Saturday September 17, 2011
Sun Kings Benefit Concert Raises $5,730 for AEF
Backed by a great crowd and spectacular weather, the Sun Kings concert hosted by the Harbor Bay Club (HBC) on July 3rd raised $5,730 for the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) to support music and arts in Alameda's public schools through the All Together Now mission. The food and beverages, all provided by local restaurants and vendors, were great and the Sun Kings were firing on all cylinders; the last choruses to Hey Jude, as people danced on the lawn against a beautiful sunset on a rare balmy Alameda evening, capped a truly special day at HBC. A big THANK YOU to all attendees and online raffle purchasers for their help in supporting a truly vital community cause. Special thanks to Kathy Moehring, who emceed the event, Bruce Knopf for his fire-eating performance, and everyone behind All Together Now: AEF, Drew Harrison, Peter Fletcher and the Alameda Association of Realtors.
Congratulations to all of the winners of the All Together Now raffle which included $5,400 worth of prizes donated by HBC a one-year family tennis membership grand prize worth over $4,200. And a special thank you to our generous sponsors and vendors: R&B Cellars, Pyramid Brewery, Otaez Mexican Restaurant, Aroma, Angela's Bistro, Shay's Café, Dragon Rouge, Jamba Juice, Alameda Magazine and SanMan Productions.
For photos of the event visit Harbor Bay Club's Facebook Page
For more information about the event click here.
Tuesday August 2, 2011
Happy Birthday Peter!!
August continues our summer in motion. This Friday we'll be returning to visit our Felton friends at Don Quixotes for an evening of fun and frolic Beatles style. Next week brings two visits to the peninsula for outdoor concerts in Menlo Park Wed. 8/10 and Palo Alto Sat. 8/12. In between them we make a repeat visit to Alamo for their concert series as well. Here's hoping your summer still has its groove on and may the dog days of August not be too ruff on you. See you soon!
Sunday July 10, 2011
Happy Birthday Drew!!
Even after all these years together we will occasionally put out a show that for us is indelibly memorable. Such was the case last night in Rio Nido when the magic was so strong that nobody wanted it to end. We think everyone in the audience knew it was so... we certainly did. Pulling out all the stops for a marathon 4 1/2 hours of playing, we hit close to 70 songs, including an entire birthday set devoted to Ringo, the man who put the beat in Beatles. Though Steve had never sung so many consecutive songs in his life, he handled it with utter aplomb and the crowd was most appreciative of his efforts. Brad, the owner of the Rio Nido Roadhouse, took to the stage close to the 4 hour mark to declare that 'Nobody shuts down the Beatles' and off we went for another 45 minutes. Thanks to everyone who was there to share in it and we hope you got your money's worth. Throughout the evening we looked at each other on stage with the same thought. "This is the greatest job in the world and I've got some damned talented bandmates". We finished the evening thoroughly and delightedly fatigued, but of course will be back next weekend for 3 days of shows that will take us from Stockton to Santa Rosa to San Anselmo. Looking forward to seeing you there and we appreciate you allowing us to keep doing what we love so much.
Monday May 30, 2011
A big thank you to our fans who let us show our appreciation and influenced our set list, braving wind and winged avengers to remind us why we love doing this so much. We hope the afternoon was a small measure of how much we treasure your support and that you all got to hear some personal Beatles favorites. Summer's gearing up and we'll be appearing a bit more often over the next few months, with more to report soon. Next stop, a noon time concert in downtown Oakland this Wednesday June 1. Let's do lunch.
Saturday February 12, 2011
Happy Birthday Bill!
That's really all we have to report other than that everyone is enjoying the time off but counting the days until we're back in the saddle again. See you in 27 days at Bimbos!
Sunday January 23, 2011
Happy Birthday Steve!!
Our birthday gift to him are some new dates added to the calendar, reminding us that our winter break will eventually end. Recharging through February, we return with a splash to San Francisco and a date at Bimbo's with Super Diamond on Fri. March 11. After that, it's like we never left. For now, we're all making good use of our time and looking ahead to spring. We remember Autumn 1966, when the Beatles took two months off after four years of togetherness and tours, then regrouped with a wealth of new individual experiences and created one of the finest albums of all time. Yay for vacations!
Wednesday December 15, 2010
Happy Birthday Jen!!
Sunday November 14, 2010
A large and gracious thank you to the friends and neighbors who attended Friday's "All Together Now" benefit and helped to make it a roaring success. It could not have happened without your participation and generosity. Many of our community's movers and shakers, from mayor-elect Marie Gilmore and City Council members to business and chamber of commerce leaders attended and gave it their stamp of approval, making it so much more than just another concert. The energy on the dance floor was palpable from first song to last and we hope that we hit all your favorite Beatles songs. Alameda should feel proud of this accomplishment. We certainly feel proud of our town. Thanks again and we'll see you soon.
Wednesday November 3, 2010
Happy Birthday Michael!!
With an incredibly busy summer receding behind us, there's still a few chances this year to catch the band in a new venue or two. This Saturday Nov. 6, we roll up to the West Side Theatre in Newman, CA for the first time and an 8 PM show. Next Friday Nov. 12, local boys try and make good for their hometown schools as part of All Together Now. Here's an article with more descriptives on the show and its cause, from the current issue of Alameda Magazine. See you there.
Monday August 2, 2010
Happy Birthday Peter!!
Monday July 26, 2010
Many thanks to the many friends and neighbors who came to cheer us on at yesterday's Park Street festival. Your presence was much appreciated and you were all in such good form! There's nothing like playing for the hometown crowd and talking with all the friends who knew us long before we were Sun Kings. We look forward to seeing everybody again in November for the 'All Together Now' show, helping in our meaningful pursuit of providing resources to sustain Art, Music and Drama education for our town's schools. It will be a great time for a worthy cause, but if you would like to see us again sooner than November, why that's quite alright too. There will be a number of opportunities. Thanks again Alameda. You rock!
Saturday July 10, 2010
Happy Birthday Drew!!
Monday July 5, 2010
As weekends go it was a long one, even for a long weekend. Saturday we spent the day and night providing music and cheer for Dean and Camellia's wedding and a grand gathering of their friends and families. It was a lovely affair in a splendid locale for two wonderful people. All the best to you both. Yesterday we took part in Alameda's 4th of July parade and got to greet the entire town over the course of a few fast paced hours. Thank you friends and neighbors for your lovely comments and support as we worked the sides of the streets. We're proud to be citizens of this town and are looking forward to our shows later in July and especially in November. For now, a day of rest is in order, going forward this week just gets busier. Somewhere in between the four shows in four days, some of us will be catching another show put on by one Sir Paul McCartney, who returns to play San Francisco for the first time since 1966. Yeah, yeah, yeah!!
Tuesday June 29, 2010
June just kept getting better, whether it was singing with the kids at San Ramon's Day on the Green, Enjoying a beautiful warm evening in Roseville or perhaps most of all, kicking off the Summer of Zin in Healdsburg. Our thanks go out to those of you who attended and our most gracious hosts at Dry Creek Vineyard. They had put a lot of thought and love into this event, and even had a couple of wine packs, the Fab Four and the White Album to match the occasion. Check it out, very classy! With July drawing near, our summer is about to break wide open with our annual Here, There and Everywhere tour. We look forward to seeing you all in the great outdoors again soon.
Thursday April 15, 2010
One look forward, one look back. Forward to this Saturday and a return to Rancho Nicasio, which always makes us say Yeah Yeah Yeah! One look back to last Valentine's Day and an Uptown kind of birthday party for Tina, who kindly posted pictures of the merriment here. For the present, we're glad to be spending our weekends on the streets again. See you on one of them soon.
Monday April 12, 2010
Another big thank you to Grass Valley and the surprising number of people who helped make our debut at the Center for the Arts a resounding success. In addition to the old friends and familiar faces seen, we met and said hello to many new ones. The staff was friendly and looked after our comfort, Mikail ran sound like the pro he is and the good feelings in the room were tangible throughout. Such is the magic of Beatles music. We had a beautiful stay and hope to be back again soon. In the meantime, we have another theatre experience coming up on Saturday April 24 at the fabulous El Campanil in Antioch. We'll look for you again there.
