A Band With A Plan - Tips on how to book a show at Don Quixote’s International Music Hall

Complete blog can be found on The Good Times Making Noise site.

Don Quixote's International Music Hall 6275 Highway 9 Felton, CA 95018 831-603-2294

Connect with Don Quixote's on Facebook Seated listening shows are under 21 with a parent.

  • Booking contact: Tom Miller
  • Preferred method of contact: Start with a phone call at 831-335-2526 (always leave a phone number in your message) and then you'll probalby switch to email  tmm@cruzio.com 
  •  Timing: Touring artists are booked further in advance. You an often find dates at even 3-4 weeks out.
  • Genre: Wide open. Come to Tom with a plan and he'll talk about it. They host an ecclectic mix of genres from around the world.
  • Sound: in-house sound system with a designated sound engineer.
  • Capacity: Bringing in 125-150 people on a weekend night is a good start. Bringing in 80-100 people on a weeknight is a good start.
  • Schedule: Weekend shows normally start at 8 PM, weeknight shows at 7:30. On Sunday there is a matiness at 1 PM.
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Festival Deadlines - California - Part 1

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For many bands the holy grail of shows seems to be "the festival". Here is California, we are particularly blessed with many an epic festival within driving distance. Here are a few of the upcoming application deadlines for a few or our favorites.

Don't wait - decisions for 2011 are being made NOW.

This is the first post in a new series. If there are other festivals you would like to see addressed, please leave a comment and we will try to include them in our next post.

Strawberry Music Festival - Performers interested in playing the Strawberry Music Festivals are welcome to submit CD's and promo packs any time of the year. Booking for the festivals begins in October and is completed near the middle of February. Please mail submissions to:

Strawberry Music Festivals P.O. Box 664 Jamestown, CA 95327 Attn: Charlie Cran

Please Note:  No booking or communication is conducted via e-mail. You will not receive an e-mail response to any inquiry.

Mateel Summer Arts and  Music - In addition to the annual Summer Arts and Music Festival, they also put on Reggae on the River, Hemp Fest, Humboldt Hoedown and the Winter Arts Faire. Their website contact page does not give an exact procedure for booking but I would start by mailing your package to:

Talent/ booking - Justin Crellin PO Box 1910 Redway, CA 95560

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival - Artists interested in performing at SNWMF 2011 should send their promo packets to the address below. Please only send materials that are commercially available (no CD-Rs).

SNWMF 2011 PO Box 208 Ryde, CA 95680

Monterey Bay Reggaefest - Artist Submissions: Andre Smith (831) 394-6534 asmithmbrf@aol.com 

Monterey Bay Reggaefest PO Box 1607 Seaside, CA 93955

Live Oak Music Festival - The Live Oak Music Festival Entertainment Selection Committee accepts artist applications from July 1st through October 31st for the following year’s festival. If you wish to be considered, please review our web site and either apply through Sonicbids or send an email between July and October to booking@liveoakmusic.org. Please include an EPK, including video and audio links, a brief description of your musical style, web address, and number of performers in act. The Entertainment Committee does not guarantee a response to inquiries. Thank you for your interest in our fundraising festival for the non-profit public radio station KCBX, serving San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

Call to Artists for December First Friday Show

 

“$21 and Under Show” - Original Art Under $21

Work Media: paintings, prints, sketches, photographs, mixed-media, etc.

Work Size: Under 18 x 14 [max size 18 x 18]

Entry Requirements:

  1. 1-2 pieces per artist
  2. Must be able to hang on wall
  3. Have a tag(s) with name and price ready when art is dropped off
  4. Art must be priced for sale for $21 or under

Timeline: Exhibit will open on Friday, December 3 and run through Monday, Dec. 20

Entries Due: Submissions must be received no later than Monday, November 22

Delivery: Art can be delivered to 118 Coral Street. Please check studio schedule at http://www.santacruzrehearsalstudios.com/booking.html. If there is a band booked, there will be someone at the studio to receive your art (other times can be set by appointment via email to booking@santacruzrehearsalstudios.com or by calling 831-425-7277) 

Publicity: Event will be sent to all Santa Cruz media (print, radio, TV) as well as publicized on the Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios blog, Facebook and MySpace pages. The event will also be listed in the official First Friday calendar published in the Santa Cruz Good Times.

