John Ludington is generally known in the area as one of our more versatile bassists and singers, providing rhythm and back-up for Canary and the Vamp, or holding it down as one quarter of Absynth Quartet, our beloved oddball jam act, so you know right from the jump here he’s got chops. However, what you […]
Absynth Quartet
Posted inMusic
Pomp and Circumstance
It’s graduation time again at Cal Poly Humboldt and due to the circumstances of our times, as well as the stupid pomposity of the University’s president and his enablers, grads will be walking just about everywhere around the county except for on the campus. I don’t have much to say about that beyond what I […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Bigfoot Daze in Willow Creek this Saturday
Celebrate the Notorious BIG (foot, that is) at Bigfoot Daze, Saturday, July 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Willow Creek (free admission). The 61st annual family-friendly festival offers a downtown parade and a slew of activities at Veterans Park, including food and vendor booths, a horseshoe tournament, ice cream social, Bigfoot calling contest, watermelon […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Music Tonight: Friday, March 17
As I have mentioned here before, I am not a fan of this holiday, mostly celebrated in this country by mixing two of our less savory national pastimes: binge drinking and lying (in this case, about being Irish). Blame it on my former life as a bartender, I have a reflexive revulsion for this green […]
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In Bloom
I remember describing irony in a high school English class as something that fundamentally deals with opposites. I was looking down when I said it, having at the time not yet developed any of the obnoxious confidence that I am now unfortunately surging with. One girl in the class took my downward gaze as evidence […]
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Night Riders
It’s Virgo season, which, for an astrology heretic like myself, basically means “smokey summer/early fall.” Last weekend was also my baby brother’s b-day, so many happy returns, dear Tyler. This is a time of year when I like to take long evening drives out to nowhere, playing music loudly, with the windows open because, for […]
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Vaya con Dios
One aspect of this gig that I haven’t relished over the years is reporting when another member of the Humboldt music scene has passed away. I try to keep things light here (mostly) and there is generally nothing light about death, particularly the death of an artist. And despite my own especially mordant sense of […]
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Once More, with Feeling
All right, here we go again. We’ve got a lull in the pandemic wave action and, for better or for worse, live music is being made with a few minor protective caveats. I hope the COVID-19 Joint Information Center shutting its doors on April Fool’s Day is not an augury of human folly, and I […]
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PG&E WTF
I’m hastily typing this out a few days earlier than usual because I’m trying to beat the clock on PG&E’s incoming Saturday power austerity, which I am sure you will have all been heartily inconvenienced by as of press time. I’d like to say that this sort of thing is unexpected and will likely be […]
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Some Things Last A Long Time
Last week two very different musical geniuses passed away. Ric Ocasek was a hook-writer like no other before or since, and was the mind behind The Cars, as well as a talented producer behind the boards. Daniel Johnston was a lo-fi music collage artist who suffered openly and tremendously from various mental health issues for […]
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To an Oasis, Sprinkled by Stars Above
Last week surf rock icon Dick Dale died. I saw him live twice and was deafened by his massive and beautiful sound both times. Unfortunately, I saw Mr. Dale’s shows because he was forced to tour into his old age and until his death due to medical bills. Dick Dale’s experience was just one example […]
Posted inMusic
Anniversaries
One of the promises I made at the end of December was to spend the coming year with less of a dense layer between myself and you the reader. I have heard from some of you — and I thank you all for the feedback. As I have mentioned here before, I was a resident […]