April Come She Will

 April Come She Will

(by Paul Simon) …

“When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trim hath put a spirit of youth in everything” … (Shakespeare, Sonnet 98)

March began with Dave’s poetry performance on the sixth at the Alameda Island Poets meeting.  The monthly event is held at Books, Inc., (Alameda). Dave was a featured reader along with friends and fellow poets Mary Loughran and Jan Dederick. The three musical poets sang the Irish Lullaby together to accompany Mary’s poem written about the song her mother sang to her when she was a child.

 

We had a mid-state mini-tour that began early Sunday morning, March 24th, with a drive down Highway 101 to the Central Coast. Our first gig was at Sculpterra Winery in Paso Robles, California, an afternoon event 1 pm to 3:30 pm. We were the featured act of Steve J. Key's lineup: Songwriters at Play. We had beautiful weather for the show as we shared the outdoor stage with wonderful performers like Dulcie Taylor (with George Nauful). After the show, we joined Dulcie and her husband, a different George, for some post-gig fun conversation, and fabulous Italian food at Lombardi’s on the square in Paso Robles.

Our hosts Ted and Lynn Wise provided us traveling musicians a comfortable place to sleep in their home as was planned in advance. What we didn’t expect was that they extended their friendly hospitality to serve a couple of delicious breakfast feasts during our 2 day stay! After breakfast on Monday, we had a chance to hike the coast side trail at Montana de Oro, then we hit an antique collective in Morro Bay. Chappell found a pair of cowboy boots she’s tried to find for years; Dave got a collectible book, among other discoveries. End result: we spent everything we earned over the weekend!  But it was fun.

That evening, Monday, March 25th, at 6:30pm, we performed at Upper Crust Trattoria in San Luis Obispo also as part of Steve J. Key's Songwriters at Play series. We met some wonderful ladies from Portland known as Arbielle, whose beautiful music was moving and meaningful. Rachel the keyboard player and Katie on guitar both write the songs. It was Katie who realized we had met at City Club Open Mike in Berkeley some months before where she’d lent Chappell her guitar (long story).  What a small world!

 

We had a wonderful time making many new friends in Los Osos, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo. On the way home, we stopped to visit San Miguel De Archangel Mission and said hello to Saint Michael. 

Preparations are under way for a Benicia musicians gathering this weekend. We will be playing with several members of the First Street Café gang at the Day on Tim’s Green 2013 … #1, Bobfest, a tribute to one of America’s greatest songwriters, Bob Dylan. The show starts at 11 am, goes to 4 pm. About eighteen groups, duos, and solo performers will participate, each act singing three of their favorite Dylan songs. Dave will also be playing with the closing act, “The Absolutely Sweet Maries” who perform at 3:30 to finish out the day with full band renditions of Dylan’s greatest folk-rock songs such as Rainy Day Women, Like a Rolling Stone and more. $3 Donation is appreciated. Location: 1155 Lewis Ave. Vallejo Ca. More info at Facebook: Day On Tim's Green 2013....#1 (Bobfest)

Meanwhile we made much more progress this month with the new CD recording project. Basic tracks for our Chappell’s songs Bohemian Moon, and Bad Girls Blues were added, soon to feature special guest performances that we will announce later. Stay tuned to find out who!

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming performances (to be announced)! Happy Spring.