Monday February 8

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
RESIDENT SELECTORS DJ JACQUES & DJ GUACAMOLE
& special guests to be announced

Thursday February 11

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
gypsy funk / boogie breaks / electro beat

NICK THAYER
(bombstrikes, AUS)
www.myspace.com/djnickthayer

We should dub Nick somet' ing hip hop, highballing and staunch like Rubik Exclusive. But, Nick it is, or Thayer or Thayos, or just Nicko when you need a remix done. I chose Rubik Exclusive because currently there is no other DJ who drops a more mixed up, OG, 100% exclusive set than Thayofanus. EVERY TRACK HE PLAYS he has touched. Blogs don’t have it, kids can’t get it, average Joe wants it, but alas that’s what people pay to hear. Expect a set to be his edit, his exclusive, his new one, his remix, his mash up, his lick shot one time air horn. It’s got his funk “all over your face”. Damn I just heard his Mario Bros Vs Too Short mash again on our National Radio station. What made you think that Too Short has anything to do with a bunch of turtle stompin, digital, Italian laborer’s?. They all put in work. Ok, I know that the results send kids wild but…You know for some bizarro reason Nick keeps mentioning Peter Gabriel, Freddie Murcury and all their bands as a huge influence in his work. By no means would this surmise M-E-L-B’s Nick Thayer, but in an odd way he has entered through the back door like his special peers. I hope I was one of his peers once, because those tables have turned (literally) and I am after him for all the Serato tricks, publishing rights and label copy info. Ante was up when the bedroom producer we all know, took to the stage one NYE with his band to showcase his new work. We witnessed the disco, funk, guitar lick, drum n assss built into a massive showcase of all his talent. Melbourne stand up, Mondo Rock sit down. Your home town needs you more Mr Thay Slay. The situation stands, it will be business hours AUS EST and he’ll be in Antwerp or some Canadian chalet sipping cognacs with A & R’s and A Skills and you’re trying to get him to fill a spot. “Yeah…Ok…. go get your snowboard on, rock the Aussie ex pats, but do you think you can make it back to do the 3 -5?” It’s not like Nick to be braggadocio about it, that’s how you do when your hussle is non stop. He drops new material 24 - 7 - 365 on all these well trained club cats. Over 30 ‘official’ releases to date, a wild amount of remixes and sample packs with publishing gold and TV ads “Oh What a Feeling!!!!”. That’s what I think he said after winning a Breakspoll (Google that!!!). I have witnessed Nick casually trade CDR’s, Mp3s, and zshare files, palm to palm, email to email with the best DJ’s and labels in the world. These aren’t new drink coasters for the Plump DJs, these are bonafied W.M.D.’s. It’s the hussle, it’s the hard work ethic, and it has allowed a world platform from a humble North Melbourne sound lab. Training up in Melbourne clubs makes you take the world of music, then give back the eclectic nature. That’s the Melbourne sound, that is the rukus of Thayer. OK, you could imagine Nick at Fabric, or MoS, or in Cali dropping some hyphy, but I have been able to drop trax with him at our local, which we are both proud of, but he keeps me stunned at how he holds tight every Saturday. It’s Melbourne’s premiere underground club, Revolver, and his set has inspired many dizzy spells. 7 or so years keeping them moving, I think his sweat is in the floor along with the pilsners, jagerbombs, icey poles, hoover bass and possibly 10 pounds of secreted Dunlop Volleys. The club’s neighbor Frank should get the authorities onto Nick as he leaves, instead of giving management the shits. Wait to you get an ear full of his ’09 album Frank, then you’ll wake the funk up. No Thayos don’t hurt ‘em.

along with...
MALARKEY
CHANGO B

+ LIVE VENDING BY ABSTRACT ELEMENTS
+ LIVE PAINTING BY NEAL BARBOSA
+ LIVE VISUAL GUMBO BY MAL-EYE

Friday February 12

Juke Joint presents
LoCURA
latin / reggae / flamenco
www.myspace.com/locuramusica

CUBA. JAMAICA. CALIFORNIA. Direct from San Francisco's vibrant music scene, this ensemble draws from the many genres that have strong traditions in the Bay Area, bringing them together into their own distinctive sound. LoCura’s music is strongly rooted in Flamenco, deepened through their time living in southern Spain and traveling in Morocco. But it is in the way LoCura mixes and moves in and out of other musical styles, like Reggae, Cuban Son, and Hip-Hop carried by the powerful performance and the soulful vocals of lead singer Kata, that results in an irresistible desire to move and be moved. In Spain the expression "Ida y Vuelta" is used to describe certain styles within Flamenco that made a "round-trip" from Spain to Latin America, mixing with music from the African slave and Indigenous populations. With this idea of music traveling and music as creative resistance, LoCura takes the trip back again mixing it up with their own Califas Flamenkito, Reggae, and Cuban Son styles. As the name implies, LoCura taps into the maelstrom of daily experiences to find that point where opposites meet and dance to convey the way different musical traditions can move so fluidly together. Moved by the music that crosses borders and takes root in different lands, LoCura draws from this creative 'rebelde' spirit to cultivate the cures passed on from our ancestors. Locura...one word: madness. Separated into two, lo cura: it cures it. Two words found within one, the cure within the madness. The idea that beauty and love can blossom from chaos, bringing dreams to life where another world is possible. A remedy found in the craziness of this life, allowing the possibility for change. Through their music LoCura hopes to provide a catalyst for transformation and healing.

Along with
DIEGOS UMBRELLA
mexi-cali / gypsy / pirate polka

“Spanish Surf? Mexicali Gypsy Pirate Polka? It’s kinda hard to place…but really easy to enjoy!” This reaction is quite common for San Francisco-based pioneers Diego’s Umbrella. So, imagine dancing uncontrollably in a border town cantina while singing along to an infectious Tarantino-like soundtrack, being belted out by Irish mariachi gypsies, that’s reminiscent of Buena Vista Social Club, Gotan Project, Flogging Molly, Sublime, Gogol Bordello and The Clash. Regardless how you attempt to explain it, this group has emerged as one of the most innovative and ear-catching voices from the Bay Area with their unique musical hybrid of flamenco-Latin-driven gypsy rock songs. The brainchild of Vaughn Lindstrom and Tyson Maulhardt, this musical ensemble recorded their first album in 2001. The release of their 5th album Viva la Juerga in late 2007 possesses a high energy feel incorporating more of a rock, ska, klezmer sound into the already eclectic mix. They will be releasing their 6th full-length studio album, Double Panther, in October 2009. In early 2008, Diego’s Umbrella launched a national radio campaign with Tinderbox Music for Viva la Juerga and was ranked #129 in the CMJ top 200 Music Charts. Beyond radio play, several DU songs were featured in the X-Dance-award-winning documentary Sofia, the Quiksilver/Roxy surf DVD Shimmer, as well as CBS’ Elimination Station. Released in early 2009, the Lionsgate comedy “Still Waiting” features 3 songs by Diego’s Umbrella. Often dressed in elaborate home-made outfits, these urban gringo mariachis have performed well over 800 live shows. In addition to continuous tours of the American west, Diego’s Umbrella is touring Europe for the third time this fall. The band has held a weekly residency at the Park Chalet in San Francisco since July 2005 and continues to play every Tuesday night at the famous bar and restaurant. DU has also become a frequent and popular act at private events such as weddings and corporate parties for large-scale clients including Macy’s, Quiksilver, Google, Microsoft and The Hilton Hotel. Whether you want a fun, refreshing style of music to dance to or something for a captivated, sit down audience, Diego’s Umbrella can fit the bill perfectly.

spindelabra by
DJ MALARKEY
free chocolate all night
ambiance by Juke Joint

Saturday February 13

HopMonk presents
JACOB FRED JAZZ ODESSY 
jazz / electronica / psychedelic
www.jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is a band founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma consisting of Brian Haas on piano, Josh Raymer on drums, Chris Combs on lap steel, and Matt Hayes on double bass. To say that JFJO's music transcends boundaries and expands minds is an understatement. JFJO's music generates an all-encompasing sensory experience for the listener. Since 1994, the JFJO collective has brought their impressionistic and improvisational vision from the Midwest's Bible-Belt to many of the world's finest music festivals and clubs. Music lovers are blown away by JFJO's instrumental virtuosity and creativity, musical risk, and near telepathic communication on stage. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is the evolution of an ongoing musical discourse that's been developed during 16 years of touring.

