhythm section, D. Shani Johnson on drums and Pete Canton on Bass, Shoshana Dimona grooves on keys, Alan Williams textures with trombone, and the angelic sounds of Mayumi Urgino on Violin and Sonia Deninzon on cello, together, create a beautiful and haunting soundscape that brings these seasoned players together in depth, form and musical brilliance.

The Jack Spade Band - Rockabilly!  He used to lead two lives, one as the popular adult movie star, Damon Dogg, the other as Jack Spade, rockabilly king. He felt that the conservative 1950s retro rockabilly scene wouldn't accept him otherwise. Now, he doesn't care.  He's in it for the music, take it or leave it.  We like that attitude. The Jack Spade Band (formerly Sick Wolf) has played the high-profile rockabilly clubs such as Thee Parkside, and traveled up and down the coast spreading their rockabilly cheer.  Now here's your chance to get down with The Jack Spade Band on our little stage!  Hey, kick off your shoes -- we have a wooden floor after all. Enjoy it.  Click on the name or the photo to hear samples of some of the band's newest original tunes!  Oh, and yes, in the photo he is playing bass on the bar.  PS: Here's a link to a video of Damon driving his newly acquired 1959 Pontiac Catalina!  Damon's the real deal!

Coyote Grace - Singer/songwriter.  "Folk singing duo Coyote Grace has big news. Like lightning this summer their luck struck twice. It all started when the Indigo Girls asked trans musician Joe Stevens and his partner in life and music Ingrid Elizabeth (aka Coyote Grace) to open their Seattle concert.  “That was very exciting!” Stevens says. “They’re two of my biggest heroes. It was a super honor!” Raised by two studio singers and music educators, Stevens grew up surrounded by music. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” he recalls. “I started writing music in girls’ school. I’m so grateful that my transition has been kind to me.” His mother formed the Sacramento Children's Chorus, and while Stevens sang in his share of choirs he was eventually drawn to folk to “the music of the people…a fluid genre.”  Singer/songwriter Stevens identifies as a trans man but he was still a girl studying composition and voice in Seattle when he first met Ohioan vocalist and upright bassist Elizabeth."  -- San Francisco Bay Times

Audrey Howard & The Misters - Dyke Rock Band!  You may know these folks as the all-girl, 70's rock, drag band "Wood".  Well, that was then and this is now.  Lyrical, experimental alt-country and rock. Think Liz Phair, The Black Keys, L7.

J. White, a ukulele experience like no other!  Imagine the ukulele played in the most delicate flamenco way.  It's like that; smooth, rich, and melodic.  J. White doesn't talk much about his music; he lets it speak for itself.  Click on the link to hear a sample of his music.  It's inspiring!

I like to book mash-ups like this because it exposes people to different kinds of music, stretching the boundaries of what we think we like.  When exposed to new music with an open mind we often find that we're launched into new territory, and sometimes the new music exposes us to a sort of primal connection we didn't know we had.  To me this is the ultimate musical experience.  -- David Kaye

Headshear - Progressive Rock.  Gwynn Adams: guitars, Deirdre Lynds: guitars, Van Spragins: bass, Hudson Bunce: drums.  Here's a review:  "It's pretty obvious from the opening moments of Headshear's debut self-titled CD that this Bay Area band have spent some time studying the music of early 80's King Crimson. The four piece (Gwynn Adams-guitar, Deirdre Lynds-guitar, Van Spragins-bass, and Matthew Guggemos-drums) have really channeled Discipline era Crimson here, but instead in an instrumental capacity, and the results are some complex and dense progressive rock music.  As soaring as the music gets here, it's not all about solos, but about the ensemble interplay, as the band shines as a whole rather than four individual performers."  -- Pete Pardo, Sea of Tranquility
 

The Honky-Tonk Dreamers - Honky-tonk country.  There's that authentic cryin' in yer beer sound.  Add the wailing double-stop fiddle licks and sonorous Dobro and it's 1953 all over again.  The Honky Tonk Dreamers are Charlie Wallace (pedal steel, National, Dobro, guitar), Tony Marcus (fiddle, guitar), Jerry Logan (bass), and Julay Brooks (guitar), playing the Western Swing and country music they love.

Charlie Wallace loves twang. Charlie has worked with country legends Johnny Paycheck, Alice Stuart, Sherry Austin, Tall Cotton, the Slidewinders, the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, and many more.

