The Itchy Mountain Men Go Goth at St. Hilary's in Tiburon, Friday November 9, 2007

The Itchy Mountain Men will be performing at Old St. Hilary’s just up the hill from down town Tiburon. One of the few Carpenter Gothic churches to survive in its original setting, St. Hilary’s was built in 1888 to serve railroad families. A cool old hall to hear some great mountain music!

The pre-show will include Molly Tuttle, who is 16, and has just started attending Palo Alto High, has a haunting sound. Molly will be performing with her two younger brothers, Michael and Sullivan.

See: http://www.jacktuttle.com/Molly/index.html or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6j7Bn6ENYo

This show is planned, produced, performed, and promoted largely by the teenage performers, but is sure to be entertaining for all ages.

Doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets at $8 for youth (18 and under) $10 for adults before the show, and $15/$20 at the door. St. Hillary’s is at 201 Esperanza in Tiburon. There is a shuttle from the Boardwalk in downtown Tiburon to Old St. Hilary’s.

More information on the show can be found at www.itchymountainmen.com

Join the Happy Clams at the Sixth Annual Murder Ballads Bash Saturday, October 27th

In the words of Paul Pot …“A classic, American event featuring songs of murder, death, and despair”. Get macabre early this Halloween season with the Happy Clams at the Starry Plough in Berkeley! This is a one-of-a-kind event and will surely put you into the spirit of the season for only 8 bux! If you haven’t been before, it’s a very fun show… come check it out. Hey, Harlan alone is probably worth the price of admission (diaper or not). Paul sez the band will perform at 11:45 for those on a tight schedule.

Starry Plough Sixth Annual Murder Ballads Bash
3101 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley, CA
Saturday, October 27th at 9pm

Featuring:

Bob Harp
The Hollyhocks
The Daisy Pushers (Joni Davis and Val Esway)
The Peculiar Pretzelmen
Junior Showmanship
Loretta Lynch
Joe Rut
Ash Reiter
The Happy Clams
5 Cent Coffee
Harlan Hollander
Geoff Pond
... and mc'd by the Spider-Ridden Woman

Unreal Band CD Release and Pat Quinn Tribute at the Ashkenaz Saturday, October 20

Almost thirty years ago, a guy heard a band practicing in a room they had rented in the back of his club. Blown away by what he was hearing, he declared that the band was far too good to not be playing gigs and he booked them to play an upcoming night. Well.....the guy was Dave Nadel.....the club was The Ashkenaz.....and the band....well they didn't have a name yet, but there was this one word that seemed to keep coming up...........

Three decades later, The Unreal Band is (finally) releasing their first CD "Asphalt Dream." And the release party is taking place where it all began.....at The Ashkenaz Club this coming Saturday Night, October 20th at 9pm. The Ashkenaz is located at 1317 San Pablo Anvenue in Berkeley. The night falls one year to the day of Pat ("Irish") Quinn's exit on the sunset and a musical tribute in his honor is on the agenda with some special guest performers.

And if THAT is not enough, GRAPEFRUIT ED is going to kick things off. Chuck Rosene, Steve Ellis and Sam Johnston will be puttin' in some overtime. They'll join Pat Nevins and Stu Allen for some "citrus flavored tunes for the soul" before getting Unreal with Gary Robinson, Ron Kresch, Clayton Call and Fred Weed.

And if THAT is not enough, the emcee for the evening's festivities will be none other that the divine dodo himself, WAVY GRAVY !!!!!!!! Sooooo......we are calling all Hogs, Buffaloes, Muffineers, Avenueites, all characters savory and unsavory......and anyone who has ever been Unreal....to join us in a celebration of thirty years of Rock and Roll.

And if THAT is not enough we are going to give a complementary copy of Asphalt Dream to all paying attendees. (CD giveaway will take place after the first set of Unreal).

$13 at the door ($10 for students with ID).

Check It Out, Muffin Music In Rock-tober!

Captain Mike and the “Seaweeds”, Saturday, October 6, 11AM – 4PM, Oceans Fest, Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Headquarters, Crissy Field, San Francisco. Mike sez come out to celebrate our Marine Sanctuaries and enjoy lots of fine food, wine and some great blues! Also THE spot to check out the Blue Angels!

For more info: http://farallones.org/events/oceanfest.php

The “Original” Happy Clams, Sunday, October 14, 5PM at the Stork Club, Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. Come celebrate the return of Gail Todd to the Clams! Besides, it’s “Brick Day”. Check out the lineup and a BBQ to boot.

For more info: http://www.storkcluboakland.com/

The Unreal Band, Saturday, October 20, Ashkenaz, San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley. This will be a one year tribute performance in memory of Pat “Irish” Quinn. Should be a great show at this sweet old venue.

For more info: http://www.ashkenaz.com/

Muffin "Fall Fest" Was A Blast - Thanks To Everyone!

Muffin’s first “Fall Fest” started with an incredible thunder and lightning show complete with downpour on Friday night. Fortunately we had a good hot fire going before it started and the rain only lasted a hour or so. While the fire warmed our outards, a few rounds of Lou’s Wild Turkey warmed our innards. Paul, Doug and Coolius put together an impromptu performance that had everyone in stitches. Some say the round of fireworks finished off the storm because by midnight the sky was perfectly clear and the moon lit up the whole place.

Saturday was a beaut! Crisp fall weather returned and the Cavepainters and a few other stragglers rolled in. Chris, Michelle, Bill and Larry warmed up the shoe pits in the early afternoon. Elin’s rain delayed Louisiana bug boil went on to major fanfare in the late afternoon along with an incredible salad, rice and beans, cowboy enchiladas and some aioli sauce that was to die for. Even Ed made an appearance to sample the fine fare. The fire was stoked up and loaded with a fresh pile of oak while Rick, Ed, Steve, Laurie and Matt cranked up all the Cavepaint faves as darkness flooded in. Doug pitched in with some of his more colorful Jomo classics while Greg, Gary and the Fire Marshall battled over a major conflagration that had everyone seeing colors. Paul dug out some classics and Clam favorites from his tune bag to round out the evening. Matt capped things off with a heart wrenching return to the 70's. Quite a "pick" fest it was.

Dina and Jen got things rolling on Sunday with a fabulous brunch of eggs, sausage, pototoes and banana breads. Most had packed up by noon and were headed out. A jar was passed around for “Duane’s recovery fund” that netted around $600. I’m sure Duane’s family will be grateful for the assistance. Some folks went by to visit Duane in Marysville on the way in or the way out. He seems to be improving and hopefully will be able to go home soon. It’s been a long haul but looks hopeful at this point.

Thanks to everyone who made the trip up (and those that tried). A great time was had by all! If anyone has pictures, send ‘em in and I’ll post ‘em.