Starting out in Tulsa, OK as a funky octet with MCs and horns, JFJO became an instrumental trio in 1999 and a quartet at the end of 2008. The band is known for having invented it's own improvisatory language, one which has permeated JFJO's sound regardless of it's configuration. Over the past 16 years JFJO has become one of the foremost contemporary jazz bands in the world. In that time the band has released over 18 records and toured the top venues of the world such as the Damrosch Bandshell at Lincoln Center in NYC, Blue Note NYC & Milan Italy, Yoshi's in Oakland, Bimhuis in Amsterdam and the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh, Scotland to name a few. JFJO has also frequented the jazz festival circuit, performing across the globe from Berlin to Brazil to Finland and back. The band recently performed some of their highest profile festival performances to date, such as the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival, and the Cork Jazz Festival in Ireland, where the band won a Guinness Jazz Award.

These four musicians are musical chameleons who can move crowds in small jazz clubs, big rock clubs and performing arts theaters. Flourishing in the "jam" scene as well, the band has opened for Mike Gordon of Phish, Sound Tribe Sector Nine (sts9), Les Claypool, and held main-stage slots at many of the scene's largest festivals. Due to their genre-bending sound, the band is known for drawing it's audience from a wide range of demographics. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey just finished a 36 city North American tour in support of their new EP 'One Day in Brooklyn'. The EP was released on September 1st and marks the debut of the new quartet lineup in the studio setting. In addition, the EP is the first release on JFJO's new record label, Kinnara Records, which is distributed by Sony Red/MRI. The new quartet lineup, album, and tour have received rave reviews from Billboard and Downbeat to the New York Times and the LA Weekly. A description of JFJO's quartet sound is in order for those yet to hear the new lineup -- this is after all a band once described by Signal To Noise as having "a breadth and vision nearly untouched in modern jazz except by the likes of Wayne Shorter and Bill Frisell." With the addition of Combs on lap steel and Hayes on acoustic bass, JFJO has perhaps invented its own genre: Red Dirt Jazz. This new sound is equal parts earthy and nimble, pastoral and sweeping, elegant and rollicking. JFJO is tapping into their birthright, drawing upon "The Tulsa Sound" born of hometown heroes like Bob Wills, JJ Cale, and Leon Russell. These roots grow up into a jazz foundation that's built firmly upon the likes of Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. Highlighting their vast array of musical influences, the band is in the midst of executing their largest project ever entitled 'LUDWIG', consisting of JFJO's innovative reinterpretations of Beethoven's 3rd & 6th symphonies. Whittled down and reconstituted in a modern light, JFJO brings Beethoven to life in a new and exciting manner. Channeling the spirits of not only Beethoven & Karajan but Led Zeppelin & Radiohead as well, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey are turning Beethoven's 3rd & 6th symphonies into modern music for today's audiences. The band has taken 'Eroica' & 'Pastoral' and transformed the symphonies into contemporary music for the young and old alike. In June 2010 the band will debut the world premier of the 'Ludwig' project live at the 2010 OK Mozart festival with a 45 piece orchestra. Having completed their album release tour the band has returned to Tulsa to begin the process of laying down tracks for their next Kinnara Records release, a full length LP highlighting the wealth of new compositions being created by this fertile quartet. After 16 years JFJO's music continues to offer a unique and different sound that exhibits a rare form of abstract yet accessible musical freedom and inquiry. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey has blossomed into one of the most visionary and fearless bands touring the world today.

Also
Jason Bodlovich Group
www.jasonbodlovich.com
www.myspace.com/jasonbodlovich

Jason Bodlovich is a North Bay instrumental guitarist and leader of the JBG. J has been awarded the Norbay(North Bay Music Award) two times in jazz category including 2009. Also in 2009 J performed at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival's "Rising Stars" showcase and the Sonoma Jazz Guitar Summit. Eclectic is a good word to use when describing J's sound as he incorporates many styles into original compositions including rock, jazz, funk, blues, Brazilian and more. J's influences include the bluesrock stylings of Hendrix, Santana and Jimmy Page; The funk of The Meters, Parliament/Funkadelic & James Brown; the technical prowess of instrumental rock guitarist Jeff Beck & Joe Satriani; and the exploration of jazz guitarists Julian Lage, Bill Frissel & John Scofield. Miles Davis and Medeski, Martin & Wood are top influences as well.

Jason Bodlovich Group (JBG) features Brian Rashap-bass and James Stafford-drums. All three musicians met while attending music studies at Sonoma State University and would play with reggae group Groundation at one time. JBG is currently supporting debut release, "Hammerhead", featuring nine funkrock driven originals. Tight arrangements, adventurous improv sections and a heavy groove-driven backdrop describes the JBG sound.

Sunday February 14

HopMonk presents...
Our 2nd annual cabaret burlesque dinner show soirée

with
KISS QUE C'EST 
Why be nice... when you could get naughty?

A spicy seductive sauce pan of performers waiting to dazzle you with vintage raunchiness ! Class meets sass with a dash of zest that will leave you feeling tingly all over. Whistle like a sailor & bark like a pirate as we transform this sweet holiday of love into a little dirty burlesque show for lovers.

with performers...
- Miss Mae Western 
- Pin Key Lee
- Buzz B
- Lady Satan
- Ruby White
- Honey Penny
- Svetlana Sateen

Salad
Red Endive with Candied Pecans, Feta and Raspberry Dressing

Entrée
Choice of Tenderloin of Pork w/ Fig Compote over Sweet Carrot Mash and red wine reduction
Or
Vegetarian Moussaka Eggplant, zucchini and artichoke layered with olives and cheese

Desert
Chocolate swirled Cheese Cake w/white chocolate strawberries

Monday February 15

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
MNE “SINGERS SERIES” SPECIAL EVENT

Special guest
Live & Direct from Jamaica . . .
NORRIS MAN W/ The 7th St. Band & The Brass Matic Horns

Norris Man has arrived on the music scene to give you music for your soul. In a time where substance is crucial for good lyrics, Norris Man couldn't have arrived at a better time with his proficient songwriting. From his debut album "Persistence" (VP Records 2000) you can hear his melodic reggae chanting and singing style. His latest album for Jah Scout Records Limited "Better Your Soul" is filled with sweet, warm, uplifting melodies and sophisticated lyrics. Persistence is what you can expect throughout the new millennium from this talented young recording artist from Jamaica, who has just finished a year of touring, performing to packed houses and music festivals throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Africa alongside Anthony B. His live performance presents a high stepping, locks flying, solid performer. Listen to his lyrics and you'll hear the versatile and creative intelligence of Norris Man.

