When I was a boy growing up, I learned to love jazz music. My folks had an “entertainment center” of some sort in the living room, and they’d play records by Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, lots of jazz. Those were their favorites, although my mom also loved show tunes and my dad…
The HUM: Set up the pins for the Peppers
It was a Friday night, the historic dance/concert at the Arcata Bowl, just after the turn of the century was titled “Our Last Band Bash.” The oh-so-memorable night featured top indie rock bands of the day playing in a venue that was known as the Pin Room. The “bash” had our current Third District Supervisor…
The HUM: 20/20 Vision for a New Year (post-visions of sugar plums)
Down the road at E&O Bowl they have a two-part New Years Eve HonkyTonk Hootenanny featuring two fine “boot scoot’n, knee slappin’” bands, Barn Fire and Rooster McClintock. There’s an early matinee show from 5 to 7 p.m. “for you old timers and party hoppers,” then a late show starting at 9 p.m. Also free, or as they put it, “FREE!!!”
The HUM: A mysterious Wintersong, Krampusfest and other X-related events
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I picked up a copy of an obscure record album titled Village Music of Bulgaria: A Harvest, a Shepherd, a Bride. It was on the Nonesuch label, who released classical music along with esoteric world music. The music had a haunting sound, with women’s voices used…
The HUM: A Frightmare, Dead tunes and goodbyes
Out in Blue Lake, the sunny town’s Parks and Rec Department plays host for a Holiday Market and Fair in Prasch Hall on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Expect holiday arts and crafts, and Santa will be there to sit for those classic lap pics.
The HUM: Holidaze Time: When makers shine and poets rhyme
That cool breeze is hitting us full force again: the “holidays” are here, when “good cheer” is mandatory, and the materialism that comes with “gift giving” makes us wonder, why? Well, because merchants and others depend on this holiday push at the end of the year, and why not help out, if we can. We’ll…
The HUM: Up for a Grammy
Forgive me if I veer away from Humboldt for a moment and tell you a local-boy-makes-good story. The message from my son, Spencer Doran, was short and to the point. “Hey I got nominated for a Grammy!” he wrote, adding a happy smile emoji with sunglasses, meaning I suppose, this is so cool. What could…
The HUM: Ch-ch-changes, here and there…
Ch-ch-changes, oh, look out, you rock ‘n’ rollers. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange. Ch-ch-changes, pretty soon now you’re gonna get older… – from Changes by David Bowie In part in the wake of the recent successful tribute to Joni Mitchell, my friend Lyndsey Battle is planning a multi-vocalist tribute to the late great David…
The HUM: Trippin’ with Seabury ‘and more’
The Hum never ends, it just keeps humming along. This week I picked up a last-minute item Friday night. After making the rounds at Arts! Arcata, hearing a touch of Striped Pig, then Jon Humboldt Gates’ intense reading at Northtown Book, and closing down the Arcata Exchange (with the CR Big Band), “and more,”…
The HUM: Joni time again, plus Robert Cray & a Firestorm
It’s that time again. Not that time between Halloween and Thanksgiving where the full pre-Xmas rush hits you like a bitter wind on a crisp pre-winter morning. “But it don’t snow here. It stays pretty green,” Joni Mitchell laments, “Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on.” It’s actually time for…