Bandlands
  August 23, 2005
 The Claddagh Band and the Smyrna Time Machine...
 You should have been there..!
 A lot of people should have been there. 

  The Smyrna Time Machine what the heck kind of music is this, Guy?
Well... it is Greek with a lot of Mid East namely Turkish influences and it is called rebetika and it is a specific 20th century phenomenon style of music.. it's been called Greek Blues though don't expect anything Delta style.

  For a little while I was scratching my head wondering what I was doing now with this esoteric band that frankly sounded well ..Greek to me.. but as the day moved along & once Rachel finally showed up and got comfortable on stage and her voice took over they just grooved. I enjoyed the band and as I have been told it is essentially trance music and I need to hear them at a club where everything is more relaxed actually the whole day was very mellow almost trance like in a splendid August weather perfect temperatures mid 80s.. There were a lot of Smyrna Time Machine fans in attendance more than I would have guessed.

   Thanks to Chrome fan Nico for some dancing up there on the hill.. Jana (Eco-Farm friend) who drove all the way down from Santa Rosa and just missed the band.. thanks for the dancing on the lawn to Jack's guitar.

   Let's hear it for Paul Wernick playing that little whatchamacallit, bouzouki Paul of the silver long hair is a taxi cab dispatcher in this here county.. More More More... we demand an encore!

Stay tune for a video clip...



 The Claddagh Band. For Kevin I wanted at least a thousand people in the Park but that wasn't to be, one of my favorite performers.

 Another fine performance another fine gathering of his musical friends that come and go in his bands over the years. With Grant Walters from a bit south of here El Granada, a man of Hawaiian Irish mix on Harmonica, Paul Olguin a Cuban American who currently also plays with the Shana Morrison Band , John Haverd on guitar a member of the East Bay band of High renown and low-profile 'The Natives'.. Kevin tells me that 'The Natives' were the first band in the US he ever heard (how long ago Kevin 20 years?) he also tells me they are a fantastic band. Worth searching out, John's strong guitar throughout the show was a fine accompaniment to the Fire of Kevin's soulful lyrics and no I don't agree with one of the SA Art Commissioners remark that Kevin has a better voice than Van Morrison's however Kevin does stand shoulder to shoulder with Van in my eyes carrying the genius of Irish soul and spirit into our world.
Also let me bring your attention to Kevin's guitar playing which might fall beneath your radar but just because he's up there strumming that acoustic so easy and effortless doesn't mean that he isn't one very fine rhythm guitarist. 

   Hey Jack Irving thanks for that mellow interlude between the set change Jack did some original instrumentals on Acoustic guitar that were really sweet//.. it was a fine sight to see the Greek Dancers doing their strange little 4step or whatever as they drifted all over the grass like some drifting cloud on a nice summer day to the sounds of the guitar all in all... Sweet day.

 

Thats
John Haverd,
Paul Olguin,
Kevin Brennan,
Grant Walters

the Claddagh Band
 '..smokin' by the Creekside.. in the country, in the summertime in California..'

yes they were..
 Smokin...!

     Here is a nice tribute to Van Kevin put together.
      'Dweller on the Threshhold'

  

  


   
   
                            


  feel free to say hello at anytime guy@lifesignsphoto.com

 
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