Sunday March 28, 2010
Our return to show season was marked by a pair of debut venues and a single chest cold that rapidly deteriorated into laryngitis on Saturday. We thank all our fans old and new that came to hear us and promise greater things to come. Working straight through the good, the bad and the ugly we cycle back to good in plenty of time for our next debut. With a plethora of new Beatles songs to play for you, we bring the show to Grass Valley's Center for the Arts on Saturday April 10. Some of us have a special affinity for that part of California and are delighted to be visiting again. We invite our Sierra Nevada and Sacramento friends to come enjoy a fab evening out with the music we love best and hope to meet you again there.
Friday February 12, 2010
Happy Birthday Bill!!
The band is back from our winter hiatus and ready for the first show of 2010. For three of us it will be awfully close to home and we hope you'll join us tomorrow evening at the Alameda Theatre for Valentine's Rock. In addition to being a neighborhood show, it will be our only public performance this month so bring your sweetheart and your dancing shoes. Once spring hits our schedule begins to fill again, but Valentine's weekend could be our last opportunity to shine this winter. See you there.
Saturday Janurary 23, 2010
Happy Birthday Steve!!
It's usually at around 3 weeks between shows that the desire to play again becomes hard to ignore, but we delay gratification for another couple of weeks, distracting ourselves with life's eddys and flows. And birthdays. Our return to the stage is a hometown affair at the Alameda Theatre to which all are invited. This benefit show for Alameda Hospital, the local Boys & Girls Club and some urgent relief in quake ravaged Haiti takes place Sat. Feb. 13, and is a chance to show some real heart this Valentine's day. We hope you'll join us there.
Saturday January 2, 2010
Happy Twenty Ten to all and a special thanks to the many of you who were at the Claremont to help us Ringo in the new year. The Grand Ballroom was packed with rock and rollers, the dancing was continuous and the energy level was off the scale. We had a thoroughly wonderful time during the concert and for those overnight revelers who made it to the after party, we enjoyed spending the wee hours of the new year with you. We'll have some fond memories to keep us running through January while the band takes some time to pursue some offstage living and charges up for the coming year. We return to the fray on Lincoln's birthday at the State Theatre in Modesto and hope to catch up with you there. From all of us to all of you, here's to a joyous new year!
Tuesday December 15, 2009
Happy Birthday Jen!!
Saturday December 12, 2009
It's with more than a little regret to share the news that the Little Fox Theatre has indeed closed and our show scheduled there next Saturday 12/18 will not take place. If you bought tickets through the box office they will refund your purchase. The band was hoping against hope for a Christmas miracle that might have kept it open another week but it was not to be. We will always have a special place in our hearts for the wee Fox. In 2004 they took a chance on us and each show there seemed to have its own special magic. We rung in the New Years 2007 and 08 there and have so many great memories of fans, packed dance floors co-performers and other acts that we would come to see there. Made some good friends too. The Fox staff was always a pleasure to work with and we wish them the very best. You're a grand old building Foxes deux and we hope you'll be open in your next incarnation soon. The fallout is that for the first time in 9 years we have no pre-Christmas show, so we'll have to make up for that December 26 in Felton. The upcoming New Years Eve at the Claremont is going to be something even more special. In a year of new outfits we're still confident you'll see us as you never have before.
Thursday November 19, 2009
With our last show of the month behind us, there's time to reflect on how much fun that autumn 2009 has been for the band at venues both new and revisited. Our hectic summer schedule plowed into autumn without letup after a fantastic pre-equinox weekend at the Redwood City Music on the Square and the well produced Art & Wine fairs in Lafayette and Santa Clara. Evening, afternoon and morning, the response at each was fantastic and we hope to see you at all of them again next year!
if you've got 'em. October is trick or treat month, but for us it was pure treat. It started at a beautiful old theatre nestled in the Sierra foothills at Sutter Creek, with an intimate setting, warm acoustics and a rainstorm that nobody saw coming. Thanks to the friends new and old who made it to the show and the lovely comments afterward, we had a blast too!
And then there was Beatles Fest West. Gareth (aka Dr. Robert) conceived and executed this big idea, found an acoustically superior venue and pulled together a select international roster of Beatles acts, authors and aficionados. The whole affair was comfortable, classy and for us, close to home. Bands who we had met and admired at festivals further east shared a communal backstage area and a chance to spend time together. Incredible bands, fabulous people, Beatley bonding. The BeaFore from Germany rocked the house with their sheer Hamburg-ness. The Beatrips from Kyoto were amazingly accurate, soulful and charming. They were also the cutest. Canadian friends All You Need is Love were inspiring and probably had the most fun with the music. We headlined the Saturday night show and by then the theatre was making extensive use of the front floor area for dancing. All the bands were at the top of their game and we were delighted to be numbered among them. In addition, Drew and Peter both played nicely received solo acoustic shows, while Michael filled in as All You Need is Love's keyboardist. Bill and Steve were solidly in the groove, Bruce even came to play a song or two with us and the finale with all the bands onstage was spine tingling. In the end, the love made and taken seemed right about equal. Reviews written by Jude Kessler, Katie Hickox, and two from the SF Examiner's Steve Marinucci can be found here and here. We also hear some clips featuring all the bands from the Fest are floating around on YouTube. Seeing you fab festival fans from across the nation again was especially sweet and we look forward to reuniting again next year.
October's last highlight was Halloween in Nicasio. The Beatle song themed costumes were especially creative and our winner was the the 'Let it' Bee. The positive atmosphere at Rancho Nicasio is at times almost supernatural, on this night of magic and spirits 'twas tangibly so.
November's first week could be summed up as a roots romp sandwiched by a pair of benefits, one of them an overdue hometown show with friendly, familiar faces in attendance. After a soft landing at Northgate last weekend, we've flicked off the afterburner for a few weeks to recharge for holiday season. Thanks to everyone who helped extend our summer fun through mid autumn, and especially our friends and fans, new and old who still love this Beatles music so damn much. It's a pleasure to share it with you.
Tuesday November 3, 2009
Happy Birthday Michael!!
No way. We haven't made a post here since August? With so many notable shows come and gone? Oh, how jaded we must seem, though it is definitely not the case. We're sure that those in attendance had fun at some of the outstanding shows like Redwood City, Lafayette, Beatles Fest West and of course, Halloween in Nicasio last Saturday. We're sure because the fun was decidedly mutual on this side of the stage. Looking ahead, we've got a quartet of shows compressed into the first two weeks of November, before taking a break ahead of the holidays. Hometown Alameda welcomes us back this Thursday for a show at Rhythmix Cultural Works, with a return to Pleasanton on Friday, a jaunt down to Santa Clara Saturday and a hit and run in San Rafael the following week. Hope you can make it to one or two of them and that your autumn is going awesomely.
Monday August 24, 2009
Between Friday in Felton and Sunday in San Francisco it was a fabulously
well rounded summer weekend. Always a pleasure at DQ's with their great
sounding room and energetic patrons. After a rare summer Saturday off,
we descended on Union St. for a block party celebration in honor of Perry's 40th annivesary at their original location. We can tell you
that San Francisco is still the city that knows how. Food and fun were
doled out in ample quantities and the aura of festivity we saw from
the stage was downright contagious. Thanks especially to Perry himself,
we can easily see why folks flock to his establishment and we're indebted
to him for treating us like the rock stars we've always wanted to be.
Here's to another 40!
Looking ahead, the soon approaching Labor Day weekend will be
especially so for us when we play three shows within 24 hours in Santa
Rosa, Vacaville and Ripon. Hope to see some of you on the run.
Sunday August 2, 2009
Happy Birthday Peter!!
Mobilized again in time for a jaunt up to the river for a cool evening at the Roadhouse where spirits were high and trees mighty we logged a few extra songs over the course of a long summer twilighter. After a weekend away we return to Menlo Park for their Summer Concert Series on Wed. Aug. 12 and we'll look for you there.
Monday July 20, 2009
Back home yesterday from 3 days in the Sierras, 2 beautifully placed shows and 1 terrifying experience. It began with varying degrees of earliness on Thursday in order to arrive at the shore of Lake Tahoe by mid day. Set in a pine ringed meadow opening to clear vistas at lake's edge, the stage stood less than fifty feet from the water, creating a breathtaking backdrop. The cloudless heat of the day gave way to perfect evening weather for the show and most of the patrons stayed long past dark, which we heard was a rare event indeed. Most of us stayed to enjoy the next day in the area, Saturday's show would be less than ten miles from where we played on Thursday. Peter, who had a date with destiny and domesticity commuted home. Shortly before noon on Saturday we heard from him. He was stranded in Colfax after his Firebird lived up to its name by fireballing on Interstate 80 and burning down nearly to the wheels. He had escaped by the skin of his Beatle boots along with items needed for the gig and little else. A Sun Kings rescue squad was dispatched down the mountain to retrieve our shaken but stoic bassist while the remainder set up the stage. All made it back in time for the show to go on. Which it did. Michael enjoyed seeing his cousin marry a fine fellow and be wedding guest as well as singer. Peter carried on without a hitch, but with the faintest aroma of electrical fire emanating from his boots. John and Yoko took awhile to get to Gibraltar and by the last load out the band vehicle held everything but daylight. The ride home was blessedly uneventful and isn't it nice to be home again. We've got another busy weekend ahead and it's all local. Hope to see you in Fremont, Blackhawk or Burlingame dancing and singing along. Just please don't ask about that charred smell.