Born and raised in the notorious Trenchtown and Arnett Gardens area of Kingston, Jamaica, Christopher Campbell, now known as Norris Man had Bob Marley as a hometown hero to inspire his immersion into the musical arena. As a young boy Norris Man (named because of his enthusiasm for karate king Chuck Norris) would sit under a tree to write his own songs of redemption. Feeling music within him, Norris could not ignore his gift of singing and performing. In the Kingston
dancehalls of his youth, older sound boys would hoist ten year-old Norris on top a Guiness box and hand him the mic to stir up the dance. Such experiences lit the musical fire for this ghetto youth. From
there his musical journey began.

As he matured, Norris Man gained the respect of sound-systems throughout the city with his unique toasting and singing style. By age 22, he began recording songs in some of Kingston's most reputable recording studios such as Black Scorpio, Leggo, and Celestial Sounds Studio. By the mid-nineties, Norris found himself fully committed to his faith as a Rastafarian, wherein he experienced a shift in his consciousness to a higher spiritual and musical level. He created lyrical content that became more potent, more socially uplifting, and more meaningful. With this devotion, he recorded "Love and Affection" at Buju Banton's Cellblock studio. From there, Norris Man went on to
Celestial Sounds Studio to record "Congo Shanty" and "Ever-living Soul" at which time he met some of his most prolific producers to date: Iley Dread of Kings of Kings, Richard "Bello" Bell of Star Trail
Records and Colin McGregor of Jah Scout Records. During this period, Norris Man, with the assistance of Cordel "Skatta" Burrell's golden touch on the mixing board, recorded his groundbreaking songs:
"Persistence", "Hold Onto Your Faith", and "Bad Road" all on the "Persistence" album. At Sting 98 (Jamaica's biggest dancehall show)

Norris Man performed "Persistence", his biggest hit in the dancehall market so far. Likewise, the songs "Hold Onto Your Faith" and "Bad Road" are revered as reggae anthems.

Norris Man's new album "Better Your Soul" takes you into many realms. Songwriting and his creative melodic style are valuable tools for keeping his songs authentic and innovative. He uses his talent on all tracks to convey his faith into conscientious and inspiring songs about life, love and liberation. Norris Man demonstrates his eclectic and varied vocal styles with his collaborations with executive producer Colin McGregor of Jah Scout Records, producer Rankin Scroo of Crucial Youth Productions, hip hop artist Money B from Digital Underground, and producer Dia Fearon of Builder's Music. Ranging from
Rastaman chanting and singing to R&B flavored love songs and hip hop grooves, "Better Your Soul" shows there is no limit to this artist's musical exploration.

Wednesday February 17

World Beyond Productions presents
The Bridge
blues / funk / soul
www.thebridgemusic.com

The Bridge is a unique rock band whose music combines elements of blues and roots, spiced with funk and soul. They have recently become known coast-to-coast, and even in Europe, for their gritty and grand live performances and poignantly hand-crafted albums. Following in the tradition of classic / southern roots rock, and flavoring their sound with Americana sensibilities, the band has built their own niche between the jam, country, and bluegrass genres. 

The band's roots date back to 2001, when guitarist & vocalist Cris Jacobs reunited, post college, with high school friend Kenny Liner (who'd recently returned from living in Hawaii and learning the mandolin). They found an immediate chemistry playing music together, and would go onto create The Bridge by osmosis. They played countless regional shows, working on each other's material, experimenting with bands members and ultimately woodshedding the band until it locked into focus. Jacobs and Liner solidified the The Bridge's core line-up with the addition of saxophonist Patrick Rainey, bassist Dave Markowitz and drummer Mike Gambone.

Thursday February 18 (daytime)

HopMonk & Krush present...
Free noontime concert recording for the Krush's Thursday Night Live with...

ALO
rock / pop / jam
www.alomusic.com

ALO is not a band that dwells in the past. They are always moving forward. Always striving to discover new ideas. Always looking to go on new adventures. Their latest adventure, Man of the World (to be released February 9, 2010 on Brushfire Records), finds the Cali collective flexing their considerable creative powers to craft their finest album yet. Recorded almost entirely live, the 11-song collection is the sound of four players who have truly found their groove together. This is ALO at their most natural, their most organic and their most pure.

Man of the World is the next level for ALO. Man of the World was engineered by the band's steady studio partner Dave Simon-Baker and produced by none other than Jack Johnson, a longtime friend and musical collaborator. The singer/songwriter/producer was a natural fit with ALO. "It felt like he joined the band for the album," drummer Dave Brogan admits. "He was very hands on. If he thought he could add something to a track, he was willing to go for it. And we were more than happy to let him." Johnson brought a new element to the group's creative process. "In a really great way, Jack shook things up for us," guitarist Lebo adds. "Most of us in the band have been playing together since we were 13 and we've fallen into patterns. Jack got us to rethink how we do things."
read more = http://www.alomusic.com/presskit.html

Thursday February 18 (night time)

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
gypsy funk / boogie breaks / electro beat

INI
birthday / cd release party!!
(juke joint, optimistic music, SEB)
www.myspace.com/ianbuell

Born on the countryside of west Sonoma County (Northern California) to the music of classical composer Eric Satie, Ian was destined for a life involved with music. He began with a drum set in his youth, moved to hand percussions in his teens and finally landed on turntables in his early twenties. Having a classical foundation as a strong backbone enabled Ian to grasp dance beats with precision in their simplicity. Ian's birth into electronic music began in the late nineties in San Francisco during the last run of quality underground parties. Soon after Ian found himself with other like-minded people: looking to create. Deep house has been the key staple in Ian's reputation from the get go. Not your five in the morning deep house, but your 12:30AM "let's get down and sexy" deep house. This sub-genre coincides perfectly with Ian's mellow attitude and humble personality, reflected in only a moment's time of meeting him. Ian's diversity does not merely rest there, as he has mastered the art of "down-tempo" beats as well. He blends subtle hints of jazz, blues, soul and hip-hop into a flurry of eclectic beats that always keep the vibe expansive and mysterious. Between styles, Ian covers much ground in his home of LA where he holds down several weeklies in Hollywood and the greater area. Now graduated from recording arts school, Ian works more of the industry in such fields as postproduction, audio engineering and live sound reinforcement. He also produces and operates in his personal studio at home. His experience in the audio industry continues to grow, as does his hunger for it. Having just co-produced and performed on a full-length album titled Dope On Plastic on the Xact Productions (label to be released in 2007), Ian maintains a steadfast ethic that produces a class-A product with a big smile.

along with...
SELECTOR SCIENCE
(bare bulb project, ARCATA)
www.myspace.com/selectorscience

and...
MALARKEY
CHANGO B

+ LIVE VENDING BY ABSTRACT ELEMENTS
+ LIVE PAINTING BY NEAL BARBOSA
+ LIVE VISUAL GUMBO BY MAL-EYE

Friday February 19

HopMonk presents
THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND
folk / rock / bluegrass
www.dirtydozenbrass.com
www.myspace.com/dirtydozenbrass
www.twitter.com/dirtydozen

For a band that has always been known for pushing boundaries forward, it was a bit of a dilemma when the Dirty Dozen Brass Band were faced with the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of their debut release, “My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now.” The album heralded the coming of a new breed of brass band in the city of New Orleans, and for that matter, around the world.

