Gates of Eden Band Celebrated July 1

Co-host with the most Frank Goulart*

A fine time was had by all at the 20th Annual Gates of Eden Reunion Party on Sunday July 1 in Hayward, California. The five bands were excellent, the food was copious and delicious, there was plenty of Bud in the cooler. It was hard to believe that Gates of Eden was 44 years old.

I wasn't there in 1968 when the band was formed, but some of those attending--and playing--were. I would have liked to play with them back then, I was a high school sophomore in Concord, 25 miles away. The spirit of the 1960s--and the love of playing music together--lives on.

I've been so lucky to be part of this group of enthusiasts over the last few years and this annual private party is a summer highlight.

Herd of Cats (photo courtesy Chuck Yolland)

There were five bands, all different, all worth hearing. First up was Herd of Cats, which delivered a fine sound of "Straight ahead Jazz with a touch of funk" (per their business card). It was the only group to feature an upright bass and a saxophone. The same gleaming set of drums kept rhythm behind the Cats and everyone else all day. Some fine solo work on the sax, guitar and keyboard, and a great way to get the afternoon moving.

Next, came the first official appearance of the Sycamore 129 Blues Band, the largest ensemble of the day. I think I counted nine of us. I'm the guy in the red shirt playing the bass and loving it. The band jams monthly at the Sycamore 129 Odd Fellows Lodge, hence the name. With an upcoming public performance on August 12, everyone wanted an outing in front of a sympathetic, receptive audience, and we got it. We have male and female singers, guitars, bass, keyboard, drums, harmonica and lots of smiles. Sorry there are no photos of our beautiful female singer, Geri.

Another part of Sycamore 129 Blues Band*

One part of Sycamore 129 Blues Band*

In the middle of the show came Roctapus. The four-man band pumped out solid rock--all but one song an original. The musical quality made them seem like songs you would have heard somewhere... "Was that a Dead song?" I asked myself. I was shadowing Frank, who had a nice fat bass sound coming from his two big cabinets, which contained four 10's and one 15, from the looks of it. Some flawless rhythm from guitar and drums and guitar solos that evoked Garcia and Santana, to these ears.

The great sounds kept happening with the Blues Bottle Band. I've heard these guys several other times and they are a very tight unit, honed from working in clubs and getting folks up to dance. These guys delivered on the three-part harmonies along with rockin' and groovin' to some well known winners. They did Motown, Doo wop, and later rock classics. All of the musicianship was impeccable and moving, and Dave Chimpky's solos were even more astounding than usual. It was heaven.

Roctapus*

But wait, there's more. Last, but not at all least, the local favorites the Diehards came up and knocked everyone's ears for a loop with their sensational versions of beloved favorites. They can do the Beatles' Nowhere Man and then turn around and do a credible job of Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon. Much more than a living juke box, they put real spirit into the performance, playing most of the familiar riffs but making each piece their own. At the end, they led us all in a friendly and slightly ecstatic singalong of California Dreamin'.

What a fine day.

Blues Bottle Band*

 Big thanks to Frank and Julie for hosting this great event again! We got pretty good weather, too--nobody roasted this year. Thanks to everyone who came to hear the performers, too. It's always more fun when there's an audience.
 


*All photos, except for Herd of Cats, courtesy of Wendell Beaudrow.

The Diehards*

Hayward Municipal Band - a Community and Family Tradition

Besides the sign, it looked like this 2008 photo today.

What could be better than a fine summer afternoon spent hearing live music in the park--for free? The Hayward (California) Municipal Band has been delivering the goods since 1957! I enjoyed their concert today sitting outside on a perfect 70-degree day.

The band, nattily attired in their match powder blue coats with pocket patch and caps and contrasting black trousers, sat in the Tony Morelli Bandstand and played a pleasing variety of music. Ably conducted by Kathy Meier, and emceed by her brother, Mark Morelli, the show kept the folks on the grassy fields happy. Tony Morelli, for whom the bandstand is named, directed the band from almost the beginning (1960), and when he died the baton was passed to his daughter, Kathy (Meier). She has been with the group since the age of three, when she started passing out programs--and joined as a flutist at 15.


Today's show, as always, began with the National Anthem. We are used to hearing someone sing it at the ballpark, but done by an excellent instrumental ensemble it gives me goosebumps--kind of thrilling! Small American and California flags were displayed appropriately on the bandstand.

The show was programmed to not stay too long on one particular kind of music, so it then transitioned to an uptempo Spanish march, Amparito Roca. Next, the mood shifted again to a more standard classical work, the Finale from Dvorak's New World Symphony. This is a favorite classical music piece that is probably somewhat familiar to many people who are not classical music "fans."

Osser' Beguine Again (a pun) brought more Latin rhythms to the bandstand, contrasting nicely with Ralph Vaughn Williams' Sine Nomine--an uplifting hymn. This piece had a nice xylophone part in it, and while it started out in a sharply defined four-to-the bar structure, it softened as it progressed--a satisfying transition.

Outdoor concerts are not like indoor performances. Here' you're going to hear birds chirping (they seemed to favor certain pieces and parts thereof) and an occasional baby crying. Because it's a picnic, my sensitive ears picked up the crinkle of a chip bag a few times, and at one point dogs started yapping at each other behind me. There were some conversations, too, but it wasn't really a problem.

The first half included the Cheerio March, which featured an audience participation section (LA LA LA first and then whistling in the second). I participated in the first, since I can't whistle proficiently.

No Man is an Island, 16th-Century poet John Donne's words put to music, provided a showcase for band Manager Lolita Morelli, wife of Tony and mother to Kathy and Mark, to sing for us. She also added California Here I Come, which I think is a crowd favorite. A medley from Camelot, including Camelot, Follow Me and If Ever I Should Leave You, preceded the intermission.