Friday July 10, 2009
Happy Birthday Drew!!
Nearly to the mid point of the month, we finally have something resembling a weekend on our hands. Last weeks shows in SF, Livermore and Nicasio were an unbeatable way to pass a holiday weekend--the fireworks were just an added bonus. Thanks to Bob and Angela for always making us feel welcome at Rancho Nicasio and for hosting such a great time after the show. Can't wait for our Halloween return! Last night we were in SF to close out the centennial birthday celebration of the Regency Center and mingle with the glitterati, Chris and Anna foremost among them. Rising this morning unencumbered by hangovers, we note it's the first time this month we have no Friday or Sunday shows, but are sure we'll find something to fill the void. Next week takes us to Tahoe for a grand opening gala to the annual music festival. Our next bay area appearance is in Fremont on July 23 and we'll keep an eye out for you there.
Tuesday June 23, 2009
To answer some inquiries about the Osheroff family benefit this Sunday, with so many people wanting to help out the event is an open house at Meridian Hills and all are welcome. Along with our concert the event features a swim-a-thon and silent auction dedicated to the fund raiser. We thank you for your concern and participation and will hope to see you there.
Monday June 22, 2009
Headed back into our busy summer after a weekend away, we've just added an appearance to benefit some friends in need. We hope you'll be able to join us as the circumstances underscore the ultimate fragility of life. On May 27, Aaron Osheroff and his daughter Melody were struck while walking across the street by an allegedly drunken motorcyclist who ran the stop sign. The full story can be found here. A long time fan from Aaron's family contacted us with a request to perform at a fund raiser for the family and there was no question but to honor it. The event takes place at Meridian Rolling Hills Country Club from 2-6 PM. Donations may also be made in person at any Marin county Wells Fargo location or mailed to “The Osheroff Family Fund,” c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 1590 Grant Ave., Novato, Calif. 94945. Many thanks for your consideration.
Wednesday May 28, 2009
The long flight back from Louisville on Monday left us temporary zombies yesterday, but we wanted to let everyone we met there know how much we appreciated all the kind words, friendly reunions, hanging out and all the fabulous music and camaraderie we enjoyed thanks to the power of those fabulous Beatles and their timeless songs. The second time out brought a lot more shows, seven over the course of four days. That doesn't count the jam sessions and nightly sing alongs which were every bit as much fun as the shows. Props of course to Gary Jacobs for putting on this magical affair year after year and to the crews at every stage who helped us to sound our best under incredible mutual pressure from Mssrs. Clock and Calendar. The backstage cooking crew were the model of Southern hospitality and the food started off good, then just got better. Taking part in the Concerts for John and Paul on Saturday and Sunday gave us even more chance to socialize with our fellow musicians from around the world and note how similarly the Beatles all affected us. It also gave us a healthy dose of each one's solo/Wings/Plastic Ono output as well. We'll all be posting our collective individual highlights, memories and shout outs on our MySpace page this week. For those who have never been to an Abbey Road on the River, it really should not be missed if you're even a casual fan of the Beatles and their music. Still, it's great to be home again if only for a few days before dashing off for the high Sierras on Saturday. Summer is ramping up and so are we. Stay tuned for more to report soon.
Monday May 11, 2009
Many thanks does not begin to sum up the appreciation we felt for all involved in last Saturday's debut at the Big Fox Theatre. First and foremost to the many fans whose enthusiasm and energy makes it a sheer pleasure to perform. Yes we saw you even through the lights and you looked great! Rare too is the opportunity to perform with a group whose music pleases us like Aja Vu do. Spending time backstage with them revealed them as fun people to a man and woman. Passionate, dedicated goofballs just like us. The sound staff was helpful and patiently worked thru the gremlins who seem to prefer residing in vintage buildings such as the Fox. Thanks guys. We hope you all had as fab a time as we did and that we can gather again soon for another. We have one more local show this Saturday in Danville at the Blackhawk Country Club before hitting the road to Louisville for the Abbey Road on the River festival. The Sun Kings collective excitement level remains high and is expected to rise over the rest of May. More to come soon.
Sunday April 26, 2009
Is that April already? Seemed to go by so fast. Thanks to everyone who helped the Midway Shelter at the Have a Heart Gala last weekend. Your spirit and generosity is appreciated by many. On Friday we made our first daylight appearance in Stockton to kick off the musical end of the Asparagus festival. Morning rain gave way to clear sunshine by the time we began and the audience increased with every song. Our set flew by and we all left the stage in high spirits, where we met our headliner, the guys in Papa Doo Run Run. Bonding over band stories and deep fried asparagus it was revealed that two of us had seen Papa at our respective high schools while we were students. Make no mistake, they still sound amazing! Gets us thinking that we can keep this going awhile longer too if you don't mind. They had kind words for the band and invited Drew, Michael and Steve on stage during their set for a barn-burning 'Eight Days A Week.' Thanks again Papa, you guys are the best! It's back to Redwood City in two weeks for our first show at the Big Fox with Aja Vu. We've been big fans of Aja Vu and have crossed paths a few times on the summer festival circuit, but this show will be something special. We hope you can attend our mutual debuts at the Little Fox's much bigger brother and that you invite all your friends. Room and air enough for everybody at this one. See you again soon.
Monday April 13, 2009
Returning from some time off to play again always feels good, especially with the audience that gathered at Rancho Nicasio on Saturday last to welcome us. Always friendly and energizing, our friends and fans there give us every reason to anticipate a return visit, which will be for a BBQ afternoon on the lawn July 5. While we've had our share of adventures during our time away (and we shan't bore you by piling them on here) we're ready to pick up the banner and carry on once again. This weekend keeps us close to home entertaining our hometown neighbors who are supporting a most worthy cause at the 18th annual Have A Heart Benefit. The Midway Women and Children's shelter offers shelter and social services to victims of abusive relationships and exists due to the support of the community. We are glad to lend a hand in our own small way and hope that you might too. Rounding out the month is a Doo Run Run out to Stockton before we jump into hyperdrive come May. We'll hang around here a bit more often and keep you posted. As our Beatles once sang, it's been a long time, now I'm coming back home. And so say all of us.
Thursday February 12, 2009
Happy Birthday Bill!!
And greetings from Tucson where we've been taken from storms to sunshine for a performance at a local resort. When we leave it will be for some California grass, which is very wet and turning greener by the day. Let's hope it's enough to stave off the D word this year. Coming back we have the honor of taking part in the first leg of the Tour de California at a show this Sunday in Sausalito. After that it's back to the bars for a couple weekends. A little bit of everything this month which always helps to keep things exciting. We'll see you home again soon!
Thursday January 29, 2009
Back on the home side of the Sierra Nevada with band and vehicles more or less intact, we would be remiss not to give a nod to the great time we had and wonderful folks we met at the WFA convention in Reno. Though we had ample opportunity to warble away acoustically at the booth over the course of 2 days, our official playing time amounted to around 15 minutes onstage at the artist showcase. It seemed to be enough and all the kind words and interest afterward kept us buoyed for the duration. Thanks to Jim Douglas and Bill Remington for taking care of business during the day and being good company afterward. Thanks Jen for the dance floor spark (and the more) and Brandie Frampton for contagious enthusiasm and good vibes. Best of luck to you! Now quite well rested, our calendar begins to warm up again the weekend after Super Bowl when we return to the Mystic Theatre for a matchup with the Unauthorized Rolling Stones. Show starts a 9 PM and we'd love to see you there. Until then...
Friday January 23, 2009
Happy Birthday Steve!!