So how does a band known for their Dirty Dozen Brass Band Tourdates: In conjunction with the release, the Dirty Dozen will continue the celebration throughout 2010 by performing the album, “My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now,” in it’s entirety. While the Dozen have always been known for reinventing and rearranging their stellar catalog, this tour will find the band digging deep into the repertoire and revisiting certain pieces that haven’t been played live since the original release of the album and earlier. Of course over time, tracks such as the title track and Blackbird Special have become showstoppers throughout the band’s career, songs like “I Ate Up the Apple Tree” and “Mary Mary” have been on the proverbial shelf for far too long. Don’t be surprised when banjos and marching drums return to the stage with ‘em.

along with...
L' FIASCO

Saturday February 20

HopMonk presents
THE GREEN STRING FARM BAND
folk / rock / bluegrass
thestrongsauce.com

They make pesticide free music. No overdubs, no edits, RAW. Like conventional farming, our belief is that the creation of music has become overproduced, poisoned by progress and ignores where we have come from.

Organic farming is not new, it has just been rediscovered… our music is the same. We are not doing anything new, just reminding people of our American musical history and folding in our unique Sonoma County perspective.

The Green String Farm Band was born on a single day of live recording in a 1900’s school house on the farm itself. We chose original and traditional material with the grand plan to make people happy. This is ruff, real and to be sung out loud together.

along with...
MR DECEMBER
bluegrass / acoustic / folk
www.misterdecember.com

Mr December has been kicking down doors, slipping through cracked window panes, and like a small monster has been playing and playing and playing throughout the Northbay since 2004. Two individuals. Friends. Bi-pedaled with features manicured slightly above Hobo, Jimmy Horn and Andy Tester have the envy of all as they bring one of the smallest and one of the biggest stringed instruments to the soapbox, to the street corner, to the stage.

Mr. December is a Ukulele and Bass duo that sings mostly original tunes! Folk Stomp! Bluegrass! Oldtimey! Jazz! Soft Boiled! Hard Boiled!!! All blended into your soupy concoction to help you smile. In 2008 Mr. December released their first album Pants, and in 2009 received the NORBAY for Best Folk/Accoustic act. With appearances at The Handcar Regatta in Santa Rosa, The Maker Faire in San Mateo, and that restaurant you got drunk at last week, Mr. December is ranked #1 in the categories of customer satisfaction and prickly facial hair.

also...
JAVIER

There is something to Javier's music.  It is rock and folk and even pop in the sense that if his album "Little One" made its way to your local record shop you would find it in the Rock/POP/ Soul section.  

You might try to slap a category on him and his songs, but for Javier it is less about labels and more about feeling. It's like when you are really hungry and you find something on the menu that is just right.

Joined by his long-time friend and musical sounding board John D. Kennedy on drums and high harmonies, Javier, native to the North Bay, is equally suited for the stage to the saloon to your neighbor's living room.

This is good, un-inflated music that seems familiar and has a groove.

Sunday February 21

HopMonk presents
VAGABOND OPERA
indie / jazz / experimentalvagabondopera.com

European Cabaret! Vintage Americana! Balkan Belly Dance! Neo-Classical Opera! Old World Yiddish Theater! Welcome to the six-piece, Portland, Oregon-based Vagabond Opera.

Bohemian Cabaret ensemble Vagabond Opera is described by the Washington Post as “A band of ceaseless charisma, boundless energy, impeccable musicianship and more than a little touch of both the naughty and exotic.” The group delivers passionate offerings of Bohemian cabaret for young and old. Paris hot jazz, gut bucket swing, tangos, Ukrainian folk-punk ballads, klezmer and vigorous originals meet a world of riverboat gambling queens, Turkish belly dancers, and the enigmatic Marlene Dietrich. Weaving elements of Kurt Weil, Duke Ellington and Edith Piaf with absurdist flair, theatrics and an old world mood, Vagabond Opera presents the new wave of opera–lusty voices singing in 13 languages and presenting a cabaret of rich musical phrasing, sparkling lyrics and indomitable stage presence, all played with exuberance, skill and a gritty Vagabond edge.

This is Opera liberated and reinvented for everyone! The band’s lineup features trained operatic tenor and soprano vocals, accordion, tenor saxophone, two cellos, stand-up bass, and drums. Guest performers and dancers often appear with the ensemble. Vagabond Opera is at the vanguard of a growing popularity in the Neo-cabaret phenomenon, and through their theatrical performances, lyrics in 13 languages, and an eclectic repertoire, they liberate opera from its usual construct, expanding musical and theatrical biodiversity.

Vagabond Opera has performed all over the USA and in Europe. They have been featured on NPR, in the Washington Post and Jazziz Magazine, and have shared stages and players with such acclaimed acts as Pink Martini, Devotchka, The Decembrists, Balkan Beat Box, Al Franken, and the Oregon Symphony. Vagabond opera has three full-length albums Vagabond Opera was created in 2002 by European-trained opera singer and composer Eric Stern. Then disillusioned with the classical opera world, Stern created a new context for opera: Performance on a more intimate scale incorporating not only opera but elements of Weimar Cabaret, Arabic and Balkan forms, and the original music that springs from the ensemble’s fertile creative work. This is not your granny’s opera, but a visceral artistic ensemble that features powerful instrumental and vocal performances coupled with a highly eclectic and theatrical experience.

Also appearing
The Lemon Lime Lights
alternative / glam / post punk
www.lemonlimelights.com
www.myspace.com/lemonlimelights



Springing from the soft underbelly of Eastbania, The Lemon Lime Lights mine the rich ore of Eastbanian folk music traditions. With Tangos, Waltzes, and Punk Rock, the show gets better with each passing drink. (We call it Junkyard Cabaret, but what do we know?)  *may also include monkeys, hobos, and showgirls*...

Monday February 22

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
RESIDENT SELECTORS DJ JACQUES & DJ GUACAMOLE
& special guests to be announced

Thursday February 25

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
gypsy funk / boogie breaks / electro beat

MC YOGI "live"
(yoga toes studio, Point Reyes)
www.mcyogi.com

Experience a world where ancient myths meet modern turntables and tablas. Shaking speakers with conscious lyrics and sacred mantras, MC Yogi gets the dance floor jumping with his signature style of yoga inspired hip hop. MC Yogi grew up painting graffiti & listening to hip hop music. At age fourteen, inspired by artists like the Beastie Boys & Run DMC he began writing his own raps and free styling for friends at house parties. MC Yogi spent most of his high school years at a group home for at-risk youth. During those turbulent years, Hip Hop culture provided both a soundtrack and a creative outlet. Then at age eighteen, he joined his father for a meditation intensive with a famous spiritual teacher from India. Deeply moved by this powerful experience, he devoted himself to learning everything he could about the ancient discipline. He continues to study the physical forms of yoga, as well as meditation, philosophy, and devotional chanting. MC Yogi's Debut Album, Elephant Power, combines his loves of yoga and hip hop music and features guest performances by kirtan masters Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, and Bhagavan Das. MC Yogi, helped make history when he released his video " Vote for Hope" in support of Barack Obama. Through an incredible grassroots network, the video reached over a million people in less than three weeks leading up to election day. MC Yogi's Elephant Power is a best seller in the yoga market and has been in the top 20 world music albums on itunes for over a year.

and...
MALARKEY

+ LIVE VENDING BY ABSTRACT ELEMENTS
+ LIVE PAINTING BY NEAL BARBOSA
+ LIVE VISUAL GUMBO BY MAL-EYE

Friday February 26

NEW MONSOON
jam band / rock / experimental

San Francisco’s rock quintet, New Monsoon, has been transforming audiences across the country into dedicated fans with a relentless touring schedule.

