February: "Each Day is Valentine’s Day"

February: "Each Day is Valentine’s Day"

“While the slant sun of February pours into the bowers a flood of light.” 

(William Cullen Bryant)

This month, we got back on track working on the recording of our upcoming CD release, “Stone and Fire.” We laid down some sounds at Randy Rood’s studio in El Cerrito, CA, wrandyrood@gmail.com. We really enjoy Randy’s guidance when needed and his mastery of the technology.  Chappell has her art table set up in the living room. She asked me for a picture of the cycles of the moon and began working on the cover art for the album, moon goddess, hawk, an appaloosa, a mystery soon to be revealed.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, Dave performed at the Alameda Historical Museum, a "Spark Start the Year" event put on by Artists Embassy International (Richmond) and Poets of the Vineyard (Santa Rosa). He dedicated the poem he read, “Well Water Makes Good Pie Crust,” to the “Idle No More” movement and the Generation of the Seventh Fire. Dave and Alameda poet Nanette Deetz (Tsalagi/Dakota/German) sang a Praise Song together, “teach us peace all these nations come to honor you.” The audience loved our set and sang along with us on the last verse of the song.

Our daughter, Kelsey Holt, had a show in Oakland, F3 at the Cotton Mill, featuring her own business Rose La Mer Headpieces that we attended on Friday, January 25. All kinds of crafts, food, a band, open studios, even some poets were there. Kelsey makes wonderful one-of-a-kind headpieces and hats from vintage materials. Check out her Etsy store here. 

Everything was happening that weekend. The next night, Chappell and I attended a house concert on Milvia St. in Berkeley, CA, to hear our friend Aireene Espiritu on ukulele, Saturday January 26. We met Aireene at the FAR-West Conference in Irvine CA last October and loved her music and good spirit. Co-billed with her in Berkeley was Clyde Leland. He and Aireene swapped sets, with special guests hopping on now and then. Aireene is a touring musician originally based in Oakland, CA, so this was a coming home tour of the Bay Area. The inspiration for her original songs comes from folk and gospel music and her uncles' Filipino folk guitar playing. 

 

 (Our December show at First Street Cafe)

We have a special Open Mic performance at First Street Café on Saturday Feb. 2^nd.  We will also be sitting in that night with Mark Comstock and The First Street Golden Eagles Mardis Gras Indian tribe and Social Club.  We’ll feature some New Orleans music (Fats Domino, Dr. John) as a warm up for Mardi Gras.

Dave has a poetry reading coming up on Wednesday, February 20th in San Francisco where he will be the featured poet performing with Chappell on guitar at Sacred Grounds Poets' Circle. Sacred Grounds Poets began in 1972, making it the city’s longest running poetry reading. It is located at 2095 Hayes St. at Cole, San Francisco, phone 415.387.3859. No charge. Show starts at 7 pm, goes to 9:30 pm. Open mic after Dave’s reading.

Hope to see you at our upcoming shows!

Happy Birthday to Kelsey & Chappell this month! Happy Valentines, everyone!