And with it the first signs of emergence from our winter hibernation. Some time off has been nice but being players, we're all itching to play again and are looking forward to some band together time in Reno, including a wee bit of... playing. Only enough though to whet the appetite for February, which will be here soon enough. Along with these upcoming appearances we can promise some Beatles songs you have not heard us play before and an abundance of pent up musical energy. Here's hoping for the chance to share both with you very soon.
Wednesday December 24, 2008
It was a good time Saturday in the city by the bay, seeing so many of you out braving the cold and economy for our show with the URS at Cafe Du Nord. Some came a great distance (Louisville--really?) to attend and it was wonderful to see you all moving and singing along to those grand old songs. We've got one more show left this year and then it's back to the rehearsal hall, working new and reworking old material for a shiny 2009 presentation. Our thanks to you for helping make 2008 a year brimming with highlights and we hope to catch you again in the coming year. Until then Drew, Michael, Peter, Steve, Bill, Jen, Bruce & Tom wish you the merriest of Christmases and happiest of holidays with good health, cheer and peace to all.
Thursday December 11, 2008
What's new you ask? Well for the first time in a long while it's pictures. Finally digging through our backlog we've added over 30 to bring us to about mid summer. Yes, this year. There will be more posted soon and our thanks to the fans who sent them in for their patience as well as their phab photo skills. Please keep 'em coming. Also thanks to our fellow LSB winner bands sharing stage time with us at the KFOX Can Jam last Friday. Aural Assault, The Shanks, The Megatones, you guys rocked! Chris, Greg, Mike, Laurie & a packed roomful of music lovers helped take us back to the wonder years and Yer Blues was never bluesier. After a weekend on the private circuit, we'll be returning to San Francisco next Saturday Dec. 20 to merrily roll along with the Unauthorized Rolling Stones at Cafe Du Nord beginning at 9:30 PM. Hope to see you there and here's wishing you all a joyous holiday season.
Tuesday November 18, 2008
Thanks to our fans - "We Did It!!" We are the KFOX-FM
2008 Last Band Standing Winner!
The Sun Kings thank all the fans for their incredible support and votes!
We had a massive turnout and are touched by the sheer volume of support
locally, nationally, even worldwide. We'd also would like to thank
the Last Band Standing judges, Read Zaro, Robert
Berry, and Michael
North; Mike O'Brian for a great mix job,
and KFOX-FM's Greg
Kihn, Chris
Jackson and Laurie Roberts, for their continued
enthusiastic support of us and for musicians of the Bay Area. Must
send a shout out to Powerage - an incredible AC/DC
tribute group - and the other finalist in Last Band Standing. They
were some stiff competition and our understanding is that the difference
in the number of votes was like Florida 2000 - close. Fortunately
for us, no recounting here! If you dig AC/DC you'll dig the show these
guys put on, and you'll be blown away by Scotty Bon Scott! He does
an incredible Bon Scott (as well as Ozzy Osbourne). As our friend,
Greg Kihn would say: "UNBELIEVABLE"
Check out their site here, or better yet
check 'em out live!
Tuesday November 11, 2008
With the KFOX Last Band Standing competition whittled down the the finalists, we find ourselves still among the standing. Our many thanks to friends and fans local and distant who took the time to endure the registration process and vote for us. The judges were very kind with their comments and we return to the airwaves next Monday morning. Hope we can count on your vote just one more time. After that, with the calendar clear for awhile we'll be recharging from our busy year for awhile, tinkering with our online presence and maybe even learn a new song or two before you see us again. It won't be long yeah.
Monday November 3, 2008
Happy Birthday Michael!!
OK, we really didn't expect it would be so long between updates. August thru October could be summarized as gigs and gigs, outdoor and indoor, clothed and unclothed, fun and funner. We would go into more detail except that events from the present intrude to remind us that except for the music, we should quit living in the past. Our lone live show of the month is at Rancho Nicasio this Saturday at 8:30 PM and we look forward to seeing our Marin friends and fans once again. More immediately you may have heard that we've made the quarter finals in the KFOX Last Band Standing competition and need your vote to advance. Voting begins this morning and with your help we might be heard more on radio than seen live this November. Also planned for this month is posting the backlog of photos that kind folks have sent us this year. See all the things one has time for when not booked every weekend? We'll be back here soon (really) and keep you updated on our progress through the competition. Thanks for listening everyone!
Saturday August 2, 2008
Happy Birthday Peter!!
Have our summers really gotten so busy that we can only show up here for birthdays and holidays? Pretty much it would seem. As we wish Peter the best, our thoughts and prayers also go out to best friend Carolyn over her loss of a loved one. In performance, the highlights over the last month were many and varied but we would have to put last months Children's Olympics performance at the top of the list. So many youngsters from dozens of countries and they all knew the Beatles music so well! And screamed Beatlemania as only the young can! 'All You Need is Love' was a special highlight as we were joined on stage by dozens of athletes. The Irish were particularly vocal and a good time was reportedly had by all. This was followed in short order by visits north and south to Nicasio and Don Quixotes, west to Burlingame, east to Pittsburg and home to Alameda last weekend. Whew-- Park Street just seems to get more fun each year. How did there get to be so many birthdays? Thanks friends and neighbors! Yesterday's show in San Bruno ran the gamut from balmy to breezy but the energy from the throng of dancing kids in front kept everyone warm. San Bruno also kicks off a run of 8 shows over the next 9 days for us, which could be some kind of band record. We're just to busy to check. Tonight, we headline the Fremont Festival of the Arts and tomorrow slip into San Ramon for a concert. Next Wednesday is a double shot of concerts in Oakland and Walnut Creek. Friday brings another double header in Pleasanton and the month has still more in store. Thanks to all for making this summer shine and we'll see you again imminently.
Thursday July 10, 2008
Happy Birthday Drew!!
So much happening, so little time to report it. The summer has heated up to a frenzy and we've certainly had our share of memorable shows in the past month. Barely back from Louisville, we were swirled in amidst San Francisco society, fireworks and Dick Bright as part of the Black & White Ball that went all evening but was over before we knew it. We spent June opening summer concert series in Alameda, Concord, and Clayton. Spending a weekend in San Anselmo gave us a chance to catch our colleagues in Zoo Station, Aja Vu and Evolution and sing along to music other than Beatles. Thanks to all who helped sell out our debut at Cafe du Nord with the URS. We had a great time and hope to return again soon. Last week, Menlo Park was an all too brief blast, Chris & Anna's party was up to its usual spectacular standards and Rio Nido was a rip roaring time. Looking ahead, we have our very first stadium appearance tomorrow as part of the opening ceremonies for the Children's Olympics in San Francisco. In short order, it's followed by shows in Felton, Nicasio, Burlingame and Pittsburg before winding up the month at home in Alameda. There's no shortage of upcoming appearances, so here's hoping we see you at one or more of them.
Tuesday May 27, 2008
Our first visit to 'Abbey Road on the River' ended yesterday with a glow that carried through the wee hours this morning when most of us arrived home from Louisville. For the better part of the last week we lived, ate, played, danced, debated and drank with an international gathering of freakishly talented musicians and dedicated fans. All were drawn to the banks of the Ohio for one reason, to celebrate, recreate and resonate everything Beatles. Hundreds performed, thousands attended and though only a few had arrived in time for our first performance last Thursday, we immediately felt welcomed into what multiplied daily into a large and supportive family. We were followed on stage the first day by Itchycoo Park from Scotland and Lucy in the Sky from Germany, both of whom became good mates. We crossed paths with Pete Best again who headlined on Thursday, followed by the Beatrips from Japan who were just plain fantastic. A stellar cast ensemble of AROTR veterans performed the entire White Album on Friday (featuring newcomer Drew on 'I'm So Tired') and the Love album on Saturday. Acts like The Return, Hal Bruce, Jimmy Pou, Jukebox, The Rigbys, Abbey Road Live, the Apples and the Fab Five had us in awe. Peter was the highest placing male singer in the Oh Darling singing contest and reprised it in a victory lap minutes later during our Sunday set. There were so many great bands and personal highlights that a single voice can't do it justice. Most of the band have individually posted their immediate impressions of the shows here today and I'm sure there will be more to tell and photos to post very soon. Suffice it to say it was a terrific debut for Bruce, a tremendous boost and a moving, nearly spiritual experience for us all. We resurface close to home this Saturday for our next debut at the Black & White ball in downtown San Francisco as part of another stellar lineup that includes Seal, Blues Traveller, Pete Escovedo and many more. Kentucky was fabulous, but gee it's good to be back home. See you soon and to all our new friends, let's do it again next year!