Their exhilarating marriage of acoustic and electric instruments comes together in an irresistible blend of sophisticated songcraft, inventive musical exploration and down home rock-n-roll. The band’s just released album New Monsoon V was produced, mixed and engineered by John Cutler, best known for his production work with The Grateful Dead on the platinum album In the Dark (co-produced with Jerry Garcia) and Without a Net (co-produced with Phil Lesh) and the Jerry Garcia Band’s How Sweet It Is. Jambase raves that “New Monsoon V moves with muscular dexterity, avoiding overplaying at every turn, always serving the songs and one another in a way only thousands of shows and countless hours of woodshedding can produce.”

New Monsoon was conceived when Penn State friends Bo Carper and Jeff Miller reconnected in northern California. Carper's rootsy acoustic finger style as foil for Miller's inspired melodies, the pair sowed the seeds of the New Monsoon sound. During the recording of the band's first album Hydrophonic, the band tapped long-time east coast friend Phil "The Pianimal" Ferlino for keyboards. Blown away by the project, Ferlino immediately moved to San Francisco and joined the band on-stage at the 2001 High Sierra Music Festival. Strong vocals and harmonies, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, bass and keyboards, unify the musical styles of New Monsoon's influences, which are as diverse as rock gods Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Santana, bluesman Mississippi John Hurt and world music pioneers Tito Puente, Shakti and Peter Gabriel.

New Monsoon's music is an experience of textures, rhythms, ideas and moods. New Monsoon V is the culmination of years of touring, collaboration, heart, soul and love and respect between the band and its fans. New Monsoon has played a laundry list of major music festivals, from Bonnaroo to Summerfest and in January 2007 they played to a sold-out Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. As Miller recently stated, “One thing about our scene is people are still going out to support live music. God bless them for it." In this age of digital music and file sharing, the fact the band’s live performances matter so much to the band and its fans is a testament to New Monsoon’s musicianship and passion.

Also appearing
HILLSIDE FIRE
rock / jam / indie
www.myspace.com/hillsidefire www.facebook.com/hillsidefire www.hillsidefiremusic.com

Formed in 2007 in the hills of small town Petaluma, Hillside Fire fuses a blend of Heavy Rock, Funk and Blues. A fresh band working hard and keeping active in the Bay Area opening for national touring acts such as Johnny Winter, Blue Oyster Cult, Pato Banton, Tommy Castro, The Expendables, and A.L.O.

In August, Hillside Fire released their debut album 'Avoid The Rush' and continue D.I.Y. tours of California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and beyond....

Sebastian Nau-Vocals, Guitar and Keys
Travis James-Guitar, Vocals, Banjo and
Mandolin Taylor James-Bass Garrett
James-Keys, Organ, Vocals, and Spirtitual Advisor
Shane Schlick-Drums and Percussion

Saturday February 27

Double D Presents...
WOMP SESSIONS 10.1
dubstep / glitch / crunk

Featuring...
MiMOSA
psychedelic stereo tour http://www.myspace.com/tigranmimosa

Mimosa takes listeners on a journey through warm rhythmic sound-scapes, with melodies and vocal samples smoothly crafted to help navigate the sonic terrain. Using basslines inspired by hip-hop classics like Too Short and Dr Dre, combined with deep psychedelic textures reminiscent of the downtempo and midtempo output by Tipper and Bluetech, Mimosa blends the range of styles to create his own fresh take on the west coast sound.

Monday March 1

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
RESIDENT SELECTORS DJ JACQUES & DJ GUACAMOLE
& special guests to be announced

Wednesday March 3
(every 1st Wedneday)

HopMonk presents
A DEAD DANCE
w/ THE THUGZ
jam band / psychedelic / americana 

Behind the stage at the Pink Elephant tavern in Monte Rio is a painting of an old-time bar scene in which a large-breasted, scantily clad bartender serves a customer while a similarly adorned woman dances with a bear in front of the bar. This picture served as the backdrop on a misty December night when the band, The Thugz, brought their road show to the tavern known to locals as "The Pink", every Thursday.

The band's name is an abbreviation for the phrase "Tribal Hippie Underground Zone." Their music consists of originals and Grateful Dead songs, mixed with songs by Bob dylan, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Coburn, Donovan Leitch and other artists.

Mike Campbell, who founded The Thugz, said he and the band members like the Dead because "their music encompasses so many styles and has an element of improvisation." The dance floor at The Pink was alive with bodies, young and old, grooving to Mike Campbell on guitar, Sylvia Murphy on keyboard, Chris Lushington on a headless, 5-string bass(for an extended lower range), Terry Anne Gillette on violin, Andre de Channes on guitar and Ian Favell on Drums. Mike and Sylvia do most of the singing, and the band harmonizes well, working from a repertoire of over 150 songs.

Campbell was born in Bangor, Maine but was transported to Fremont, CA at age four by his parents. The family had a cabin in Cazadero where they took frequent holidays. When Campbell fled Fremont in the 1960s to "escape the asphalt," he said, the river area seemed a natural connection to his past, as well as a place with many live music venues. "All the San Francisco bands like the Grateful Dead came from the city to play here," Campbell noted. He recalled long-gone venues like the old Rio Nido dance hall and the roller rink behind the Rio Theater.

Nowadays, Campbell observed, the music scene is shrinking. "There are a lot of musicians but not many venues," he said. Campbell lives up the coast in Timber Cove where and Murphy also lives in the Timber Cove area. Both Campbell and Murphy are teachers by profession. Campbell taught music at Tomales High School and Murphy, a Berkeley native, currently teaches at Fort Ross School.

Campbell, whose first instrument was a bugle his father brought back from World War II, found it a natural progression to join the school band as a trumpet player. He had learned to enjoy "making a lot of racket," he said. When the Beatles hit the scene, he immediately wanted a guitar, like everyone else. His parents told him only "riff-raff" play the guitar and bought him a ukulele instead. Campbell recalled with a smile that listening to him try to play rock music on a ukulele drove his parents "nuts," so they finally gave in and bought him a guitar and he hasn't looked back since.

One of the new additions to the band is Andre de Channes on guitar. He is also a DJ at The Krush (KRSH 95.9 Santa Rosa), a native of Montreal, and played in such bands as "East Of Eden", and Los Angeles based band, "Velvet Chain".

The other stellar addition to The THUGZ is drummer extraordinaire, Ian Favell who is a talented multi-instrumentalist. Ian's sense of timing along with his excellent musical sense, make him seem like he's playing the drums melodically and not just beating them up. Ian has also played bass with the Bob Lucas Trio (jazz), The Heavies, Soulvine, and The Crazy.

Thursday March 4

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
funk / breaks / boogie

J BOOGIE'S DUBTRONIC SCIENCE "live"
soul / world / dub
(om records, SF)
www.jboogie.com

San Francisco resident and world-renowned DJ/producer J-Boogie continues to challenge the boundar- ies of the music world across genres, styles, languages and borders throughout his 18-year career. This truly unique artist speaks to his listeners through a diverse musical language he created integrating techniques and musical genres including dub, soul, hip–hop, reggae, funk, Latin, afro-beat, bhangra, dancehall, disco, electro and house.

Constantly revolutionizing the game, creating new sounds, and always keeping fans on their feet, J-Boogie continues to lift music to its full potential through his distinct approach and one-of-a-kind style. J-Boogie has delivered his masterful mix of culture, soul, rhythm and beats both at home in the Bay Area through his award-winning radio program “Beatsauce” on KUSF, and around the globe spinning DJ sets in countries like Colom- bia, India, Japan, and Spain. J-Boogie’s local success has earned him awards such as “SF’s Best Club DJ” by SF Weekly, "SF’s Best Radio & Club DJ" by citysearch.com and "Best Hip–Hop Radio Show" by SF Bay Guardian. His global success has earned him acclaim and opportunities worldwide, including spots on radio and television both here and abroad, sportswear sponsorships, and the oppor- tunity to DJ the Tokyo Dome for an NFL football game.