Sales: Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios does not take any commission on sales. 100% of sales proceeds go direct to the artist.

Contact: Jennifer Gallacher jenn@santacruzrehearsalstudios.com

Attention Teen Bands: Win This Contest

 

Local Teen Bands have until Friday, October 15 to apply and win the Second Annual SchoolJam USA Teen Band Competition.

Teen musicians between the ages of 13 and 19, with the majority of band members currently registered in a middle or high school in the United States, and are in an unsigned band, are eligible to participate and apply.  Bands can perform any genre of music but the song must be original content or designated as “public domain.” To view full competition rules and regulations, and for information about how to apply, visit www.schooljamusa.com.   

Semi-finalists will be chosen and names will be posted on the SchoolJam USA website on Nov. 1, 2010, and online voting will be open to the public that day until Nov. 30, 2010. On Jan. 15, 2011, the top 10 finalists will take the big stage  in Anaheim, Calif. during the world-famous NAMM Show in front of a panel of professional judges and hundreds of fans for the chance to take the title of Best Teen Band in the USA.

The winning band will walk away with the grand prize trip of a lifetime to perform at the original SchoolJam festival in Frankfurt Germany, as well as receive a private music video recording session on the John Lennon Educational Bus, $1,000 towards the purchase of new gear and $5,000 for their school music program.

This battle of rising stars is produced by NAMM, the not-for-profit association of the international music products industry, and its promotional sponsors MENC: the National Association for Music Education, SchoolJam Germany, Music For All, Drum Corps International, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, Vans Warped Tour and Channel One News. The competition highlights quality musical teen talent, gathers students to support music and the arts, and promotes active participation in school music programs.

Finish Line Festival - This Sunday, October 3

Here is the line up for the 2010 Finish Line Festival which follows the Surf City Aids Ride. This is a fundraiser for the Santa Cruz Aids Project with food, fun, booths, community and some of our favorite local live music.

Sunday, October 3 rd from 11 AM - 5 PM San Lorenzo Park - FREE

Quinn Deveaux 11:00am-11:25am

Mystery Lights 11:35am-12:05pm

James Rabbit 12:15pm-12:45pm

Tether Horse 12:55pm-1:25pm

Luxury Sweets 1:35pm-2:05pm

Moon Cadillac 2:15pm-2:45pm

 Hod 2:55pm-3:20pm

Dan P. & the Bricks 3:30pm-4:10pm

Harry & the Hitmen 4:20pm!!-5:00pm

Just Print It - Local Santa Cruz Printers

  Posters, flyers, business cards, oh my.

Recently I found myself doing some extensive research on local printers. In case you are in a similar situation, here is what I found. Let me know if I am missing any key players. Who do you love to work with?

The Boutiques:

Sentinel Printers -  (831) 423-2198 - 912 Cedar Street

We used Sentinel to print our Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios business cards and flyers. They turned out beautiful and I really have nothing but good things to say about Sentinel. Their inks are vegetable based and “completely free of volatile organic compounds”. From what I can tell they are not the cheapest game in town (but also not the most expensive) and sometimes you do get what you pay for.

AlphaGraphics  - (831) 425-9800 - 525 Laurel Street  - Suite 125

They do design and printing. On their website they have some awesome post cards and flyers they did for The Abbey.

Mission Printers  - (831) 423-4005 - 522 Soquel Avenue

Community Printers - 831.426.4682 - 1827 Soquel Avenue

I have worked with them for years through my other job and they have always been great. Totally professional and on point. I know this is the go to shop for a lot of old school Santa Cruz graphic designers.