Monday May 12, 2008
The time has come the walrus said... Those of you who saw our recent show at Feather Falls and the mysterious 'Los Paranoias' shows in April are already in the know and now it can be told. Rumours of substitute George Harrisons spotted in the lineup are absolutely true. Bill Zupko, our past and present lead guitarist expressed concerns last autumn about his ability to make every show then being considered for this year. Thoughtful enough to raise the issue before it became problematic, it offered enough time for the band to determine if 1. a player could be found to fill this demanding role on a part time basis and 2. Could we still sound like a tight band with said player. We played with a lot of them and our diligence was rewarded with not one but two strong lead guitarists fluent in George's unique style. Please join us in welcoming Tom Fleming and Bruce Coe, who along with Bill will be performing on lead guitar and vocals, each filling in throughout the season as scheduling allows. Tom debuted with us at Feather Falls, boasts a guitar collection that rivals the original and can also be heard playing lead guitar in the popular bay area rockabilly band Spinout. Bruce is the talent that took root during the Los Paranoias shows in Belmont, brings a shot of positive energy to the stage and will be accompanying us to Louisville this month for a proper debut in surroundings most Beatley. At this point playing with any of them feels as comfortable as an old brown shoe and we think you'll agree that the band sounds intact and ready to hit the ground rocking. In the meantime, Drew is making his way via the overland route to Kentucky. Call it fear of flying or brave of driving, but our Johnny Appleseed will be playing a few gigs along the way to help spread the word. If you should find yourself in Cheyenne, WY tomorrow or Denver, CO this Thursday you just might find him playing at a local club. With another stop next week in Nashville, TN you can track his cross country journey (sorta like NORAD tracks Santa each Christmas) right here. We return from Louisville after Memorial Day ready to dress it up for the San Francisco Symphony's Black & White Ball on Sat. May 31, then home to Alameda with a show at Towne Center on Thursday June 5. Stay well everyone. Next stop, Abbey Road on the River!
Monday April 21, 2008
This band never gets too old for surprises. A couple weeks back we played a sold out show at the Little Fox and enjoyed another fab night in Redwood City. That wasn't the surprise. Looking forward to more of the same, we headed out to Yolo county last Saturday for our second appearance at the Palms Playhouse in Winters. Load in, sound check and dinner all went off as planned. About 15 minutes before show time the lights flickered and then went off in our dressing room. They also went off in the rest of the building, the entire block and who knows how much else of downtown Winters or the rest of the world. No problem, right? We have one of the best trained utility companies in the world working on it. By 15 minutes after show time, still no lights. Hmmm. OK, how about if we fumble our way onstage and do a couple of acoustic numbers until the lights come on? Two and a half hours later there were still no lights and it really didn't matter anymore. It had been a uniquely singular show, the nearly packed house stayed so the entire time and we played acoustic versions of Beatles songs you have never heard us play before. When you can't go electric, get eclectic. House staff and fans directed flashlights toward the stage, the bar was bathed in candlelight, the audience sang as loud as we and it became a night we'll long remember. Our thanks to everyone who remained to hear us stripped of all but voice and spirit yet still didn't feel ripped off. We hope to see you soon, since we couldn't see many of you then. Coming up is a busy and mileage soaked May-load of shows and we'll have more details for you soon so please stay tuned.
Sunday March 23, 2008
It's been over a month since we visited here, but as months go it was probably one of the groovier ones we've experienced. Our return to the Mystic Theatre last month was very well attended, surprisingly so for only our second time there. The URS put on a great show and it was nice to hear that we were no slouches either. A couple of weeks off left us straining at our traces to play again and our debut in Nevada City seemed well received by the locals and some old friends who hooked up with us again. We said happy birthday to Dave along with his friends and family in Folsom on our way home and had a generally lovely time there. Last Friday brought us back to the Kings Head for the first time in ages and we were able to stretch out one of those long 4 hour sets that were such the norm once upon a time ago. Then there was last night's show at Rancho Nicasio, our new Marin favorite. Third time back in six months and our first sold out show there, the joint was brimming with smiling faces, energetic dancing and a vibe that was fun with a capital F. A special shout out to birthday girl Sally, still going strong at 74 and whose very name was the inspiration for a rather incendiary encore. Our deep thanks to everyone who attended our shows over the last month, you make it so worthwhile! This weekend takes us back to Pleasanton and home to Alameda for a special affair with a cause. We hope to see you there. Oh, and Happy Easter everybody.
Tuesday February 12, 2008
Happy Birthday Bill!!
February has been pretty nice to us so far. Earlier this month we had a near capacity crowd braving the elements (water--a lot of it) to bask in the warmth of Don Quixotes and saw a lot of our South Bay/Monterey Bay friends again for the first time this year. Thanks everybody! Last Saturday's Community Concert in Danville was truly a one of a kind event for us. Joined on two songs by the San Ramon Valley High School Chamber Orchestra, we performed 'Eleanor Rigby' for the first time in our career, backed by some pretty stellar string players. Adding some members from the School's Jazz Ensemble, we encored with a fully orchestrated version of 'All You Need is Love'. Reportedly a fab time was had by all. Special thanks to Cheryl Yee Glass for wrangling wonderful performances from her orchestra, Cathy Colman for the love and hospitality, Jim Ocean, Kathy Dupler and Community Concerts for always being so great to work with. Let's do it again soon! Coming up on Saturday Feb. 23, a return to the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. Once again we're teaming up with our friends in the Unauthorized Rolling Stones for a Sixties submersion and we hope you can join us there. We'll save a space on the dance floor for you.
Wednesday January 23, 2008
Happy Birthday Steve!!
Our little trip up to the Sierras last week was a pretty nice way to kick off the weekend. Getting out of town early in the day, a beautiful drive on a perfect driving day. What's not to love? Even though a couple of us were battling some nasty colds that forced our quarantine during the breaks, the show itself and the audience response was very good. To those who asked, yes we're sure we'll be back again before too long and are glad to be invited. The last week of January will give us a weekend off, which we'll probably treasure in light of the coming months. February brings returns to Don Quixotes and the Mystic Theatre as well as a special presentation in San Ramon with a touch of orchestra. See you then!
Sunday January 13, 2008
January has usually been our quietest month, but 2008 is proving
an exception to the rule. With the euphoria of our sold out New Years
Eve show with the Megatones still clinging in our ears, a cancellation
brought us a surprise show on little notice for
downtown Oakland's First Friday concert series. It began just as a
powerful winter storm was winding down a day of fury. The hearty
souls who braved the elements to get there found it dry inside, though
perhaps nowhere more so than the vocal channels on the sound company's
PA. Even without reverb and that Abbey Road slap echo, the verdict
was that it still worked and was not unlike a good Martini. A connection
more relevant when you happen to play the bartenders favorite Beatles
song.
A couple of summers ago, we opened for the Pete Best band during their
California tour at the 19 Broadway in Fairfax. Last night we returned
for the entire evening and despite not being very timely in getting
the word out the word was quite apparently received. Thanks to all
our Marin and Sonoma county (and Millbrae) friends who came out to
see us, your network is in good working order and your vibe as fine
as ever.
It's nice to know that after seven years together as a band,
we're still experiencing lots of firsts. Two of them occur this Friday
when we debut at the Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne.
Not only our first casino show, it's also our first performance above
2000'. High with a little help from our friends indeed! Only then does
our January finally quiet down, though February waits in the wings
and not empty handedly. Stay tuned and we'll see you again soon.
Sunday December 30, 2007
Our best to all who came to last Friday's show at the Main St. Brewery. We wondered (as undoubtedly the fire marshall would have) how all those people could fit inside such a cozy space. It was fun, fun, fun from the first song onward and we hope you all had as good a time as we did. The dancing was spirited and nearly uninterrupted. We thought that Yoko and even Jane Asher were there, although we couldn't be sure without our spectacles on. The Christmas spirit was certainly still hanging around -- afterwards we got it good and plastered, then forced it into the band's truck with broken beer bottles. We of course hoped to capture the spirit and keep it alive through our New Years Eve show. Alas, by the time we got home all that remained was a small pile of sparkly dust and a faint whiff of holly. And our wallets were missing. Consequently, you'll have to bring your own spirit to the Little Fox tomorrow evening where we hope you'll all join us in welcoming baby 2008, who we shall not attempt to capture. Have you seen how fast those guys age? Thanks for sticking with us through another year and may your holidays be merry and bright.