Tony Marcus has performed or recorded with country music legends Rose Maddox, Patsy Montana and Johnny Bond, was a founding member of the Western Swing band Lost Weekend, and has explored other musical avenues with Geoff Muldaur, Cats & Jammers, Leftover Dreams and many more. He appears on over 20 CDs, and is finishing up two more: one of jazz standards with Paul Anastasio and Bobby Black, and another of his original songs.

Jerry Logan plays standup bass, guitar, dobro, and lap steel, sings in a rich baritone, and writes good songs. He has toured and recorded with some fine musicians, including Bob Paisley & Southern Grass, The Schankmans, Barry & Holly Tashian, Peter Rowan and Laurie Lewis.

Julay Brooks plays guitar and sings from the heart. She has always loved the thrill of a hard-hitting country song. More recently, she found herself unexpectedly drawn to old jazz and hokum, which led her naturally to Western Swing, the perfect marriage of jazz and country.

The opening act was acoustic thrash band, Mad Denizen. 

Wednesday, August 19 2009
Thursday, August 20 2009

Shadow Circus Vaudeville Theatre!  The return of San Francisco's most belligerent puppetry troupe.  And they're musical, too!  Last  time they sold out!  This time we're presenting them for two nights! 

Are you looking for an evening of fine culture, artistic expression and wholesome entertainment suitable for the entire family? Then Shadow Circus Vaudeville Theatre is NOT the event for you.

Shadow Circus Creature Theatre, San Francisco’s most belligerent puppetry troupe is bringing back their volatile variety show, featuring some of the Bay Area’s best underground acts. Hear the enchanting music of songwriter Unwoman (cellist for Rasputina, Voltaire and Attrition), Marvel at the acrobatic grace of Fancy Kate and swoon to the magic and sideshow of Hernan Cortez (of Popcorn Anti-Theater).

The entire evening is hosted by Shadow Circus Creature Theatre; the most foul-mouthed, blasphemous, belligerent puppets to ever slither across a stage! Please Note: While this is an all-ages event, the performance will contain explicit content which may not be appropriate for younger audience members. Tickets are incredibly limited, so advanced purchases are advised.

Combining folklore, mythology, Lovecraftian monsters and pop-culture parody, Shadow Circus Creature Theatre has been one of San Francisco’s most popular and outrageous puppetry troupes since it’s formation in 2000. Using life-sized latex and foam creatures Shadow Circus creates a world that is utterly fantastic, and yet hilariously similar to our own.   "...the puppets are Grade A" - East Bay Express

And you thought you were just getting a musical puppet show!

Admission on these shows is $10 advance, $13 door.  Advance reservations recommended. 

John Shiurba's 5x5 - 'a wildly creative guitarist... anti-jazz, anti-everything else, yet utterly compelling." - Cadence Magazine.  John Shiurba is a composer and guitarist whose musical pursuits include improvisation, art-rock, modern composition and noise. Shiurba has recorded and toured the U.S. and Europe as a member of the bands Eskimo, The Molecules and Spezza Rotto, as a member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Anthony Braxton's ensemble and the SFSound Group, and as an improvisor. As a guitarist Shiurba has developed a unique and personalized approach to the guitar. Through the use of extended techniques and unusual preparations, he expands the traditional sound range of the instrument, producing stunning, often unrecognizable results.  5x5 is John Shiurba's mutating band that always has 5 people interpreting 5 of his compositions, with personnel drawing from the Bay Area's most exciting improvisers....

Lisa Mezzacappa's Bait & Switch - Bait & Switch is San Francisco bassist Lisa Mezzacappa's rollicking garage jazz quartet, playing original music inspired by adventurous jazz masters like Ornette Coleman, Henry Threadgill, the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Eric Dolphy. The music funnels free jazz energy and collectivity into finely honed minimalist compositions that exploit the group's amazing chemistry and fierce sense of groove. Aaron Bennett, saxophones John Finkbeiner, guitar; Lisa Mezzacappa, bass; Vijay Anderson, drums.  "Brawny and brainy new out jazz from some of the scene's most accomplished and passionate players ... It had been a long time since I had heard anyone follow up on the sophisticated traditions of the seventies' AACM / loft jazz scene with such dedication and focus." - Myles Boisen, Transbay Creative Music Calendar

Kitten on the Keys -- Bawdy Bar Room Ditties & Oldtime music.  There is only one Kitten on the Keys and we have her!  If you've heard her in a night club, you've never really heard her. The lyrics are priceless, the presentation over the top.  A Thoroughly entertaining evening!

