Last Friday Night, I went to the album release show of Sonya Cotton and company at the Noe Valley Ministry. The record is called “Red River”. A paean to gentleness in our rough world, this album has been a tonic for me all week.
Here is a link to their performance on “Chasing the Moon”, Scott McDowell’s video podcast from his studio: http://www.vimeo.com/5498806
The album is very faithful to their live vibe; I hear much of the recording was done en vivo, as the musicians sat in a circle.
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I’ve been feeling anachronistic this summer, even a little sentimental, buying new CD’s compulsively. My favorite shops for these healthy/un-healthy expenditures:
Bedrock Records, San Rafael
Red Devil Records, San Rafael
The hip thing about Bedrock is the staff. Neal, the manager down there, is zealously committed to getting new releases into the shelves, all kinds of wonderful music. The summer’s greatest successes there: The Dirty Projector’s Bitte Orca , Repo by the Black Dice, and Guitar Solos by Fred Frith.
Red Devil is also on 4th street in San Rafael, and specializes in cult classics, I’d say. Barry, the owner, is like a choosy curator, never settling for anything but the definitive records of each movement. For such a small shop, there’s a killin’ selection, mainly because Barry is pretty fierce about trimming the fat from his shelves. Some re-releases I’ve scored at Red Devil this summer: The Boredoms’ Super Roots 5, Richard Hell the Blank Generation, the Abyssinians Satta Massagana. Look at this album cover: (not everyone can vibe like this)
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My band, the Crymuscles, continues to stage-test our latest record. (the album is free for download, in case you haven’t heard it yet, visit http://www.lechronique.net)
It’s been cool playing a lot of local shows. Nice to get out of the bars and clubs this summer and play outdoors, for free, for all kinds/ages of people. The less officially sanctioned, the better the vibe in general. Here’s the Muscles, Cryin’ at a Bedrock Records parking lot show:
I’ll be playing a solo show this Saturday at Samapalooza, an outdoor festival on an olive grove out in Black Point, the prettiest part of Novato. I’ll be hitting at 5:15, in Town Crier regalia. But there’s 11 bands in all, playing continuously from Noon till 10 pm.
Samapalooza, 575 Atherton Ave, Novato, Ca 94945, all ages, $10 suggested donation
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Lastly, in an act of almost pure sentimentality, I bought a ticket to see Phish at Shoreline tonight. This band changed my life, especially between the age of 12-15. I’m stoked to see that they are healthy and sustainable, dropping Joy, their 11th studio album in September. As I get older, I begin to understand what a feat this is…
Peck 
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