By popular demand, J-Boogie’s DJ skills have landed him bookings in world-class clubs such as Turntables on the Hudson, APT, Deep Space NYC, 18th Street Lounge, Halo, Temple Bar, Afro Funke, Root Down, Firecracker, The Do Over and Deep LA. He has also graced the stage on tour with Widespread Panic, Bassnectar and Spearhead, and has opened for legends like George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Mark Farina, Louie Vega, DJ Krush, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Breakestra, RJD2, PPP, and Nickodemus. Throughout the years, J-Boogie has also provided musical ecstasy for millions, blowing it up on the festival circuit at Bumbershoot, Bonnaroo, SXSW, WMC, Harmony Fest, Earthdance, High Sierra, Power to the Peaceful and Burning Man. to be a DJ. With this groundbreaking concept, J-Boogie has created a new realm of live performance and a new type of record. J-Boogie brings this exclusive style to life with his band “Dubtronic Science” in live sets as well as in their self-titled debut album that dropped in 2003, featuring artists like Goapele, Gina Rene, People Under the Stairs, Capitol A and Tony Moses. For his latest album , Soul Vibrations, J-Boogie has put together a new “Dubtronic Science” band featuring a horn section, Latin percussionists and MCs.

Like its predecessor, J-Boogie’s second album features an impressive line up of artists including The Rebirth, Rich Medina, Lyrics Born, Ohmega Watts, Zion I, Crown City Rockers, Jennifer Johns, Deuce Eclipse, Capitol A, The Mamaz, Jazz Mafia, Lunar Heights, Tony Moses and more. He has also created a full Soul Vibrations: Dub Remixes version, dubbing the album into outer space through his studio’s analog delays and space echoes. J-Boogie has also contributed his genius sounds to a wide array of mix tapes, remixes, and albums. He has released remixes for artists such as DJ Vadim, Alice Russell, Miguel Migs, Karsh Kale, The Rebirth, Zeph & Azeem, Mark Farina, Zion I, Goapele and Soulstice, and has been featured on Mark Farina’s Mushroom Jazz 5 & 6, Om Lounge series, Ubiquity compilations and remix projects. His mix CD series Leftism, In the Mood, Electro Soul and Universal B Breaks have all become collectors’ items at music boutiques. J-Boogie’s vast contributions to the music world and his ongoing commitment to his own projects as well as the projects of other artists have allowed him to make fans and friends out of some of the most respected artists in the industry. The game’s most esteemed DJs are already buzz- ing about J-Boogie’s newest creation, and always have nothing but the best to say about not only his work, but his character as well.  

Friday March 5

HopMonk presents
STILL TIME
folk / rock / americana
www.myspace.com/stilltimeband 

Since forming in 2004, Still Time has made the transition from local notoriety to a rapidly growing regional and national presence through a dedicated grass roots and word of mouth process. Still Time began carving out a name for themselves in the San Luis Obispo, California bar and college scene as their music spread through rough-cut songs passed from fan to fan. By 2006, Still Time was playing to a regularly sold out house at San Luis Obispo's most popular music venue, Downtown Brewing Co., and began touring across the West Coast. 

With their music being hard to place into any one genre, Still Time's sound is best defined as groove rock with an eclectic mix of instruments such as; harmonica, mandolin, slide guitar and upright bass. With a unique style reminiscent of dynamic artists such as Ben Harper, Van Morrison and Dave Matthews Band, Still Time offers a positive, high-energy show that appeals to many different musical tastes and backgrounds. They have had the opportunity to entertain at a broad range of venues, from small, intimate acoustic sets to festivals with several thousand attendees. This diverse style and live performance has allowed them to share the stage with a variety of artists such as Ziggy Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, UB40, Steel Pulse, Ozomatli, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Robert Randolph, Mad Caddies, Pepper, Strung Out, ALO, David Lindley, Jackie Greene, etc. 

The band's debut album "Stream of Consciousness", released independently in 2007 under their own record label When It Hits Records, was quickly embraced by fans, putting the single "High Tide" in the 1 spot on San Luis Obispo radio station New Rock 107.3 for over 7 weeks. The album reflects the bands' ability to connect with audiences of all ages and backgrounds and has sold several thousand copies. 

With the release of their second album "See America" in May 2009, Still Time continues to progress with their cross-generational sound. To capture the right feel for each song, the album was written and recorded in multiple locations throughout the West Coast including an abandoned boxcar on the coast of Oregon, a forrest in the hills of Santa Cruz, an empty mansion in San Francisco, and an after hours bar in San Luis Obispo. The album was then mixed by Grammy Award winning engineer Fred Vogler, at the world famous Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, California. 

With musical stylings far beyond their years, the experience that Still Time provides is comparable to a day at the beach with close friends, great times, deep conversations, and contemplation. It's this experience along with a feeling of community that Still Time hopes to always provide for their diverse fan base. 

along with...
ALMA DESNUDA
folk / acoustic / rock www.myspace.com/almadesnuda

Alma Desnuda, Spanish for “Naked Soul”, is an acoustically groovin' four-piece band that plays uplifting, funky and fun, dance-able music with a powerful message of unity and living life to the fullest. Comprised of Bay Area locals Paul Suhr (vocals and guitar), Tony Glaser (vocals and upright bass), Chris Bryden (vocals and guitar), and Joe Glaser (percussion), Alma D will get your soul dancing with a sound that blends many genres into what they have coined "community music". It is music that connects people, with beautiful vocal harmonies akin to Simon and Garfunkel, enjoyable acoustic guitar melodies similar to Ben Harper and Jack Johnson, rhythmic percussive grooves that drive like Ozomatli, and a rockin' upright bass backbone that brings together Chili Pepper funk and the old school Bay Area "stank". Back in 2002, before there was Alma Desnuda, there were three guys from California, Paul , Joe and Chris, who met on a study abroad term in Cordoba, Spain.

Although they weren't performing together, it was during this time that a passion was irreversibly ignited in them for leading a life that acknowledges a deeper dimension to the human experience. The year spent traipsing around rural Spain, camping and road tripping, sleeping on trains, buses, and in parks, was a modern day rite of passage for the life-thirsty adventurers. After spending several years following their own paths through various countries, the three reunited in 2008 in the Bay Area with good friend and bassist extraordinaire Tony Glaser (brother of Joe) with a passion for creating music that is a celebration of life, a catalyst for change, and a source of hope.

Saturday March 6

HopMonk and Sebastopol present
SEBASTOPOL FILM FESTIVAL
Desde Cuba - A Day of Film and music from the heart of Cuba

¡Salud!
Saturday, March 6, 11:30am
93 minutes
Filmakers Lunch to Follow
http://www.saludthefilm.net

Against the alarming backdrop of the global health crisis and deteriorating public health systems in even the richest nations, ¡Salud! tells the little-known story of Cuba: a poor country overcoming its lack of resources to provide universal health care and help other developing nations do the same. ¡Salud, 93 minutes,is produced and directed by Academy Award nominee Connie Field (The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter; Freedom on My Mind) and co-produced by Gail Reed.

