“… High as a Kite on the Fourth of July …”

Summer comes blowing in like the ocean breeze in the Broadway musical South Pacific, making us all “bromidic and bright as a moon-happy night pouring light on the dew.” (Yes, that is also part of the lyric to the song Wonderful Guy.)

     We had a marvelous month in June celebrating the inspiration of the muses and our local music communities at First Street Café in Benicia, CA, also Chester’s Café in Berkeley where John Roy Zat and his musician friends performed (including our guest performance of a couple of tunes).

     Dave also accompanied gospel singer Dinah Chapman in June along with the “house band” at Walnut Creek Unity Center (see our blog).

     We hosted and performed music and poetry at the San Mateo County Fair Native American Poets event. Poet/flautist Bob Loomis added his eloquent American Indian flute performance to enhance the words, especially with his beautiful accompaniment to Dave’s Mojave desert poem, Sky Gods are Weaving a Basket of Light. Poet Nannette Deetz (Dakota, Cherokee, German) has been learning her native Dakota language and she performed the enchanting poems that she has written in Dakota accompanied by her partner Charlie Lopez, Sr, on guitar, and Dave on hand drum.  

     Friday the 29^th was our first show at Chester’s, with Karl Hartmann on bass. Not only was it a musical blast, but the audience was filled with old and new friends, and fans. There were several reunions: friends from Idaho we had not seen in 17 years who saw our post on Facebook and were going to be here at that time, a niece Chappell had not seen in 37 years brought her husband and baby. It was a lovely night in every way. The audience sang along on The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down as we raised our glasses to honor Levon Helm.  

     In July, Dave will be backing up the poet Mary Loughran, a featured reader at the Alameda Poets monthly gathering, with Toora Loora Loora, an Irish lullaby, sung and drummed to her poem. This event is Thursday, July 5 at Books, Inc., 1344 Park St, Alameda, CA, 7 pm, no cover charge; 510-522-2226. This store is very supportive of the poetry readings. One employee, Ben, often reads at the open mike following the featured reader’s set. 

     Chappell and Dave will perform at The Camp Meeker Players (CMP) 40 Year Reunion celebrating “Our Golden Age of Community Theater” on Saturday, July 21, 2012, at Occidental Center for the Arts. **Please note that this post is for information only. The show is sold out**.  

     From 1972 to 1979, this Northern California theater group staged such productions as Deadwood Dick, Three Penny Opera, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Macbeth, Wizard of Oz, Dracula, and many more. Dave Holt and Mitch Greenhill are music directors of the program that includes musicians from the original troupe: Jan Ferrin, Mitch, John Roy Zat, and other alumni of the Players, along with Chappell Holt and myself. She and I will perform songs from the CMP shows, along with songs by local Sonoma County bands of the era.  Selections from original scores for Caucasian Chalk Circle by Dave Holt, and Wizard of Oz by Jan Ferrin will also be featured.   

     Dave will participate in a salon panel discussion: “Universality: Does the Whole Give Meaning to its Parts,” to take place Monday, July 30, at the weekly, "Wow, Salon for the Arts," created by Angar Mora. Dave will be contributing insights based on indigenous (American Indian) philosophy. This event is hosted by Tanya Joyce, with contributors Dave Holt, and Harriet Ann Burge.  Angar Mora’s salon is held at Cafe Arrivederci, 11 G Street  San Rafael, CA 94901, 5:30 pm, $10 cover. The evening begins with a shared meal of the excellent Italian cuisine to encourage conversation between the artists. There are usually two presenters, followed by a raffle of the artist’s products. (415) 453-6427.  

     Chappell and Dave Holt will perform again at Chester’s Bayview Café, 1508 Walnut St # B, Berkeley, CA. There is a full bar, and the food (great salads, fajitas, fish and chips, etc.) is very good. Our show is Thursday August 2, 2012, 7:30 – 9:30pm, no cover but tips are greatly appreciated. (510) 849-9995.   

     Don’t forget you can help us out by downloading a song from CD Baby and posting a review on Facebook. Also if you listen to a song all the way through on Reverbnation, it will help our chart stats. Thank you for your support and coming out to hear us. Happy Fourth of July!