Mpress Digital - (831) 420-1999 - 252 Potrero Street

Their website features referrals from some great local businesses.

Dynamic Press - 831-479-7920 - 1334 Brommer Street, Suite B-1

Looks like they are a certified green printer.

UCSC Print Service - 831-459-2925 - Basement of Baskin Engineering B66

Not just for UCSC students. They offer free delivery on orders for customers on and off campus.

Print Shop Santa Cruz - 831.429.5340 -  511 River Street

The Multitaskers:

Bro Prints - (831) 427-BROS - 131 Center Street #3

Custom screenprinting including posters (but also t-shirts, hats, pins, stickers and all that other stuff).

Catto's Graphics - (831) 454-9742 - 1317 River Street Custom screenprinting but they recently acquired a printing, promotional products and embroidery company. We used them for our t-shirts, stickers and vinyl banners and we tend to love them.

Clutch Couriers - 831-466-0560

They are a bike messenger service, but also do printing at very competitive prices. We have used them to print and hang our event posters and are always happy with the service.

The Chains:

Fed-Ex/Kinkos – (831) 425-1177

Yes there is always Fedex/Kinkos but my experience (especially at the downtown store) has always pretty much sucked and they are expensive.

Staples - (831) 477-9002

OfficeMax - Santa Cruz - (831) 459-8910

Over My Dead Body

A Selection of Mixed-Media work by Kelley Richardson

Artist Reception First Friday, October 1 from 6-9 PM Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios 118 Coral Street

Show will be available for the entire month of October.

If, what comes to mind, when you see a depiction of a skeleton is something scary, dark, morbid, or associated with certain cultural holidays, Kelley Richardson asks that you go away and come back when you have opened up your mind a bit.  After all- you are being held up by one right this very minute. If you strip us all down we are pretty much alike, Kelley’s skeleton paintings are each portraits of the core – coupled with the fabric of experience, an emotion, a transformation.

Kelley paints skeletons because she is in constant state of self-reflection and contemplation of the human experience. Painting is how she processes the experience of being human in a sometimes inhuman world.

About the Artist:

My creation of artwork, whether with a camera or a paintbrush, is a necessary component in my intrinsic process as a human being. The work I create relates, in one way or another, to every facet of my life and in turn, every facet of my life relates to the work I create.  I feel compelled to create images as I travel through my life and process my experiences.  It is as if each piece I indulge myself in- becomes a road map of understanding for me as my experiences unfold.  It is an exploration into my conscious and unconscious mind.  Much of my artwork is reflective of the questions that I ask myself.  Who are we as humans? as women? as mothers? as parents? as partners? as sexual creatures? as athletes? as biological machines?  If I’m not excavating 'whom'… the next fueled fire is 'why'?  Why are we this or that?, and who taught us to be? And why is this- this way or that way?  Becoming a parent brought more questions…because now I have “little people” that are like clay in my hands, and in the hands of society. This has made me more aware of the artistry of life.  If I am an artist in life, what responsibility do I have in the world at large and personally in the artwork of my family?  I know that I have the capacity to affect the world at large with my art as member of society, and more readily to create art that has impact on my smaller world in terms of my community and my family.  Our world is full of visual imagery, suggesting this or that, encouraging us one way or the other, begging us to think.  I am completely enamored with the process of creating imagery that does just that… asks you, the viewer, to think.  I create art about life, about process, about identity.   My formal training and education in the fine arts were gained at The San Francisco Art Institute, where I earned my BFA with an emphasis on photography. This education taught me how to "see" with the sensibility of a fine artist and has given me an understanding of the world founded in a classical academic education.

Playing the Pub - Tips on how to book at show at The Poet and the Patriot

Complete blog can be found on The Good Times Making Noise site.

