Let me start by sending a shout out to the staff at New Times for publishing a new annual journal called "Sound Check", completely devoted to the live music scene in the county. Great work by Glen Starkey and crew. He's the man.
Essentially a reference guide, it lists, among other information, 213 working bands in the area.
Two Hundred and Thirteen. Looks like a big number even spelled out.
And that is not all of them. I know, because Funk:30 somehow missed the memo...and I know of a number of other groups that also did not get listed. So, what if we said there were another 50 bands that also didn't make this edition? And these are working bands. Who knows how many more garage/basement/jam bands are practicing right now out there. And it doesn't include touring bands that come through the area. Let's put it in perspective.
As of 2008, there were around 270,000 residents in San Luis Obispo County. Quick math therefore tells us that there is a band for about every 1010 people. While I don't have other county statistics to measure that against, I have to think that is a very high ratio.
And the diversity is incredible - you can hear just about anything you want in terms of music genre if you look hard enough.
We love our live music on the central coast, yeah?
Towards the end of the summer season, I tried to see as many live acts as was reasonable. Now, over the years I am have seen many local bands, but in this case I made a dedicated effort to see bands I had heard about but not yet experienced. I'm up to something like 25 bands so far, with my biggest night reaching seven in a single evening. So...I am barely 10% through the list...oh man...
I saw blues bands, an 80s disco band, some nice lounge acts, a band devoted to swing, funk/soul performances, a handful of cross genre cover bands, hard rock cover bands, world/latin music bands, a band focused on mountain/bluegrass, all-original bands trying to make the big time, and a few that defy classic definition. All were at the least OK, some pretty good, and a few quite exceptional.
And that was in the first 25.
What a treat, SLO County, let's enjoy it, and continue to support the live music scene. Another reason to love the Central Coast.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Groovin' in the Garden
Well exceeding expectations, our Grover Beach Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series gig went really well. Weather turned out just about perfect, better attendance than we had anticipated, killer sound...we couldn't have asked for more.
We want to thank the city for having us out. Everybody was very nice and supportive. Big props to Rich Rolson and Tony who took care of the sound system. These guys are great - professional, helpful, anticipated our needs, and got us going quickly. Poor old Rich, though - I am all over the place with my guitar volume, sometimes real loud, sometimes real quiet, sometimes clean, sometimes distorted...and I am sure I kept Rich guessing all day!
Most of all, we want to thanks those who came out to enjoy the afternoon. We were blown away with the reception we were given, and very humbled by it. I can add with certainty that we hope we get a chance to do it again next summer, if they'll have us.
On behalf of Funk:30,
Terry
We want to thank the city for having us out. Everybody was very nice and supportive. Big props to Rich Rolson and Tony who took care of the sound system. These guys are great - professional, helpful, anticipated our needs, and got us going quickly. Poor old Rich, though - I am all over the place with my guitar volume, sometimes real loud, sometimes real quiet, sometimes clean, sometimes distorted...and I am sure I kept Rich guessing all day!
Most of all, we want to thanks those who came out to enjoy the afternoon. We were blown away with the reception we were given, and very humbled by it. I can add with certainty that we hope we get a chance to do it again next summer, if they'll have us.
On behalf of Funk:30,
Terry
Saturday, March 21, 2009
It oughta be illegal...fun (and funk) with Terry Lawless
A quick note for those who missed our show at Mr. Ricks March 20:
Seriously, it was such a fun evening. Playing with Terry Lawless, professional musician extraordinaire (check his resume at www.terrylawless.com) - brings out an additional something with the band.
How he finds time to sit in with us is one of the universe's most mysterious questions, but we won't argue or spend too many brain cells seeking the answer - we know a good thing when we got it, and this is one we got, however sporadically.When you see his resume and "real" job, you'll see what I mean.
So what makes it so much fun? Well, let's start by stating the obvious - he's a terrific musician, great keyboard, sax and flute player, and has a seemingly limitless knowledge of bands, artists, songs, styles....we've yet to trip him up, and we've thrown a few curve balls his way. Example: Diana Krall's version of I'm Just a Lucky So and So, a Duke Ellington song. He nailed the piano solo first time, never having played it with us. Got the nuances, lifted our version to another level. And this, after he tried to play coy. "I'm really not a piano player..." he said just prior to the performance. uh huh, sure, we believe you. NOT.
So ok, we've established he can play. Let's talk about creativity. Last night, we pulled out our rocked-up version of The Fixx's One Thing Leads to Another. We added a big-heavy-distortion-guitar-boffo-ending to it because, well, I like big-heavy-distortion-guitar-boffo-endings. Last night, we gave Terry the nod to jump in the mayhem and go nuts. He did alright. In a way we would have NEVER expected.
He pulled out his flute.
Suddenly, we got "Jethro Tull meets The Fixx, Funk:30 style". Brilliant! On top of a chugging bass and drums, with a feedback laden guitar adding a wierd chordal background, Terry took off and just nailed it. What I would give for a bootleg recording!
But you know what? All of this is great and fine. What REALLY sets TL (as we affectionately call him) apart is so simple:
He's just a good guy. Full of humor. Full of support. Always open, sincere, and helpful. He is, in the truest sense, a pleasure to be around. We are better players, and better people, for having hung out with him in the limited time we have had.
If you get a chance to check him out either with other local bands (he sits in with a couple others, too), or hear his contributions with bands in the Major Leagues of Rock n Roll, do it. You won't be disappointed.
YA BLEW IT!
Seriously, it was such a fun evening. Playing with Terry Lawless, professional musician extraordinaire (check his resume at www.terrylawless.com) - brings out an additional something with the band.
How he finds time to sit in with us is one of the universe's most mysterious questions, but we won't argue or spend too many brain cells seeking the answer - we know a good thing when we got it, and this is one we got, however sporadically.When you see his resume and "real" job, you'll see what I mean.
So what makes it so much fun? Well, let's start by stating the obvious - he's a terrific musician, great keyboard, sax and flute player, and has a seemingly limitless knowledge of bands, artists, songs, styles....we've yet to trip him up, and we've thrown a few curve balls his way. Example: Diana Krall's version of I'm Just a Lucky So and So, a Duke Ellington song. He nailed the piano solo first time, never having played it with us. Got the nuances, lifted our version to another level. And this, after he tried to play coy. "I'm really not a piano player..." he said just prior to the performance. uh huh, sure, we believe you. NOT.
So ok, we've established he can play. Let's talk about creativity. Last night, we pulled out our rocked-up version of The Fixx's One Thing Leads to Another. We added a big-heavy-distortion-guitar-boffo-ending to it because, well, I like big-heavy-distortion-guitar-boffo-endings. Last night, we gave Terry the nod to jump in the mayhem and go nuts. He did alright. In a way we would have NEVER expected.
He pulled out his flute.
Suddenly, we got "Jethro Tull meets The Fixx, Funk:30 style". Brilliant! On top of a chugging bass and drums, with a feedback laden guitar adding a wierd chordal background, Terry took off and just nailed it. What I would give for a bootleg recording!
But you know what? All of this is great and fine. What REALLY sets TL (as we affectionately call him) apart is so simple:
He's just a good guy. Full of humor. Full of support. Always open, sincere, and helpful. He is, in the truest sense, a pleasure to be around. We are better players, and better people, for having hung out with him in the limited time we have had.
If you get a chance to check him out either with other local bands (he sits in with a couple others, too), or hear his contributions with bands in the Major Leagues of Rock n Roll, do it. You won't be disappointed.
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