More Musical Happenings This Weekend
It seems strange, but true. . . the closer we get to winter, the more musical events seem to be happening around here. So let me make some suggestions to you all for the potential enrichment of your musical life.
First of all, for your car, your home, your iPod, whatever… go to CD Baby and purchase the CD by Tanya Plescia. She, loyal readers will recall, is the pianist from Sacramento who recently gave a performance in Manteca, attended by this space. I have been to many piano concerts in my short but exciting life. None compared to this. Ms. Plescia brings a passion and fire to the piano literature that would thrill Beethoven. She takes those little notes on the page and breathes life into them, literally teasing out the flesh and blood that has gone into each composition, peeling back the layers of heart and emotion in each work until it is revealed stark and luminescent. She is fearless and devoted to the work, whether it is her own brilliant composition (I heard three at her concert), or works of previous masters. You say you’re not a big fan of classical piano? Listen to Tanya Plescia and you will be. Go here to purchase her CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tanyaplescia.
I was out and about this past weekend, and ran into some very interesting young girls at a Vacaville event, and they were also quite remarkable. I’m speaking of the Honeybee Trio, a singing group of three girls (one is 12, the other two 13) who perform amazing close harmonies, featuring songs from the 1940s and 50s. They really put on a show, in addition to just nailing the very difficult vocal parts. This is not one of those “awwww” acts, either. They really are worth a trip out of town, and appropriate for the entire family, so if you’re not doing anything else this weekend, the Honeybee Trio is going to perform at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 11, at The Wednesday Club of Suisun, 225 Sacramento Street, in Suisun. Sure it’s a drive, but what better day to take the family for a musical excursion out of town? Check out the Honeybee Trio here: http://honeybeetrio.com/HoneyBeeTrio.com/Welcome_to_our_Home_Page!.html
Oh, you just can’t get out of town this weekend? Really? Well, you’re in luck, because there is a lot going on around here as well. First of all, if you’re at the Martinez Farmer’s Market on Sunday, from around, say, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., I’ll be there with my other Very Bad Boy, Mr. Danny White, and the Sisters of Mercy. We’ll be playing acoustic tunes for ya’ll, getting sassy and sardonic, all at the same time. And that’s not easy.
If you’re in the mood for music tonight, get thee to Armando’s at 707 Marina Vista and check out K.T. and the Wicked Gents. This group of astounding musicians from around these parts features an amazing keyboardist/singer named Kathy Trejcka, the always-awesome Kennan Shaw on bass, guitarists extraordinaire Kelly Back and Nick Montes, and Jan Jackson on drums. A very good time is always guaranteed when musicians of this caliber get together.
Check out Gina Graziano and the Miracle Workers on Friday at the John Muir Amphitheater. She always brings a smile and a song to every stage. Showtime starts at 8 p.m.
On Saturday one of my favorite local bands, the Hopeful Romantics, will take the stage at Armando’s at 8 p.m. to bring their special blend of old timey, new timey and originals to massage your ears and sooth your world-weary soul. Led by the phenomenal Hope Savage and featuring the wizardry of Brian Walker and Danny White as well as others, the Hopeful Romantics are bringing a new faith back to the musical landscape. Don’t miss them. Also on the bill Saturday are Five Cent Coffee and Vagabondage.
Yeah, we’ve got it going on around here. We are the music. So go out this weekend and be the music. And if you have a hangover on Monday, treat yourself to another night at Armando’s with the Monday Night Blues Jam, beginning at 7 p.m. I’ll definitely see you there. I’ll be the one working.