The Poet and the Patriot 320 Cedar Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4362 (831) 426-8620

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Poet-N-Patriot/100000879583231

  • Booking contact: Various (anyone that works at the pub can talk to you about booking)
  • Preferred method of contact: You can email  - thepoetandthepatriot@hotmail.com, call or belly up to the bar.
  • Timing: Touring bands are booked 1-2 months out. Local bands are booked out as far as one month or with very little notice if they have your number and they are in a pinch.
  • Payment: Open Mic and showcase slots are unpaid. Once you move up to a weekday show you will get a minimum of $100 + drinks (more if you have a bigger draw). It's negotiable.
  • Genre: Open to celtic, folk, jazz, bluegrass, rock, soul, etc. The only genres they don't usually book are punk, metal and hip-hop.
  • Sound:  in-house sound system including PA, sound board, etc. Each show comes with a designated sound engineer.
  • Capacity: About 75 people for live music. There is usually a small built-in crowd and if the band brings 20-25 friends to add to that - everyone is happy.
  • Schedule:

Thursday – show night 9 PM Friday – DJ – no bands Saturday – Open Mic and then sometimes show at night 9:30 - Midnight Sunday –  afternoon celtic jam on 1st and 3rd Sunday and Trivia at night Monday – sometimes early shows ( finish by 11:00 PM) Tuesday – darts Wednesday – darts

Open-mic Every Saturday: Half hour slots. Slots fill up early! Showcase performer from 6-8 PM.

Bandwidth Pt. 2

On Friday, August 20th I attended the second day of the Bandwidth music / technology conference in San Francisco. The conference was held at the beautiful Bentley Reserve (included in the National Register of Historic Places).

Instead of the usual large panels at the front of room, each Bandwidth session took place in small conference rooms with all participants sitting around the table and engaging with each other. The hardest part of the day was deciding which of three panels to attend each hour. I kept thinking I picked the wrong one..

At 10 AM I hit the “Direct to Consumer: How Involved Should a Label Be?” panel led by Tricia Rice (Director of Digital Media, Welk Music Group / Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records). Her presentation style was informal and directed most questions at the group. My take aways:

  • There is no album cycle anymore. In many labels artists mix it up and will maybe do one “top line” record, then a four song pack just for iTunes, then a mixed-tape, then an EP and then might cycle back to another “top line” or more traditional CD release.
  • When partnering with third parties – make sure that partners are incentivized to help on all channels (not just for example iTunes or just Facebook, etc.). You need partners that will support you selling music everywhere music is sold.
  • Associate with other artists as a way to “rise the tide” for everyone. Example Tricia gave was a free holiday download put together across labels. They helped the artists compile 15 tracks from 15 different artists and then made all the tracks available for free to all of the artists’ fans (through a Topspin email for media widget). Each artist gained a significant amount of new fans/emails to market future projects. This is an example of a label using their resources to help do something that has no direct financial gain but probably has future financial potential.
  • Labels need to focus on the bigger picture. In the past reactions might have been, why do we help an artist build channels/fanbase when we don’t share in the benefit (directly) – but the bigger picture is if you DON’T do that = nothing happens.
  • Another perspective is that many labels feel their teams can run these channels (social networking, artist website, etc.) better than the third parties an artist might hire to do that – so they do it for free at first in the hopes that artists will allow the label to get more involved in those areas.

At 11 AM it was time for the keynote conversation with Jac Holzman  (founder, CEO and Creative Head of Elektra Records and Nonesuch Records). Jac’s talk was a highlight of the day as he talked story and dropped gem after gem of industry knowledge. Here are the ones I picked up:

