Leigh Stephens former original guitarist from Blue Cheer and Silver Metre is putting together a new band up near Auburn California; expect to hear some good music coming soon. Leigh is also available for session work if you’re interested please contact him at ldstephens@leighstephens.net  

Sunday March 30th found Mike Pirsch, Tony Kaprielian and yours truly hosting a 3 hour retrospective on the music of Country Joe McDonald. Joe came down and played live, we played records and CDs and we did some talking as well. Here’s what happened. It started with Tony K and me picking up Joe at his home in Tony’s 1968 Dodge Coronet and bringing him to the nondescript building in Berkeley that houses Berkeley Liberation Radio to have a day of fun and music on The New Scholar Coffee House Hour.

The show started off with the usual opening prayer (as Mike P calls it) Gil Scott Heron’s piece “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, then there was a dedication to his friend Dennis Bursch who had recently passed away and who was very instrumental in Mike P’s starting up TNSCHH in the first place and he played for Dennis “Last Night” by Mike Bloomfield from 1964 with Norman Mayell (pre-Sopwith Camel) on the drums. Then it was pretty much a musical free for all playing songs from Joe’s vast musical catalog of CDs and vinyl records, talking about the songs, and Joe playing live, singing songs and telling stories.

Here is what we played, between some moments of confusion do to the fact some of the channels in the board had to be switched around to accommodate the third microphone and the tape deck that we hooked up so Tony could record the show, and a few times we forgot that things got switched around and hit the wrong fader. Oh well, that is what live freeform radio is all about. The show was also dedicated to Martine “Oh Chut Up” Fierro...Oh Chut Up!  J

After the usual introductions were over we played some of the music of Country Joe McDonald.

Flying High, Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine – Country Joe & The Fish (Mono version)

I’m So Glad That I Have Skin – Joe with Blair Hardman from 1964

Who Am I – Country Joe & The Fish – early acoustic version (Joe didn’t even know it was released until he just heard it)

* Talking with Joe about the music we just played (including the story about Pete Seeger’s cover of a Joe McDonald song).

Not In A Chinese Restaurant (Sure Cure For The Blues) – Joe and Peter Walsh

Mr. Big Pig

Superbird – Country Joe & The Fish (EP version)

I’m Gonna Rock

Rock and Roll Again, Grace – Country Joe Band (Live In Berkeley)

* Talking about the music with Joe (and Peter’s response to hearing for the first time through the headphones Joe’s recorded and unexpected surprises and comments accordingly in Sure Cure) ...And the celebrity comedy competition Joe was entering at the Great American Music Hall and he recited over the air his Country Joe & The Fish story about smoking banana joints he planned to do at the GAMH.

Zinithol (spoof commercial by Rob Moitoza)

Star Yeck – Joe with members of The Committee and with Howard Hesseman... (Star Trek Parody) 

I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag – Pete Seeger 45 version (as previously discussed over the air)

Cake Walk To Baghdad – Country Joe Band (written by Bruce Barthol)

Girl Next Door – Joe with Greg Douglass, David Hayes Jeff Myer and others (Viet Nam Experience LP version)

Bass Strings – Little Louie Groovie (cover of the CJ&TF song) (first time Joe heard this song)

* Talking about the music with Joe, also reading PSA’s and giving thanks to our sister station WKRP in Cincinnati and talking about Star Yeck and Pete’s cover of Joe’s song. Joe comments on how much he enjoyed playing with Jeff Myer and David Hayes as a rhythm section.

Zachariah (commercial for the movie)...movie was rated GP - all ages – parental guidance.

Cetacean Visitation – Joe McDonald and Bernie Krause (section 43 with nature sounds added to it)

Bass Strings – Country Joe Band

Jesse James  

Superstitious Blues – Joe, Jerry Garcia, Barry Flast

* Talk about the music with Joe. He previews his piece for the comedy competition live on the air:

Joe plays live With a lack of proper mic stands Tony had to hold 2 microphone stands with the mic’s up close enough so Joe could sing and play. The lengths one goes to in the name of rock n roll and for the ol’ adage of “the show must go on”

 Support The Troops (written for Cindy Sheehan);

* In between the songs a little play by play of the action goes on in the studio for our listeners benefit as Joe tunes up...

I comment...”We tune because we care” someone else comments “good thing this isn’t television” 

* Joe reads from a newspaper column called Woody Says that Woody Guthrie wrote about New York City

Back to the Live music –

A Talking Blues a song based on Woody’s words (also about New York City) and with music by Country Joe

I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag (complete with the authentic Pete Seeger ending)

* Early thanks to Joe, other goodbyes...and final messages to our listeners

Family Dog Commercial for an appearance by the Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother & THC, and Country Joe & The Fish at the Avalon Ballroom. (For poster collectors ~ FD 36 by Victor Moscoso)

Time Flies By – Country Joe & The Fish (reunion LP)

* Final thanks and goodbyes for the day...

S.O.S. – Melton, Levy and the Dey Brothers (Mike P’s closing prayer)

End of show and we give Joe a ride home and head back across the Bay Bridge...

* Note: Aside from back announcing the songs, more things were talked about than listed above; I just wanted to make you feel like you were there by adding it in. It was a fun day and a nice way to spend the afternoon. Thanks again to Country Joe for coming out for the day and to Mike P for letting me co-host the show. Good thing Tony was there to record it.