Sons of Cuba
Saturday, March 6, 6pm
88 min

A film by Andrew Lang. Film following 10 year old Cuban boxers as they dream of Olympic glory and fight to bring honour to their country.
www.sonsofcuba.com/

SONS OF CUBA follows the stories of three young hopefuls: Cristian, Santos and Junior, as they prepare for the most important tournament of their young careers: Cuba’s Under-12’s National Boxing Championship.

The film follows the boys not only through their training and boarding, but also into the classroom of their primary school and back to their family homes at the weekend. What emerges is a film where we are able to experience what it’s like to grow up in a totalitarian Communist state and be groomed, in the words of Castro to be “the standard bearers of the Revolution’.

Film Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com & at door 

Followed with live latin music @
8:30pm - 12am
PELLEJO SECO
latin / salsa / dance
http://www.myspace.com/pellejoseco
$7  /  doors 8  /  show 8:30  / ages 21+

Without a doubt, Pellejo Seco marks a new plateau in Latin music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in the East Bay in 2004 by Ivan Camblor, this eclectic group has its roots in Traditional Cuban music and performs only original compositions The group produces a creative sound which combines the exquisite, popular and fantastic. In its evolutionary process, Pellejo Seco has caught its own distinct flavor which intertwines progressive Fusion Rock, Latin pop, Brazilian, Flamenco, Afro-Cuban and Jazz. Ivan Camblor named the band, Pellejo Seco, and interprets it to mean “Raw Hide.” For Ivan the name has many meanings, one of which is to describe the dry and leathered skin of a “campesino” or farmer. “Enganchate,” is the first CD for Pellejo Seco. The title can be loosely translated to mean “Grab on.” As you listen to this album, you will definitely want to grab onto the exciting rollercoaster of musical themes and genres which winds you through a world full of complex energetic dance rhythms and beautiful love ballads. All the music on this album is composed by Ivan Camblor Allende. Ivan is a new composer from Havana, Cuba. In Cuba, Ivan played his Tres (a Cuban guitar) with many traditional Cuban bands, many of which performed his songs. Other accomplishments for Ivan include a collaboration with Edesio Alejandro, the most prominent Cuban Soundtrack artist today, on two scores for the film, ”Hacerse el Sueco.” Ivan moved to the United States in November 2004 to be with his wife, Deborah Simon-Weisberg, who is also featured on the CD singing “Calm".

Sunday March 7 (afternoon)

HopMonk and Sebastopol present
SEBASTOPOL FILM FESTIVAL

At 1PM
PRAYERS FOR PEACE
(8 MINS)

Ribbons attached to a fence around a New York Church inspired this profound, short animated doc by visual artist Dustin Grella using footage his brother shot with his computer camera in Iraq.

followed by
GREEN
(54 mins)

Green is an Indonesian orangutan whose home was destroyed by clear cutting to make cheap furniture and then grow crops to turn into slick magazines, suntan oils, cake mixes and biodiesel. Without using narration, Patrick Rouxel’s powerful film shows wanton destruction, and it's Green’s sad plight that will tug at your heartstrings.

3PM
JURY AWARD WINNERS

Join us to celebrate our Jury Prize winning docs for 2010. This short and feature length documentary beat out over 250 submitted films to win the highest prize awarded by the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. Check back to see who the winners are or buy a ticket and be surprised. Ticket includes admission to the festival Closing Party at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts after the screening.

Film Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com & at door

Sunday March 7 (evening)

Juke Joint presents
EOTO
(Jason and Travis from String Cheese Incident)
idm / break beat / downtempo
www.myspace.com/eotomusic

Jason Hann and Michael Travis (percussionist and drummer from the band The String Cheese Incident) make up this 100% improvised live Breakbeat/ House/ Drum n Bass/ Trip Hop project. Drawing from the ethos of some of the great DJ's and computer artists of the world, they use cutting edge technology to create truly original and melodic dance music in the moment, with the undeniable power of live drums. The music is all created on the spot, recorded, then mixed and remixed LIVE to create an ever evolving musical experience. Since the project is 100% improvised, every night promises to be a unique dance experience. Hann and Travis play different roles in this band than in SCI. Jason plays the drum kit, percussion and sampler, while Travis is in charge of the tonal elements, playing bass, guitar, keyboards, as well as hand percussion and live mixing.

Michael Travis is a pioneer in the art of modern improvisational jam-rock drumming. He is especially known for his groundbreaking work on playing both hand drums and the drum kit simultaneously. As the drummer for the highly accomplished band, The String Cheese Incident, he has developed a unique style that is very supportive of a free jam aesthetic while still always laying it down. He further develops that approach in EOTO by being super solid to the point of emulating grooves that some of the best programmers and DJs would create, except with that elusive human feel. Travis has played along side some of the worlds greatest drummers while playing with String Cheese including Trilok Gurtu, Babatunde Olatunji, and Bill Kruetzman; & he has collaborated with many other artists including Keller Williams, Karl Denson, Steve Kimock, Warren Haynes, & Bela Fleck. With EOTO, he gets to stretch-out into brand-new territory; Handing over the rhythmic element to Jason, Trav is finally able to test out his melodic chops, playing the electric bass, electric guitar, keyboards, & samplers in addition to his EOTO mini-kit during the duo's spontaneous compositions.

Jason Hann is an accomplished composer/percussionist/ drummer who has been playing professionally since the age of 12. Growing up in Miami, Florida, he was exposed early to international music through his father, who is also a musician. Combined with his Colombian heritage through his mom, Jason grew up embracing rhythms from all parts of the globe. Music has taken him around the world, studying first hand in countries such as Mali, Ghana, Haiti, and Korea, both learning and performing folkloric and contemporary music of the land. A dynamic performer, Jason has also produced, composed, recorded, and toured internationally within many different genres of music including Rock, R&B, Pop, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz, Latin, Latin-Jazz, Flamenco, African, Persian, Electronica, Techno, Brazilian, Indian and other fusions of World music. In addition to his current musical project EOTO, Jason has recently expressed his musical energy through The String Cheese Incident and each of his fellow band members' respective side-projects, through his solo electronica and all-percussion recordings, and through working with other artists such as Loreena McKinnet and Vinx . Jason continues to hit the road with legendary soul man Issac Hayes when possible. With a diverse background of musical collaborations that include Youssou N'Dour, Keller Williams, Rickie Lee Jones and Dr. Dre, it is evident that Jason will continue living in the musical moment for a long time to come.

along with...
HEAVY WEGHT DUB CHAMPION
dub / trip hop / electronica www.myspace.com/
heavyweightdubchampion

Sonic Shamanistic Alchemy - Founded in a log cabin at 9,000 feet in the mountains of Colorado, and now based in San Francisco, California, Heavyweight Dub Champion is a movement of interdimensional warriors representing the Army of the Last Champion. Firmly rooted in hip hop, dancehall, dub and electronic music, and performed on more than 50 channels of vintage analog and digital gear, HDC has gained much notoriety and a growing following from its high-intensity and visually captivating live performances. Founder and Last Champion Manifesto author Resurrector transcends space and time wielding an arsenal of deep revolutionary audio with support from a revolving crew of co-conspirators that include Totter Todd, Dr. Israel, A.P.O.S.T.L.E., Jillian Ann, MC Azeem and Stero-Lion. At the collective’s core is the universal intention of inspiration, mind expansion and transformation through creative expression - all of which manifests in their collective artistic performance known as The Liberation Process.

along with...
DJ MALARKEY

Monday March 8

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
RESIDENT SELECTORS DJ JACQUES & DJ GUACAMOLE
& special guests to be announced

Wednesday March 10

HopMonk and Bill DeCarli present
Tom Freund
www.myspace.com/tomfreundmusic

It’s in the seemingly effortless ease with which he delivers his conversational lyrics and mellifluous melodies, this natural magic that is at the heart of Tom Freund’s music. Though he’s well-schooled and widely-traveled in a variety of genres -- from heartfelt folk to buoyant pop to boho jazz to straightforward rock ’n’ roll, and beyond -- Freund ultimately comes across simply as a singer-songwriter with his own singularly distinctive and engaging voice.