Known as Kitten on The Keys, Suzanne Ramsey has been seen on HBO, E! , IFC, Queer TV , MTV, and Bravo.  She embodies the spirit and style of those days of decadence gone by. Pianist and chanteuse, expect a racy ragtime romp when this little kitty sharpens her claws on a meow mix medley of mad cap gems of yesteryear with a naughty whimsical edge.

Suzanne Ramsey won the SF Weekly Music Award in the New Genre/Beyond Category for her campy vaudevillian performances of her kinky cabaret ditties in 2003! At the 2nd Annual NY Burlesque festival, Kitten won a Golden Pastie Award for being the Biggest Tease! 2005 she was the winner of Best Costume at Miss Exotic World in Helendale, CA. Kitten on the Keys has been made a saint by the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence. Kitten on the Keys is now Saint Tickle Me Ivories.  Her burlesque has been featured in the Cabaret New Burlesque In Paris 2005, Nantes Summer of 2007, and Napoli Italy in 2008.

Autumn Sky - Singer-Songwriter.  Autumn Sky (her real name) returns to the Climate Theater stage, finishing her tour in support of her new CD.  Some reviews: "...But Sky has a definite talent for melody and structure, and her original songs—eight of them in her 50-minute set, including a couple of ballads with Palmer backing her on electric piano—come off quite favorably." - Jackson Griffith, Sacramento News and Review

"You cannot help but notice her on the stage. Once she starts singing she transforms. Her songs are upbeat and cute, but don’t be fooled, she has her sad and angry songs too. In fact, for being so happy, she does sad so well. Both (her) voice and songs are extremely versatile. A show is a breathtaking experience...Her debut album release is expected to be nothing less than promising." - Angela Rosas, Fringe Magazine, August 2008

"[she] packs a Goliath-sized wallop..." - Rachel Leibrock, The Sacramento Bee, November 2008

Ricky Berger - Singer/Songwriter from Sacramento.  Seductive, but more than that.  "A pillow-if it could sing, candy, a mod hillbilly, twee, home, like 'Putting on my favorite sweater, right when it comes out of the dryer on Christmas', a ton a sugar cookies hittin' you over the head, 'just as healthy and wholesome as an apple pie!"  Ricky Berger: Songwriting, singin', whistlin', yodelin', piano, guitar, accordion, ukulele, organ, banjo, xylophone, flute, and violin.

"Even though Ricky Berger was only the opening act at the Plea for Peace Center Friday night, her performance would turn out to be the highlight of the evening.  The talented Sacramento multi-instrumentalist played a very exciting set. Her jazz-influenced folk songs, unique voice and nonstop smile provided a great start to the night." - By Kimi Pelchat, Stockton Record, July 13, 2009

I see her as the next break-out artist.  She's going places.  -- David Kaye

The Climate Theater is pleased to welcome Ricky back to our stage. 

Congratulations to 49 Special for winning the prestigious Rockygrass Bluegrass Band Contest in Lyons, CO this weekend (July 27). This San Francisco band has been turning heads all around Northern California over the past year; now, bluegrass folks elsewhere are beginning to pay attention. -- Shelby Ash

These folks have soul.  Fresh from wowwing the folks at the huge Grass Valley bluegrass festival, 49 Special will perform at the Climate Theater for your enjoyment.  -- David Kaye

Seth Ford-Young & Friends.  Seth will be recording his first solo album and will bring his band to the climate for a special show. The band is Rob Reich (Gaucho, Nice Guy Trio, etc) on accordion and/or piano, Evan Price (Turtle Island String Quartet) on violin, Jason Vanderford (Hot Club of San Francisco) on guitar and Seth Ford-Young on bass and vocals...with some special guests. They'll be doing some gypsy jazz, tango, and some harder to classify music.  You know how these guys are...