Those loveable Rubinoos returned to the Great American Music Hall on June 21, 2008 and kicked ass BIG TIME playing songs they hadn’t played live in well over 20 years, and from what I heard a good time was had by all, especially by the band! www.rubinoos.com    

A Benefit Concert for Crowbar (Kurt Kangas) & A 60th Birthday Party for Boots Hughston was held on Sunday June 29th 2008. Crowbar worked with the Council of Light to promote the "Summer of Love 40th" and was injured in a motorcycle accident in Phuket Thailand. Everybody knows who Boots is (can you believe he’s 60, I actually thought he was older...only kidding Boots). So here were two good reasons to celebrate and party while raising money to help out a friend and celebrating with Boots for his wild 60 years of being on this crazy planet. Featured entertainment was Larry Otis (from Born Again Pagan, Ike & Tina Turner band), Maria Muldaur (Even Dozen Jug Band), David & Linda LaFlamme (It’s A Beautiful Day), Natasha James, Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker), Dickey Peterson (Blue Cheer), George Michalski (Everybody), and other special guests. From what I heard a great time was had by all.

On July 23, 2008 New Riders Of The Purple Sage played at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and played a stunning show. Pete Sears and Barry Sless sat in on some songs too. If you haven’t seen this current line-up of the band I suggest you do. Opening the show was Moon Alice who is Barry Sless, Jack Casady, Pete Sears, Jimmy Sanchez, G.E. Smith, with Roger and Ann McNamee. The highlight of their set for me was the song Kick It Open a great rocker with lyrics by Jeanette Sears with music and vocals by Pete Sears. Jeanette has written some great songs, one of my favorites is Nothing Personal from Pete’s Watch Fire album which has some great lead mandolin by David Grisman. www.moonaliceband.com .   

~ANNOUNCEMENTS ~EVENTS & CONCERTS~

Live At Turkey Trot CD/DVD sets of Commander Cody and NRPS can be found at www.turkeytrotacres.com

This is going to be a blast... a one man play called Marie 21 and Flying by David Denny songwriter and guitarist from the Steve Miller Band, Frumious Bandersnatch, Joker, and All Night Flight.

The story line: David Denny’s one man musical monologue: While touring in Texas with the Steve Miller Band in 1970, David spent three days in a Holiday Inn in with a waitress named Marie. A few months later when he returned home to San Francisco, Marie was on his door step. Three months later, David was living with her, her mother Stella, her two young hellion brothers, Chuck and Junior, a poor family from "across the tracks" in San Antonio, 21 dogs and cats in a two room flat in Walnut Creek, going on and off the road with the band.

At The EXIT Theatre 277 Taylor Street, San Francisco, California 94192 Admission $9

Performance schedule
September,   6 2008    10:00 pm
September,   9 2008    8:30 pm
September, 13 2008    2:30 pm
September, 14 2008    7:00 pm

The Dave Getz Breakaway is playing at the 19 Broadway in Fairfax, CA. on September 11th and at the No Name Bar in Sausalito, CA. on September 13th.

Jeff Jolly Band will be playing at The El Rincon in San Francisco on September 13th check them out, it’s bound to be a great show. If you recall Jeff opened up the music segment of The 40th Anniversary Of The Summer Of Love on September 2, 2007 for an estimated crowd of 100,000 people.  

Peoples Park Peace Rally in Berkeley CA. on September 13...with speakers...& MUSIC by And The Horse with 3 members from the East Bay 60’s band Beggars Opera Gary King (guitar, vocals); Mike Green (drums); Dave McCullough (bass) & other friends. Also appearing will be the Robert Foley Band also with Dave McCullough and Mike Green. Music starts at 1:00PM

On September 13th Barry Melton opens solo for the Jefferson Starship at The Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City CA.

That great band from the 60’s Savage Resurrection will appear at Expressions in Berkeley CA on September 13th.Call Expressions for more information and reservations.

WANTED:

The Vinyl LP by the rock band Shiner on Nervie Records circa 1977; let me know if you have this or can find it for me.

Remember...Always Take Care Of Your Self First, So You Can Be Around To Take Care Of Others.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back...

Thanks for reading.

Take care,

Mike Somavilla

This edition of Keeper Of The Flame Music News is dedicated to ~ Alton Kelley go to www.caringbridge.com to sign up and register to view and write messages for Kelley and his family and friends. And to George Carlin, Bo Diddley...Who Do You Love... And in Memory of Bruce W. Jensen

All images and photos used herein are either the property of Keeper Of The Flame Music News, the individual artists, the owners of the photos, the musicians or the photographer(s) and cannot be copied, used or reproduced in any manner or form without the written permission, authorization and consent of the copyright holder of each and every image. 

   Go See Live Music & Support Local Musicians!

Streaming Radio and TV Shows

The Bruce Latimer Show www.pct26.com is a live Bay Area music variety television show hosted by Bruce Latimer on Wednesday nights in Pacifica California from 9:00PM until 10:00PM. Now in it’s 19th year! www.brucelatimershow.com 

Beyond the Beat Generation www.beyondthebeatgeneration.com is a cool on line radio station.

The New Scholar Coffee House Hour on Berkeley Liberation Radio (BLR) www.berkeleyliberationradio.org is hosted by Mike Pirsch on Sunday afternoon’s 2:00PM until 4:00PM (This is the show I co-host on occasions)    

Hear the music of John Cipollina anytime of the day or night at Radio Cipollina

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P.O. Box 425593
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