  • Everything informs your life – good or bad.
  • Most every great songwriter writes children’s songs as well.
  • As a record label I would get a lot of shots, but in most cases the artist usually only gets one.
  • There is a lot of stuff happening on the sides – we are so focused on moving straight ahead that we tend to miss the stuff on the sides.
  • It tends to be the little things that change your life.
  • Have respect for every aspect of the recording process.
  • Many times it just “didn’t work” and the process was to see if you could fix it. If I couldn’t fix it, I would give the masters back to the artists and let them work on it.
  • An album is context and content and a lightning bolt.
  • In the beginning, price it low enough so people can get used to it.  Experiment with pricing.
  • Think about everything from the standpoint of the consumer.
  • If you are going to be an independent music producer, you need to be kind of insane.
  • A great album is touched by fairy dust at some point.
  • His style was always to be so well honed that you have room for a miracle to happen. You are always looking to bring out that extra element that works. The moment where you say “this is why we do this”.
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the artist, it is us with them, not us against them.
  • There is no single way to do anything.
  • An attitude of someone who runs a record company is let the chaos happen. Keep your own head straight, but let the chaos happen.
  • The fact that you can make a record, doesn’t mean it should be released.
  • I am firm believer in good first filters. There is a lot of room today for first filters.
  • We are not a music industry, we are music rights industry.
  • Keep it lean.

Following up Jac was a brown bag lunch session with Ted Cohen (managing partner, TAG strategic).

At 1:00 PM I picked the “In The News: A discussion of the topics, trends and technologies currently impacting the industry” led by Kelli Richards (President & CEO of The All Access Group).

The discussion revolved around:

  • Monetizing before, during and after live shows, including new technologies that allow fans to have an immediate live take away, etc.
  • Embracing “game changing” technologies
  • How to best harness the direct to consumer market
  • The idea of music and an “identity” and giving the market ways to give the “gift of music”

At 2:00 PM I picked the “Your Social Media Network: Creating Passionate Advocates” led by Larry Weintraub (CEO of Fanscape, Inc.).

Discussion centered around the value of a social relationship:

  • Question - How to value a fan who engages with a brand within the social media fold
  • Answer – It depends on the goals of the business
  • Give customers content that: relates to them, drives them to take an action, and keeps them interested.
  • Actively engaging w/customers = increase in profit from each customer

Bandwidth Pt. 1

Last week we attended the Bandwidth music and technology conference in San Francisco, which “brings together professionals in the music, media and technology worlds.” The first day’s sessions gave us great insight on the widening spectrum of strategies used to sell music—many of which are cheap and easy to utilize. Here are some tips on DIY music marketing:

Document Everything Practice recordings and backstage footage can be exclusive content today and may turn into archival gems tomorrow; there is great potential value in documentation.

Be Seen Fans want photos. The photo section is often the most popular section of an artist’s website—no matter what genre or subject. A photo gallery on your personal page and/or social media site can get a lot of clicks.

Don’t Underestimate YouTube YouTube trumps Myspace when it comes to audience and content selection. As the 2nd biggest search engine (after Google), a YouTube account is an invaluable marketing tool.

Tip: A good, unique cover song video can attract a lot of traffic to your account. This approach creates a pathway for potential fans to discover your original work.

Tweet Twitter, at its best, is a platform for sharing authentic content and building long-term relationships. Bands can use the site to become more accessible to their fans, creating a sense of intimacy and familiarity. Consistently making valuable posts (make sure to filter out the unimportant or uninteresting) is a good was to increase awareness. Frequent tweets also help search engine optimization (meaning you will appear higher on a list of search results).

Tip: It doesn’t all have to be about you. Bands and artists endorsing each other is a great way to show support and attract attention.

Good luck and happy marketing! Stay tuned for pt. 2 of our Bandwidth tips.

Pt. 1 produced by Sabrina Sierra

Introducing Chris Price aka Voxx Romana

Meet our First Friday artist for September. Reception is Friday, September 3 from 6-9 PM featuring live art.