Tuesday December 25, 2007
From Drew, Michael, Peter, Steve and Bill - a very Merry Christmas and best holiday season wishes to you and yours.
Monday December 3, 2007
Huge and copious thanks to all of you who made it out to the Toys for Tots benefit show last Saturday. We had a fabulous time and from the looks of it, so did all of you. Highlights were the kids up against the stage singing along most of the evening, the seemingly nonstop dancing and the tangible sense of affection and warmth in the room which kept the night's chill at bay. The fun continued afterward at Z's, where a few of us and a few of you congregated to close out the party in style. The kind words were many, the monkey joke got an encore, Tania was cuter, Rocko rocked and it was great to hang out for awhile with friends both local and distant. The next gathering for us is Thursday Dec. 13 in Mill Valley at 142 Throckmorton Theatre. We'll be paired with Who Too for a virtual avalanche of music that changed the face of rock and roll and we hope you can be a part of it too. We'll see you soon.
Thursday November 29, 2007
Though the last month has been nearly without shows, the time still seems to have rushed by. During the interim, our offstage lives were touched with adventure, hope, triumph and loss. There is much to be thankful for, not least among it all the chance to play some of the best songs ever written for people who love them. Those who follow our schedule may already know we're not used to this much time off. Consequently, we're all amped to go, like five fully wound up toys just itching for the spring to release. Right in the St. Nick of time arrives our Toys for Tots benefit show this Saturday in downtown Alameda. The hometown crowd has long been our most supporting and welcoming so we're extremely happy to pop the cork so close to home. Tickets are still available from our home page and several local businesses. We'll see you soon for a fab time, friends and neighbors! December dots our calendar with shows at several new venues. Just added is a double bill with Who Too at 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley on Thu. Dec. 13. It's also not too early to plan your New Years Eve. Ours will be at Redwood City's Little Fox Theatre with the Megatones and you're of course invited to join us. Now hurry up and arrive Mr. Saturday, these boys are ready to play!
Tuesday November 6, 2007
There were but a trio of shows in the last month, but as trios go they were pretty memorable and we would be remiss (and more than a little lazy) not to mention them. The Palms Playhouse was a new destination for us. The crowd was appreciative, the steaks were great and unless the drunk we woke up during load out has anything to say about it, we'll be back. After a long road to get to the stage door of Petaluma's Mystic Theatre, our debut there was truly one we will never forget. First there's the theatre itself, ornate and elegant in the heart of downtown. The dressing room was heavy with history, scores of posters hung from the walls describing some of the awesomely talented acts and shows that had preceded us. Randy and Travis manned the PA system masterfully. The Unauthorized Rolling Stones opened the double bill and sounded great, igniting the crowd right out of the gate. In one of those 'show must go on' moments, Peter left a horizontal state for the only time in nearly two weeks of battling viral pneumonia to deliver 100 percent when 10 was all that could have been reasonably expected. He filled us with admiration though not envy and his Purple Heart is presumably in the mail. Meanwhile, the audience response was tremendous and as the show went on the energy seemed to fuse into one gigantic, grooving ball of rapture. Maybe that's why they call it the Mystic. Inspiring to say the least! Extra thanks to Steve Keyser and Shennon for making us feel special for a night. Last weekend's return to Rancho Nicasio was yet further validation for our fast growing love affair with the North Bay. Many had been to the Mystic show and had come back to Nicasio for more, the staff got more customers and German chocolate cake than they expected and Michael got a birthday party he could remember the next day. Thanks to everyone who talked with us after the show for their kind words and well wishes. Let's do it again soon. The rest of this month finds us in a light hibernation though we kick it up again at the stroke of December. We hope to meet up with all our local friends at the Toys for Tots benefit in Alameda on Saturday Dec. 1 and celebrate the arrival of the holiday season with some loveable music for a lofty cause. See you then!
Tuesday October 2, 2007
The summer season now begins to wind down a little. After eight shows over the last two weeks, it becomes a little hard to remember all the highlights, there were just so many. Alameda and Lafayette made for a great weekend to finish our outdoor shows. Aja Vu was as tight and fabulous as ever in Lafayette and seemed to enjoy our set as much as we enjoyed theirs. Alameda's Best of party exceeded all the planner's expectations and we loved hanging out with our well attired friends and neighbors. Terrence Brewer and Natasha Miller both performed great sets despite the acoustic challenges of playing in an aircraft hangar and a splendid time seemed to be had by all. You can find some performance pics from the event on our photos page. Our debut at Rancho Nicasio was well worth the drive and our thanks for the many kind words from people who hadn't seen the band before. We look forward to returning again soon. Don Quixotes, the Kings Head and Marilyn's were just like returning to old friends houses, seeing many of those we expected while others surprised us with an appearance. Finishing the month was a last minute, late night appearance at Cobb's in SF for a swingin' anniversary party that didn't end until the wee wee hours. Coming up next is a fistful of appearances with Drew dishing out the Lennon at the Larkspur Cafe, Don Quixotes and the El Campanil. Following that, the band regroups for debuts at the Palms Playhouse and the Mystic Theatre before returning to familiar ground round about Halloween. Thanks again for helping make our September so much fun it should be illegal, and we'll look for you again very soon!
Saturday September 15, 2007
The month is only half over and it's already been one of our most enjoyable on record. Last Saturday's show in Alamo was a chance to make our acquaintance with another bay area town and the staff and audience couldn't have been nicer. Once again the high point was a sing along Yellow Submarine, this time with the Alamo Elementary School Choir lending their considerable vocal prowess to the song. Could use you again around Xmas time, kids! We heard that we were wanted back at next years event and the feeling is decidedly mutual. Last Sunday brought a return to Capitola and it was just as much fun as we remembered. JD manned the sound board with aplomb and the many kind words and comments we heard as we hung around the fair after our set were warmly appreciated. Old friends were met and new ones made and you can have us back anytime. Yesterday we played an extended lunch time company party for Esther G., celebrating her 30 years of service at UAS. She is indeed loved and appreciated there and we were happy to be a part of it. We've also managed to upload some new pictures sent in from Kathy and Debi of our Crab Cove and Capitola shows. In just a few hours we'll be hitting the hometown stage for the Webster St. Peanut Butter Jam in Alameda. See you there!
Monday September 3, 2007
Wow, has an entire month really gone by since we've been here last? Summer truly is the fastest season. First, we wanted to tell you about two fans who uploaded lots of photos from July's Foster City show. You can link here to Steve Gaysinskiy or Kathyrn Erb's photo web pages, along with our thanks to them for posting. Most of the August shows were outdoors, so we got a chance to work on our tans. Some took, some didn't. We heard that attendance records were set for our shows at the Central Park Music Series and Concerts at the Cove. The 'more is merrier' maxim certainly held true there. San Bruno and the Main Street Brewery brought out their share of the local fans to say hello and the Larkspur Cafe show was guitars, a grand piano and acoustic interpretation. The kids onstage singing Yellow Submarine were among the highlights. The very first Gilroy Rock n' Ribs was a BBQ lover's delight and a fight to stay hydrated and though we rolled wiltingly into the Kings Head that evening, the perfect balance of fans (human and electric whirring) and 'Night of the B sides' was revival enough to keep the energy crackling. Last Thursday's Music Market Show was a hot summer day that segued into a perfect evening with Beatles music, an amazing sound system and a couple thousand of Concord's friendliest in attendance. That brings us up to date, so we'll quit living in the past. You gotta love these Northern California Septembers, where the festivals just keep on coming. In rapid succession we visit Alamo, Capitola, Alameda and Lafayette, all with something to fest about. Though our Marin fave the Sweetwater sadly closed last week, a couple of debuts increase our North Bay range in the coming months with approaching shows at Rancho Nicasio and the Mystic Theatre. Before the month is out we also visit Felton and Sacramento. Finally, Alameda is having a big party on Thursday Sept. 20 and we're going to be a little part of it. We hope you can too. For more details on any of these upcoming shows, visit our calendar page or join the mailing list and we'll check in again soon. No, really!
Thursday August 2, 2007
Happy Birthday Peter!!