Seth began performing in clubs around D.C. with his hardcore punk band Initial Reaction.  In 1993 Seth moved to California and immersed himself in Jazz and Classical bass and vocal study.  He has performed with Tom Waits, Sean Hayes, Beats Antique, Mark Growden, The California Honeydrops, Ralph Carney, Eric McFadden, The Hot Club of San Francisco, Jesse DeNatale , Myles Boisen, John Schott, Smith, Gail, and Sasha Dobson, Mia and Jonah, El Radio Fantastique, Vermillion Lies, Graham Connah, Ben Goldberg, Lucky Seven, Gaucho, etc.

"An opportunity to hear Sangati Center founder Gautam Tejas Ganeshan's thoughtful, ecstatic vocal style in a chamber concert [...] joined by one of the Miles From India tour's energetic young Indian classical drumming talents, Anantha R. Krishnan. New music from an old tradition, in an intimate, acoustic listening room in San Francisco's Indian classical music art house." -- SF Jazz Fall Season 2008 Bulletin

"Gautam is just a stunning performer [...] there's something raw and immediate about the music." -- Long Beach Press Telegram, May 2009

The show will include a performance of Patrick's newly commissioned solo piece called 'Yosemite Soundscapes:  the View from Above'.

Acá - Avant-garde jazz. Band Members Patrick Cress (saxophones, bass clarinet, electronics), Roger Riedlbauer (guitar, electronics), David Arend (upright bass, electronics). Sounds like horror movie soundtracks, science-fiction landscapes, alien bird calls, tasty textures, Planet Earth. Cress’ compositions will appear on two 2009 recordings.

More info: "JL Stiles, master ragtime and folkways fingerpicker-by-trade, has managed to go way beyond revisionism, not a small feat, considering the discipline it takes to even copy the maestros. He is an edgy, indie folk artist with an unusual bluesy bend, poetic and profound."

Michael Coleman Jazz Duet Improvisation. The Improvised Duet series is a monthly concert series hosted by Michael Coleman. It brings together 8-10 musicians to play in a semi-continuous improvised duet. There is no written music and no prior discussion between musicians. Often, the two musicians have never before played together. The spontaneous nature of the music leads the musicians into unfamiliar territory and forces the players out of their comfort zones which can result in fresh and exciting new sounds and textures.

Beep! Trio returns as the Beep Quartet to the Climate to open the evening. Beep! combines the tuneful and the abstract into a very listenable set. See them before they become famous! They will.

Personnel:  Beep! Quartet consists of Michael Coleman-Wurlitzer, Kasey Knudsen on Alto Sax, Miles Wick playing Bass, and Sam Ospovat on Drums.  Improvised Duets: (same personnel as above plus Joshua Smith performing Tenor Sax, Hamir Atwal with Drums, John Finkbeiner on Guitar, and Cory Wright playing Clarinet.
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Honeycomb - Emily Ritz on ukulele and vocals, Nathan Blaz on cello, Andrew Maguire on Vibraphones, Kacey Johansing on vocals, percussion, guitar, Rob Shelton on instruments, Karin Dahl vocals, Courtney Nicole vocals, Heather Normandale vocals. Emily sez, "Nate, Andrew and I have been busking every few days in order to raise money to pay for the studio dates we have at Hyde Street Studio C. We are recording new songs and the new sound onto a seven track EP to be released in early spring."

Shadow Circus Vaudeville Theater gothic puppet and vaudeville show!  Shadow Circus Creature Theatre, San Francisco 's most belligerent puppetry troupe is returning once more to the Climate Theater, bringing you a cornucopia of Holiday mayhem. Shadow Circus uses life-sized latex puppets to create a seething underworld of drugged-up dinosaurs, giant cockroaches and bizarre mythological beasts and engages them in scripts full of pop-culture parody and social satire.

Accompanying them are musical group Vagabondage, stand-up comedienne Lady Satan and escape artist Miss Bella Trixx.

The entire evening is hosted by Shadow Circus Creature Theatre; the most foul-mouthed, blasphemous, belligerent puppets to ever slither across a stage!  Uh, this show is probably not suitable for folks under 18. 

Final show in the current Music Box Series.  Please bring your friends!

Jack Spade's reconstituted band, Sick Wolf plays rockabilly the way it ought to be.  Jack Spade on Bass and Vocals; Jezebel Bloom on Vocals; Bryan Irwin on Guitar; Buck Ettee plays the Drums.  Original tunes, fun stuff, and nobody can ride a bass like Jack Spade.  We'll push the chairs off to the side so you can dance!