Chris Price - http://chrispriceart.blogspot.com/

Artist Statement and Bio

As an artist, I find myself intensely drawn to the process of making and creating things. I love seeing my art form from imaginative ideas and sporadic inspirations. I find just as much joy in the creative process as I do in the finished product. My mixed media art is a testament to the usage of all the tools and mediums available, to create a fresh prospective and an infinite number of possibilities. I enjoy using collage, screen printing, alternative printing processes, patterns, stencils, spray paint, painting, and graphic design together to create multi-dimensional symbolism in my work.

I was born and raised in Colorado. As a youth I was interested in art and fascinated with it’s freedom and creative. At 12 years old, I began to skateboard and that continued to the present day. My formal education in art started in high school where I was inspired by, teacher and international artist, Floyd D. Tunson. Around this time I also developed an interest in street art which has influenced my art in many ways. I then attended Community Collage in Colorado Springs for graphic design. My work in the design and printing industry has also had a profound influence on my art and helped lead me to a more mixed-media approach to my art. I moved to Northern California in 2009 to further my art career and have been warmly welcomed by the local community. 

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Santa Cruz Idol - Deadline for Entry is Monday, August 16

The Santa Cruz Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors is now accepting applications from singing contestants for their annual Santa Cruz Idol & Elegant Spaghetti Dinner.

The deal:

  • Now accepting applications for singing contestants
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Only the first 100 people who submit applications with audition a capella
  • Download application here - or email Margie Kiedrowski at margie.kiedrowski@cbnorcal.com

Deadline for applications - Monday, August 16

Audition date: Saturday, August 21 at 10 AM sharp Audition location: Pacific Blue Inn in the Mill Gallery next to The Cosmo Factory at 131 Front Street

For more information contact Margie Kiedrowski at margie.kiedrowski@cbnorcal.com

Gadgetbox Recording Studios Open Mic - Wed. August 18

Introducing the latest open mic. Gadgetbox Recording Studios (417-A Ingalls Street) will host their first songwriter open mic night on Wednesday, August 18 from 7PM-9:30PM. Housed in their newly remodeled “grand room” the event will combine the intimacy of a house concert, with the superior acoustics of a professional recording studio.

Hosted by the Gadgetbox staff, each performer will be given a two-song or ten minute maximum time limit.  The all-ages show will start promptly at 7:00 PM and performers are encouraged to arrive early and place their names in a fishbowl.  Names will be drawn randomly to establish performance order. Gadgetbox will provide a standard stage set-up and sound engineer as well as usage of the Yamaha C7 grand piano. Performers will also have the option to be videotaped (in HD quality) free of charge and can purchase their raw multi-track audio from the event.

A sliding scale donation ($1-$5) will be accepted at the door on the evening of the event.

  • Starts next Wed. August 18
  • Continues every other Wednesday
  • 417 Ingalls Street (across from SC Mountain Brewery & Kelly's Bakery)
  • Parking available along Ingalls Street or in Kelly's Bakery Courtyard

Overview of Santa Cruz open mics we know about includes:

Are we missing any?

Holy Hour - Tips on How To Book A Show at The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge

Complete blog can be found on The Good Times Making Noise site.

The Abbey 350 Mission Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Show schedule on their MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/theabbeysc

  • Booking contact: Bennett Gibson
  • Preferred method of contact: email - booking@abbeylounge.org  (please do not call). Be sure to include your band name and link to your music in the email.
  • Timing: booking about 2-3 months in advance (but sometimes has last-minute cancellations to fill)
  • Payment: none available (but you can sell merch and have a tip jar)
  • Shows: Saturday and Sunday night from 8 - 10 PM (so special occasion Friday night shows)
  • Staff: all volunteer - the entire shop is a non-profit run by Vintage Faith Church
  • Genre: generally acoustic, singer-songwriter, bands tend to unplug (people bring brushes and not full drum kits) - nothing too loud. Think folk, jazz trios, etc.
  • Local bands vs. touring - about 50/50
  • Sound - in-house sound system including PA, sound board, etc.