After last Saturday's big show in Monterey some of us stayed and some went home, but all assembled Sunday morning in Alameda for the Art & Wine Fair show. Over the last few years we've played later in the afternoon there and wondered if at 12:30 we might be on a little early for our usual audience. We needn't have worried. Alameda shows always give us a chance to reconnect with old friends, reminiscing about the band's humble beginnings and catching up on each other's lives. The weather for the show was perfect, sunny and tempered with just enough sea breeze to keep it comfortable. Adding one more hour than usual to the set, everyone on and offstage seemed to be enjoying themselves and the 'All You Need is Love' vibe extended through yet another day. Thanks for such a mighty hometown reception. We would've loved to stay and bask awhile, but there were miles to go and one more show before our day was done. Off to Sausalito we went to play for Arne and Mary's wedding reception. Once more, John Cuniberti manned the mixing board, this time in the comforts of his usual studio at the Record Plant. Assembled on the floor of Studio B, we plied the guests with music while they plied themselves with wine, cake and assorted other goodies. The bride and groom were wonderful hosts and the atmosphere was heavy with recorded history. The highlight of the evening for us was when we were approached by Bonnie Raitt, who was very complementary about the band, though she politely declined our offer to sing Beatles songs with us. Our next set even got her up and dancing and she made a point to again come by and wish us well when we had finished. After a weekend filled with more highs than the Himalayas, by Sunday night we were all walking on air. We come back round to earth this evening for an outdoor show at Central Park in San Mateo and we're hoping you'll join us there. See you soon!
Monday July 30, 2007
Now that we have a moment to breathe again we can take care of some
things that have been neglected lately. Like this web site for instance.
The last two weeks were an indescribable whirlwind of activity in preparation
for our 'something completely different' set in Monterey last Saturday.
Rehearsing with an orchestra was something new for most of us and proved
challenging, exciting and ultimately rewarding. Saturday dawned cool
and overcast in Monterey and as the hours ticked away our considerable
nervous energy was devoted to last minute details. We could clearly
hear the music progressing on the main stage from our hotel across
the street and soon made our way closer. When our friends in the RaveUps
finished their set, the stage was quickly struck, the risers for the
strings and horns were moved into place and we all raced to assemble
the gear in our allotted set change time. Sound check? Heck no, this
is a festival, dude. The set was our sound check. We all took the stage
in our new colorful clothes (a lesson learned from last year's Kihncert)
and were off. The set was not without some problems. What Sun Kings
show ever is? On 'With A Little Help', Steve's vocal mic malfunctioned
and Drew briefly reverted back to his former Billy Shears incarnation.
We thought that the newest songs came off pretty well, and by 'Good
Morning Good Morning' the crowd was on its feet (for the first time
that day we were later told-- is that hearsay or heresy?) Throughout,
the Liddypudlians shined. They played beautifully on 'She's Leaving
Home', powerfully on 'Good Morning' and transcendentally on 'Within
You Without You' where we were joined by Steve
Robertson of
the White Album Ensemble on tabla. 'A Day in the Life' was big and
beautiful and as many times as we have played it, this one gave some
of us goose
bumps. As the last piano chord died away we were told that there was
no time for an encore, but the audience had decided otherwise and the
stage manager bowed to the power of the people. Yessss! Way to go,
people! We finished with 'All You Need is Love', a fitting cap to our
set and a respectful nod to the ideal of the original Monterey Pop
Festival. Complete with children and multilingual placards bearing
the message, it was one of the nice little touches (along with waltzing
Henry the Horse) that helped make the show even more special. Thanks
are numerous, but not too numerous to mention. There was a lot of co-operation
and teamwork to make this happen, starting first and foremost with Andrew
Hernandez of
IE Artists. As if envisioning and creating the entire Summer
of Love Festival wasn't enough of a task, Andrew was the spark and
catalyst for the idea of Sgt. Pepper in its entirety, augmented by
strings and horns. It would not have happened without him. Also high
on our praise list are Chris
Solberg and John Cuniberti, the
angels on our shoulder. Skilled sound technicians and Beatles recording
fanatics, they manned the mixing board to transmit a living, loving
audio portrait of Sgt. Pepper under fantastic pressures. Chris finished
his set with the RaveUps and headed directly to the sound board to
continue weaving the magic even as backstage groupies loudly lamented
his departure. Dedication in the extreme! Peter
Penhallow,
leader of the Liddys built the orchestra, scored all the parts, played
second keyboard, sitar and just plain made it fly. Also worth special
mention is our own Bill
Zupko,
who proved an able facilitator between this group of street musicians
and the disciplines of the orchestral world... and no doubt surprised
a lot of people by playing clarinet on 'When I'm 64'. Tara,
Joanna, Liz, Joshua, Lou, Tom, Tim, Nicks I & II, Steve, Chris, Irene,
Marc and
the Liddys we know (and are sorry) we're missing.... thank you, Thank
You, THANK YOU!!
Yesterday's two shows in Alameda and Sausalito were a story unto themselves,
but must wait for another day this week to tell them. Until then...
Wednesday July 10, 2007
Happy Birthday Drew!!
This month has proved so far to be one memorable show after another. Our show at the Sweetwater was a sold out lovefest with a birthday and anniversary celebration thrown in for good measure. We can't wait to get back. Chris and Anna had us again on the fourth for a rollicking good time. We know by now that there's going to be fireworks of one sort or another every year so we just roll with it. Last Saturday's show in Danville was a splendid time. We heard that attendance was around 3,000 and we saw at least that many smiles. We love it when the younger set sings along and credit their parents for a proper cultural upbringing... at least where the Beatles are concerned. We only wish we had more than the allotted two hours to play there. We'll be posting some new pictures later today from our recent shows. Please keep sending your photos. Coming up next is Friday in Foster City which we fondly remember from last summer and look forward to with pleasure. See you there!
Saturday June 30, 2007
You know we can't let a day go by without copious and enthusiastic thank yous to all who attended last nights Fan Appreciation show at the Avalon. With our fans choosing the set list in real time for us, you sent us repeatedly to deep left field to snag songs we hadn't touched on in a long time. Surprises abounded and several of our braver fans came up to join us on some vocals. Jerry led off fronting a fabulous performance of 'Ticket to Ride', Dave chimed in for vocal duty on 'I've Just Seen A Face' and Peggy and Steve led us through the always tricky na-na-na-na section of 'Hey Jude'. There were giveaways, coronations, even a bit of skin and it was good to meet so many of you during the breaks and have a chat. You continue to make us feel that what we're doing is a bit special and we love you for it. For those of you who took photos last night, please some of them to us and we'll post to our photos page. Tonight we merrily roll into Mill Valley, putting the coda to June with a show at the Sweetwater at 9:30 PM. See you there.
Tuesday June 26, 2007
What a treat to stay and play so close to home. Thanks to everyone who attended the Summer Serenade at Alameda Towne Centre last Wednesday. The Centre could not have been happier with the turnout for a first show and we'd be happy to return anytime. On Friday we helped add a little more noise to Rupert and Arlene's nuptial soiree supreme. Much happiness to you both. You really know how to throw a party! We hope we lived up to the hype. Saturday we stayed a little longer at the 'Relay for Life' than scheduled, though nobody seemed to mind. Norma, we hope it was extra successful this year. Tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM we'll be in Menlo Park for their Summer Concert Series in Fremont Park and this Friday June 29 (not July 29) we aim to show you a real good time at our first Fan Appreciation Night at the Avalon. Club opens at 6 PM for dinner service, we start at 8, and there are some fun surprises in store. Print your pass here for free admission to the show and we'll see you there! Saturday closes out June for us in the rarefied environs of the Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley and July holds in her hand a bounty of showtimes in venues old, new and amazing. Hop on, it's gonna be some ride.
Monday June 18, 2007
Happy Birthday, Sir Paul! It's been quite the number of shows in the 10 days since we were last here. Redwood City and Novato sparkled with sunny cheer, the Kings Head was a sauna of sound, Oakland Summer Sounds was short and Henry's was sweet. This week we stay very close to home with 2 Alameda shows in the works. Wednesday we play at the (mostly) newly remodeled Towne Centre for a free concert starting at 5:30 PM. On Saturday June 23, we're part of the Relay For Life at Encinal High. Please note that the start time for this show has just been moved from 4 (as previously announced) to 5 PM. We've also posted a couple of new photos to our album and will be adding some more this week. Are you in there? Thanks for your participation and we'll see you around town this week.
Thursday June 7, 2007
With a happy birthday wish to Sgt. Pepper (yes, late here but we rang him up on his birthday and sent a lovely card) our outdoor season begins tomorrow with the Summer Concert Series in Redwood City. After a rest of nearly three weeks and vacations all around, we're chomping at the bit to play. Fortunately, June is filled with plenty of chances to do so here, there and everywhere around the bay area. Just added to our calendar is a hometown outdoor show Wed. June 20 at Alameda Towne Centre beginning at 5:30 PM. We've also got the Sun Kings Fan Appreciation Night, the Monterey festival and much more to yak about in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned.
