the hum / By Bob Doran

Shift Happens

quake news, plus Richard Shindell, The Haints and weird music

(Jan. 14, 2010)  There’s a Rodney Crowell song, “California Earthquake,” that seems apropos considering what we just went through: “California earthquake, you just don’t know what you’ve done. We may fall off in the ocean, but you’ll never make us run. You’re a partner to the devil, but we ain’t afraid of him. We’ll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again.”

Yes, we survived another one, we’re a bit worse for wear from the seismic action, but we will persevere. As it says on that Petrolia bumper sticker, “Shift Happens.”

Richard Shindell. Photo by Alejandro Baccarat

GALLERY >

Saturday’s temblor cancelled a few events — the Strix Vega/Acid Jazz Experiment Capricorn party did not survive (Strix plays again Saturday at the Alibi). And the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had to cancel their benefit at the Grange. “Due to the earthquake, Beach Blanket Bingo is rescheduled. Watch for announcements of new date,” they tell us.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the quake shook a few things loose (details elsewhere in this issue) and Eureka was particularly shaken.

Head Ink-Peeps Libby and Tanya note that, “The Ink People [building] is Red Tagged. No one can enter the building until further notice. A structural engineer has to do further evaluations. The facility will be closed until further notice. No classes, no artist use, no nothing till we hear that it’s safe. In the meantime, we’d like to figure out how to set up an alternate place to conduct business. Ideas?”

Down the street at the Eureka Theater, the marquee — with its announcement of a pending show by Devil Makes Three — cracked near the top. “The theater building did not have any damage,” said the theater’s restoration manager Chuck Petty. “We may need to remove a small portion of the top of the ‘Eureka’ sign, but it should not affect the show on Jan. 21st.”

Hardest hit was the brick building on Second Street that was once home to the Old Town Bar and Grill, affectionately known to patrons as the Oatbag. Despite pleas from the historic preservation community to try to save it, the city council gave it a death sentence Monday and the current owners, Security National, are planning demolition. Monday also saw the creation of a Facebook fan page for the club that closed 20 years ago with former employees, patrons and musicians who played there reminiscing about days gone by. As Rick Siegfried put it, “A whole lot of good times were had in that building! More history swept away.” With Deborah Lazio at the helm from 1980-’89, the Bar and Grill was a music epicenter with touring act like Los Lobos, Neville Brothers, Richard Thompson, David Lindley and the Robert Cray Band among the stars who graced the stage, along with countless local bands. Six Rivers Brewery used it for a northern outpost for a while in the ’90s, but it was never quite the same.

Those who remember the OTB&G are invited to gather on Two Street by whatever remains of the building at noon on Sunday, Jan. 24, for a toast to days gone by. Later that same day there will be a memorial for the late Sean Bohannon, who served as Oatbag soundman in the crucial decade. That potluck musical sendoff takes place at 3 p.m. at the Bayside Grange.

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