Open-mic once a month. Sign up at 7 PM, show starts at 8 PM. People can and do get booked from the open-mic. Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/theabbeysc

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Bands Wanted - Reggae Night @ Boccis Cellar

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Boccis Cellar is starting a reggae night one Friday a month (maybe more later) and now is your chance to get in on the ground floor. Boccis's already has music 7 days a week and are looking to start a new theme night.

Details:

  • Your band members need to be at least 21 years old
  • Need to be able to play at least three 45 min sets
  • Performance is in the inside bar area (not the back patio)
  • Boccis offers 30% of the alcohol the bartender serves while you are performing plus a meal from the band menu and cocktail for each performer (up to five band members).
  • The 30% bar on week nights ranges from $30 -$120 (to as much as $300), Fridays is about $150-$250+.
  • If you can bring in 25-30 + of your drinking fans you can go home with a nice full pocket.
  • Friday evening is usually 8:30 - 11:30 depending on the crowd (the longer you play while folks are drinking the more you can make).
  • PV 600R 6 Channel PA provided (you bring mics, mic cables, stands)
  • You use the House PA as its volume fits the room well
  • The bartender = your boss while you play

If interested, email Toby Gray at Boccis@GMAIL.com. Make sure to include  a link to your band's web presence and/or MP3s.

Summit Idols Benefit Concert

In support of the Theatre in the Mountains and Loma Prieta Joint School District's music/art program. Performances will be held on August 27 and 28. Last summer's "Summit Idols" was a sell out. Cash prizes for the Best Adult soloist, Best Teen soloist, Best Child soloist and Best Group.

The auditions will be held on August 2nd (5pm-9pm), August 3rd (10am-9pm), and August 4 (5pm-9pm) in the Dance Room at the Loma Prieta Community Center

Audition slots are limited, so please call Libby McCord at 408-353-3055 ASAP to schedule your audition appointment!

Click to download: audition packet

First Friday, August 6 @ 118 Coral Street

So far we have collected some gems from over forty local bands including:

We are still raiding closets and merch bins all around town so look for the full show starting next Friday, August 6 as part of the First Friday evening tour.

BENEFIT CALL FOR BANDS - Save Our Schools - Saturday, August 14

Santa Cruz Parent Nursery School, Soquel Parent Education Nursery School and Westside Parent Education Nursery School are looking for bands to donate performance time to their upcoming Save Our Schools benefit on Saturday, August 14.

If your band is interested in supporting the event, please email  Kierstin Testorff, SPENS Events Coordinator at kierstin@baymoon.com or call her cell at 239-7353.

Details: Due to massive budget cuts to California's Adult Education program our schools are facing a financial crisis. We are taking it upon ourselves to help these magical little schools. So we offer to you a FUN way to help!

The Britannia Arms 8017 Soquel Dr. Aptos, CA Saturday, August 14th Beginning at 12:00pm

Confirmed performers include: Benssis, Aivar, Ghosts at Sea, El Cuarto Verde, Funky Dosage and Vincent’s Ear.

If a good cause isn't enough motivation, for those of you looking for an "in" at Britannia Arms this would be a great way to make a good impression on the owner..

Meet the Other Hammond

She may not be a B3, but our new Hammond H-143 is no less beautiful. We have officially inherited our first 500 pound beast of an instrument. She got no love on Craig’s List and needed a new home. What can we say, we’re suckers for a pretty face. No we don’t have the matching Leslie amp (yet) so right now this beauty is more eye candy than keyboard crack.

However she is available for glamour shots, dance parties, Halloween spectaculars, film appearances, and the occasional Christmas card photo.  We would like to thank Will Kahn over at Paradise Recording for making our dream of owning our first kind of  cool, campy piece of furniture that you can play come true.

We've also got nothing but love for Butch Rider over at Terrapin Designs whose Hammond expertise and consultation has already taken the sound to beautiful new heights.  Contact him at Clrider@terrapindesigns.com 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v6Hkf4FxJo]