I got a chance to meet and talk with Lolita and Kathy during the intermission break. It's easy to see their great enthusiasm for the band.

The second half got everyone moving with the stirring Drums of America, which gave the percussionists a chance to shine. Then came music from Wildcat, a broadway play from 1960 that starred Lucille Ball in the original New York production. Then, an interesting piece--John Philip Sousa's 1912 With Pleasure, that had a ragtime feel rather than a march beat. I didn't know he wrote those.

When I was attending the Castro Valley Community Band concert last week (also conducted by Kathy Meier), they did a medley of Chicago songs (the group, not the city) that knocked my socks off. This show, it was a medley of John Denver tunes, including Leaving on a Jet Plane, Country Roads, and Rocky Mountain High. The musicians' skill playing this piece demonstrated their mastery of different styles, as this had nothing to do with a march or a Latin style composition. My only wish was that the medley had included the bridge from Country Roads, but in a medley, you have to stick with the main themes, and those were clearly delineated.

Where to go next to show their versatility? It was Gershwin. The group got the syncopated Jazz feeling exactly right, doing what was one of the highlights of the afternoon for me. So much of the work of Mr. Gershwin is part of the American musical consciousness--and the band really did it justice here, with Sentimental Rhythm, I've Got Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me, and more.

OK, it was a band concert on a Sunday afternoon in the park, so what better way to conclude the show but to return to basics with the always popular The Stars and Stripes Forever. It bookended the show nicely with the National Anthem up front, and got everyone clapping along.

This concert is part of a series provided by the City of Hayward in conjunction with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. It started last week and runs through July 24th--each one on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Hayward's Memorial Park. Admission is free, so you can bring a picnic (no alcohol) and have a great time. Check the band's blog for an advance look at the program.

Happy to Play the Blues

I just played bass this afternoon with some talented musicians at Gary Lamb's monthly Blues Jam at the Bistro in Hayward. It was my first time playing there--I've enjoyed listening and drinking good beers on tap before but had never ascended to the small stage.

I must admit I was just a little nervous, since it was a new thing for me, but I didn't really feel unprepared, either. They called out the key and I just jumped in. This was a rite of passage, in a way, because I played with people I'd never met and was able to fit in and sound good. That's a milestone in a bass-playing career that started only nine years ago.

It's not that difficult to play the Blues bass--if you're had some practice. I've been hanging with my buds (dawgs) lately, putting together a show for August 12th, and I think my blues playing has definitely moved up a notch. It's ironic, though. The Blues are about pain and suffering but playing them is such bliss.

The lead guitarists I played with--and listened to later--were amazingly good. That's where the real mind-blowing performances come from. And the bassist who followed me,Vic, was incredible. I took notes--and he was friendly afterwards as we compared bass tattoos. He got terrific sound from his 1964 Fender Precision. We had fine drummers and harmonica wizards as well.

I'll be heading on over there next month to do it again!

Hayward California Murals Astound--Again

Andrew Kong Knight is at it again. After months of meticulous work, the scaffolds have come down and the new "Hayward Meets Hollywood" murals are now on display. Each stunning mural is approximately 30' by 50' in scale and features original designs based on vintage art deco motifs and architecture.

I previously mentioned other murals in Hayward. The city seems to have a real mission in beautifying itself. The next thing is a major new road and traffic project that has been tying up the intersection at Mission and Jackson Streets but will ease congestion when it's done. After that, it would be great to fill in the empty storefronts along Foothill Blvd. A city's work is never done, especially in hard economic times.

For those of you who are not locals, just enjoy the photos.

Frequent Flyers, OneFishTwoFish Rock the Bistro

I was feeling restless last night, so I decided to swing by The Bistro in downtown Hayward (California) for some musical entertainment. I've been there before--it's an intimate, yet roomy venue in the corner of a century-old building, with a long bar along the left side and room outside for talkers (and smokers) to hang out.

The Frequent Flyers opened with a rousing set. Mike Meagher provided a thumping, mobile bass bottom for the other three, which included Dave Peterson on guitar, Matt Albarico on drums, and some sweet saxophone and vocals from Dale (including a soulful rendering of "Ain't No Sunshine." Dave's guitar work was complex, and sensitively rendered--you could hear every note. Matt, who apparently had not played with this group before, put down the solid time you need--and to these ears, didn't miss a beat.

While the songs varied, what I came away remembering was a set-ending rendition of the Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows. As guitarist Peterson told me after, they used the "good skeleton" of the song and made it their own. Nice.

After a break, OneFishTwofFish came up and started their set. This had a very different feel, particularly because they were just a duo--John Ojeda on guitar and Pat Fleming on drums. Based on the name on the drumhead, the kit was Fleming's that both bands used, and he really worked his way around it. With no bassist, the sound seemed a little thin, but the incredible tone and dexterity of Ojeda's work (and vocals) kept the audience's interest (it was a full house by then) and with no help with the rhythm, Fleming really showed his chops. To my ears, the selections flowed together, but it was a satisfying set.

The Bistro is a great place to hear live music every day. Kevin the bartender was a whirlwind, serving the entire house on his own. I enjoyed two pints of Deschutes Hop in the Dark. There is always a variety of beer to choose from. Today--August 6, 2011, The Bistro will have its 14th Annual IPA Festival (featuring the Giant Garage Spiders!!), so if you're in the vicinity it should be well worth showing up.

Murals Beautify Hayward

Hayward, California has made a commitment to improving itself with some sensational murals in its Mural Art Program.

Besides the gorgeous one shown at left, the largest one in town is Andrew Kong Knight's 3,500-square-foot "Gateway to Hayward" just a block away. It portrays Hayward as it would possibly have looked before all the people and their buildings moved in.

There are many more beautiful works of wall art around town.