Thursday May 3, 2007
Just a quick note to let you all know that our Beatle boy's surgical episode from last week went fine, spirits are high and recovery is well underway. We're looking forward to our SF show next week and a long, busy summer. In other news, we have completely revamped our photos page and added lots of new pics. You can find the results here. Though there are links at the top of the page marked login and register, you have to do neither to view the pictures. Many thanks to our recent contributors and please keep sending them in. See you in the city next week.
Tuesday April 24, 2007
Oh, Redwood City! Shows don't come with much more feeling than the one last Saturday at the Little Fox Theatre. Whether it was something in the water or in the air, it was just one of those nights where the energy in the room was tangible and everyone was obviously and completely having a fab time. Steve debuted another lead vocal contribution which got far and away the biggest reaction of the night. A Starr is born! Songs were sang, toasts were made, merriment was had and we're still smiling three days later. After all that hoopla, you may notice a bit of a stretch between now and our next show. One of our own will be going under the knife (and it won't be to make him look more like a Beatle) and needs a wee bit of recuperative quality time. With a little luv, we'll be back hale and hearty in San Francisco next May 10 at Maggie McGarrys, but if you just can't wait that long for something Beatley, there is a bit of Lennon to luv this week here and here. Thanks to all who made this month's shows feel extra special. Can't wait to do it again in May and we'll see you then.
Wednesday April 18, 2007
Contrary to recent popular belief the cat didn't get our tongue, though the Taxman tried awful hard, but an arm and a leg was quite enough thank you. Retracing our steps to close the gap between hither and yon, our Sweetwater debut last month was sufficiently auspicious to warrant a June return. Marin, we love your vibe! St. Paddy's (remember?) at the Avalon was kicked up a notch with the RaveUps helping to deliver a one-two punch of 60's gems to some of our favorite friends. Thanks to Chris Solberg for pulling double duty with a rave up job behind the mixing board. Sacramento welcomed us back to Marilyn's with open arms and a big 'what took you so long?', Erich sat in the high chair and the man behind the curtain was just us. Last Friday the 13th was surprisingly pleasant, with a ballsy (ala bocce) performance and unexpected visits from long ago friends. Which brings us round to last Saturday at the Kings Head. Ably assisted by JP, with Mike O'Brien making magic at the sound board and a passionate throng of familiar faces, everything just seemed to come together. With the debut of two more songs fresh under our belts, we'll be bringing our remaining armload of them to the Little Fox Theatre this Saturday night to top off an extra long evening of Beatles favorites starting at 8 PM. See you there!
Monday March 12, 2007
As we near the mid point of March, the surest sign of spring's imminence (beside the recent weather) is reflected in the new growth of this week's shows, debut venues all. After the exciting and heartfelt returns to Santa Rosa and Pleasanton the last two weeks, we notched a first for the band yesterday. After years of playing around the bay, we took to the bay itself. Bay and Delta charters presented its first 'Live music on the bay series' under ideal sailing conditions with an audience every bit as special, especially where birthdays were concerned. Thanks to Joni, Captain Jerry and the staff of the Empress for making this the very definition of pleasure cruise. Tomorrow morning, we stop by to visit the Greg Kihn show on KFOX 98.5 FM San Jose, just because we'll all happen to be in the neighborhood at 6:45 AM. We'll be playing a few songs live and engaging in our usual ersatz version of witty banter with Greg and Chris Jackson. No doubt we'll mention the rest of this week's shows at Marin's legendary Sweetwater in Mill Valley on Thursday March 15 with Brittany Shane, and Saturday's St. Patrick's Day show at the Avalon in Santa Clara with the RaveUps. We look forward to seeing you there. And on a final note we would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Brad Delp, who passed away last Friday at 55. For all his success as the singer in Boston, he also pursued his passion for Beatles music during the last decade as part of the tribute band Beatle Juice. Man, do we understand that one! Here's to you Brad, the world is a little less melodious without you.
Tuesday February 27, 2007
This weekend's winter storms did little to deter a determined band of music fans from gathering en masse at Don Quixotes last Saturday for a night that just seemed to connect. If indeed all you need is love than there was nothing lacking, except perhaps more space on the dance floor. Our Sunday was spent in the company of some talented peers at the KFOX Last Band Standing showcase. Crimes of Passion rocked like only young rockers can, Juliana has got some serious guitar chops and we loved that you let Dad sing too! Full Throttle had the most vocal supporters in the audience and we tried to distill the fervor of 100 Beatles songs into 45 minutes. Speaking of throttle, ours has now kicked in as we roar into March like a lion. Without paws (ouch) we begin the month in Sonoma county with a live appearance on KRSH 95.9 FM at 8 PM March 1 on 'Thursday Night Live'. Friday March 2 brings us to the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa on a triple bill with Petty Theft and the Unauthorized Rolling Stones. Marin beckons the following week with an Ides of March show at the Sweetwater and an SF bay music cruise out of Sausalito. We'll be wearing the green at Santa Clara's Avalon club along with the RaveUps on St. Patrick's Saturday and hitting Sacramento before month's end. It's a lot of getting around so we're bound to see you somewhere along the way. Until then...
Monday February 12, 2007
Happy Birthday Bill!!
We've had a couple people asking if they had missed any band mailings lately. The answer is no. We're in the midst of changing over to a sleeker, more secure mailing package and testing it to make sure it performs up to spec. Hopefully, we'll be finished this week and back in the information business before you know it. In the meantime we've had a few shows recently added for March, including for you north bay fans, the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa and our debut at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley on the Ides of March. Please stay tuned.
Saturday February 10, 2007
Our 2007 return to the stage was warming for body and soul; enough to dedicate an elastically soulful thank you to everyone who helped make last night's show at the El Campanil Theatre a sold out affair. Jim and Kathy Ocean's Community Concerts always have class, Rick and the staff at the El Campanil did a first rate job and Chris Solberg manned the mixer with Emerick aplomb. We saw many friendly and familiar faces and talked to a number of you who were gratified to see us back in action. The feeling is decidedly mutual. For February, Felton and Fremont follow as we make it back to Don Quixotes on Sat. Feb. 24 and the Saddle Rack on Sun. Feb. 25 for the KFOX Last Band Standing showcase. Just added to the calendar is a date with the airwaves live on KRSH 95.9 'The Krush' in Santa Rosa on Thursday March 1 at 8:30 PM for Thursday Night Live, hosted by Andre de Channes. This appearance comes a day ahead of our return to the Last Day Saloon on a triple bill with Petty Theft and the Unauthorized Rolling Stones March 2 at 8:30 PM. More to follow soon.
Tuesday January 23, 2007
Happy Birthday Steve!!
This month seems to be going by a lot quicker than it looked on paper. Far from being idle, there have been rehearsals, tuneups and gear purchases, Drew and Peter are hitting the books and soloing at Speisekammer, Michael dragged Steve into the studio to help work on some original music and Bill is minding the store. However, February is just over the horizon and all the pieces come together again on Friday Feb. 9 when we appear at the El Campanil Theatre for our first show of 2007. After that the weekends begin to slowly fill in and by March the dates will be popping up like wildflowers. We look forward to sharing another year with you and hope to see you again soon!
Monday January 1, 2007
Happy New Year everybody!! With the bustle of life amid the holidays now in the rear view mirror, there's now time to slip a word or two into our little blogosphere. We could devote a couple hundred of them just to last night's NYE show at the Little Fox Theatre. Sold out days in advance, this show seemed as eagerly anticpated by you as it was for us. The Little Fox always makes us feel welcome and besides that, the place just plain rocks. Ably assisted by opening act Tin Man's energetic set, we swam in a sea of love from the moment we hit the stage until well into 2007. We believe the energy in that room was as close to a fountain of youth as exists in nature and wonder if it could possibly be bottled. Thank you everyone who helped cap our best year ever in fine style and especially that handful of loyal fans who managed to hit all of our December shows. Stockton's Empire Theatre, the Main Street Brewery in Pleasanton and the King's Head in Campbell, we'll be back again! January will be a quiet month for us as we take a break from the stage to gear up for what already appears to be another busy year and we invite you to stick around for the ride. On behalf of the group and ourselves, we hope your holidays were merry and bright and wish you all the best in the new year.
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