Music

San Francisco at its best

| Susan

It’s Tuesday and I’m still lit up from spending Friday and Saturday at San Francisco’s biggest music party, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a free festival hosted by the late, great Warren Hellman estate.

All the characters come out of the woodwork for this three day festival.
Watching Asleep at the Wheel at the Banjo Stage from the picnic tables
She was rocking the fringe tunic and flower child look

We love this wonderful free festival in Golden Gate Park. I’m always impressed with how well organized it is, from the stages to the graphics to the mobile app; it’s top notch. Over the years, we’ve developed a drill—arrive early while it’s still uncrowded and comprised almost exclusively of old futs like us. I always feel buoyant then as I anticipate the promise of the day’s events.

Friday’s lineup mostly featured bands that were new to us but I’d prepped by previewing them online. Jake Blount’s group played at the friendliest locale, the Bandwagon: an RV outfitted to serve as a stage. The group was smokin’ hot and I experienced the first of many perfect moments as someone blew bubbles through the audience, shrouded in fog.

Jake Blount’s band at the Bandwagon Stage. He’s from Providence, Rhode Island. Yes, those are matching pastel jumpsuits.

Saturday started with another perfect moment as we arrived; Jerry Harrison’s roadies performed their sound check by playing one of the songs from Remain in Light. They executed the piece extremely well and before I knew it, I was dancing at the foot of that stage.

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I further entertained myself by sketching some of the characters and styles at the festival. This guy with the eyebrows…

Other perfect moments

Randomly running into friends

Talking with the dad of Drive-by Truckers’ bassist from Alabama, who was happy to remark that the festival was so “wholesome.” Indeed, babies, toddlers and dogs roamed freely. This year seemed to be devoid of assholes and drunks.

Jim Lauderdale sports a hot blue suit with matching cowboy boots

Traveling light with our backrests to discover new acts; being delighted by Rayne Gellert and Kieran Kane who were great and funny and gob smacked by the appreciation of the audience.

Their music was great and Kieran Kane was very funny

Hearing Elvis Costello clear as a bell from way up the top of the ridge, above the din of concert-going talkers (the many conversations)

Couldn’t see Elvis but could hear him perfectly

A little girl’s unicorn bubble machine showering me in hundreds of small bubbles

And THE highlight dancing madly with those young San Francisco pixies and leprechauns to the electrifying music of Talking Heads and the Remain in Light album, played by Jerry, Adrian Belew and their funky African rhythm band.

We’ll be back again next year. Thank you, Warren Hellman and family for throwing us this kick-ass party each year. You bring so much joy to the City that you loved. XOXOXO

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2016

| Susan

I always anticipate the annual HSB Festival in San Francisco. Such a gift to our City and to everyone who loves music. This year was wonderful, as always.

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beardsteeldrivers

exoticwomanDuring Mavis Staples’ set on Friday night, we sat near this striking looking woman.  She woman didn’t smile or change expression the whole time.  the

We wondered what she was thinking.

 

 

 

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Saturday, we got there early to hang at the Arrow stage where KT Tunstall was the first act. Never heard her name before but we knew some of her hits. Great fun!

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I love the excitement of HSB. Everyone is friendly and happy. The couple next to us came from Scotland for the festival. I also met a woman from North Carolina who is anxious to see Jackson Browne. The many colorful characters of San Francisco have converged on the park.

Our Family Band

| Susan

Were’ starting to have some musical parties during the holidays. This was from a photo I took at Dee and Reid’s—I think it was the first day of Pesach. Max and Eli are going at it. Cousin Steve in the background. Mucha fiesta at the Edelman’s! Looking forward to more of these moments.

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Max Wechsler on Piano. Eli Edelman on Sax. Steve Schwartz making his way across the room. 

No Coasters at the Howlings

| Susan

NoCoasters_LeeWe went to see the wonderful No Coasters a few weeks age at the Howlings up in Healdsburg a few weeks ago. These native mid-westerners, Lee Bloom (piano), Brandon Essex (bass) and Carrie Jahde (drums) played fantastic jazz. They played a smokin’ version of Epistrophy. Go see them–they are fantastic! Thank you Kellie and David for hosting another great concert.

I couldn’t help but draw while the music pulled me along. Here are my renditions.

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My dad gave me a wonderful book of New Yorker illustrations by the incomparable Saul Steinberg. I’ve been poring over this coffee table book for the past month and his style sank into these drawings of the musicians. I love the way Steinberg includes words, numbers and punctuation in his drawings and his line are simple and whimsical but his work is genius. NoCoasters_Brandon

 

Jazz at the Howlings

| Susan

Jazz at the Howlings
Sam Bevan

Fantastic Jazz by Lorca Hart, Josh Nelson and Sam Bevan at the Howlings on November 15. It’s so great to sit right up front to see and hear the guys play. I didn’t get a decent sketch of Josh on Piano because he was moving too fast!

Cheers to Kelly and David for hosting such a swingin’ event. Thank you! Great company and hot food and music.

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Lorca Hart

It was a special pleasure having my mom and dad there. I’d thought on other occasions how wonderful it would be to share this type of  music in an intimate setting with them.  Also great to have our friends Judy and Lee there.

Now my folks want to host a party like that in Ukiah. Okay Lee, get ready…I’m guessing they’re going to recruit you 🙂