Collapsible Plans, Freund's fourth full-length album, puts that voice -- in terms of both his artistic identity and his evocative singing -- front-and-center. Produced by his longtime friend Ben Harper, and featuring piano and vocal contributions from Jackson Browne on two tracks, Collapsible Plans is Freund's most focused and fully realized recording to date, combining top-shelf musicianship with the strongest set of songs Freund has yet gathered on a single disc.

"Every year the mounting landfill of new releases that threatens to bury the working music journalists yields a few unexpected gems, and Tom Freund is one of them."
THE NEW YORK TIMES

"I get shivers down my spine on almost every tune. Along with Lucinda Williams, Freund is the best singer/songwriter operating today."
GRAHAM PARKER

along with...
Amity Eliaz
www.myspace.com/amityeliaz

Get ready for a truly dynamic performance from Amity Eliaz, a talented singer, songwriter, and musician! With her original style and incredible vocal range, Amity effortlessly captivates you on stage. Her music is an alluring mix of Indie Folk-Rock, with overtones of jazz, blues, and a European flair. Accompanying Amity is Zachary Sumner on the upright bass. His bass playing adds depth to the music and creates the backdrop for what can only be described as an amazing live performance. Together Amity and Zachary bring something rare and exciting to both the stage and the ever-evolving world of music.

Thursday March 11

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
funk / breaks / boogie

DJ SEP
dub / world / reggae
(dub mission, KPFA, SF)
www.myspace.com/djsepmusic

A DJ, producer, and promoter based in the Bay Area, DJ Sep spins dub, dubstep, reggae, dancehall, and electronic dance music influenced by the Middle East, India, Africa, and the Americas. She is the founder, promoter, and main resident DJ at Dub Mission, one of the longest running dub & reggae parties in the U.S., possibly the world. A weekly Sunday night party based in San Francisco, Dub Mission presents cutting-edge dub, roots reggae, dancehall and dubstep, and celebrated its 13th anniversary last September.

Dub Mission has featured artists from all over the world, including Mad Professor, Adrian Sherwood, Twilight Circus Dub Sound System, and The Scientist to name a few. In 1999, Dub Mission won a Bay Guardian Goldie award in the music category. DJ Sep has also been nominated for an SF Weekly Music Award in the best DJ category, and has spun at venues and clubs in London, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego, and throughout the Bay Area. In May 2003, she and journalist/DJ Ron Nachmann aka Shockman realized and compiled Babylon Is Ours: The USA in Dub, www.dubmissionsf.com/theusaindub.html, a compilation of exclusive American dub tracks released by Germany's Select Cuts Records. Her current radio program, "Off The Beaten Path," is a mix of many forms of electronic music, and has aired since 1994. (Monday nights on KPFA: 94.1 FM or www.kpfa.org) from 10 pm to midnight West Coast time. DJ Sep has opened for a wide array of artists including Sly & Robbie, The Wailers, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Les Nubians, Rachid Taha, AfroCelt Sound System, Transglobal Underground, Angelique Kidjo, The Cinematic Orchestra, Culture, Big Youth, Nortec Collective, Ex-Centric Sound System, Issa Bagayogo, Habib Koite, Badmarsh & Shri, Cheb i Sabbah, and Mc Sultan.

Sunday March 14

HopMonk presents
NEW MASTERSOUNDS
funk / soul / funk
www.newmastersounds.com

As a band, and as individuals, they have since clocked up collaborations with an impressive array of musicians DJs and producers, including: Lou Donaldson (Blue Note), Corinne Bailey Rae(EMI), Quantic (Tru Thoughts), Carleen Anderson (Young Disciples / Brand New Heavies), Keb Darge & Kenny Dope (Kay Dee Records), John Arnold (Ubiquity), Mr Scruff (Ninja Tune),Snowboy (Ubiquity), Fred Everything (2020vision), Andy Smith (Portishead), James Taylor(JTQ), LSK (Faithless), and Karl Denson (Lenny Kravitz / Greyboy AllStars)

In 2006, as well as playing club gigs in France, Spain, Belgium and Italy, the band toured the USA & Japan. In August they finished recording their fifth album, 102% (released on One Note Records in 2007). The album features collaborations with sax and flute player Rob Lavers who performed as a guest with the band on several subsequent live tours. In the same year producer/guitarist Eddie Roberts had already released a live album in Japan (Roughneck - Live in Paris), and produced a studio album of his own arrangements of traditional Italian songs calledTrenta.

2007 started auspiciously - on their very first Jamcruise (an American funk festival on the high seas) the NMS were playing Meters tunes with George Porter Jr sitting in - just one of the highlights of a legendary 3-hour set. On their return to the UK the band were greeted by a capacity crowd at London's prestigious Jazz Cafe venue, for the album launch of 102%. They also performed tunes from the new album for Mark Lamarr on BBC Radio Two. At the end of January, organist Bob Birch reluctantly retired from the band due to commitments at home. In February Eddie, Simon and Pete ushered in another Leeds keyboard player, Joe Tatton, who had depped for Bob in the past, as well as working with UK soul star Corinne Bailey Rae and funk renegades The Haggis Horns. Joe's real initiation took place in April with the band's first trip to New Orleans during which they played late night at the House of Blues and the Blue Nile and where Eddie stuck around for the following week to sit in with the likes of Idris Muhammed, Lonnie Smith, Galactic, Papa Mali and The Greyboy Allstars. Having thrilled audiences at Wakarusa, Harmony, Gratefulfest and High Sierra music festivals, the NMS returned to the US at the end of July - to Chicago, to play Wicker Park and to open for The Headhunters.
After a well-earned break, the NMS regrouped in October for a 2 week tour of France during which they rediscovered the joy of the original 4-piece NMS sound: bass, drums, guitar and Hammond.

On the record front, German label Legere Recordings released their compilation An Introduction to The New Mastersounds on CD and LP back in May, while Milan-based labelRecord Kicks was putting together an album of NMS tunes remixed by a host of talented underground funk and beats producers. "The New Mastersounds - Re::Mixed" was released on CD, LP and itunes on October 15th.

As an example of the respect this band commands, Peter Wermelinger - DJ, collector, and author of the crate-diggers' bible The Funky & Groovy Music Lexicon - places the 2001 NMS track 'Turn This Thing Around' in his all-time top-ten tunes, along with the likes of Eddie Harris, Funkadelic, and Herbie Hancock. The New Mastersounds are at the very top of an elite selection of acts that bring the true soul out of funk.

along with...
SALVADOR SANTANA
funk / soul / jazz
www.myspace.com/salvadorsantana

In the late 1990's, guitarist and producer Eddie Roberts was running a club night in Leeds called "The Cooker." When The Cooker moved into a new venue with a second floor in 1999, there was space and the opportunity to put a live band together to complement the DJ sets. Simon Allenand Eddie had played together in 1997 as The Mastersounds, though with a different bassist and no organ. Through friends and the intimate nature of the Leeds music scene, Pete Shand and Bob Birch were added on bass and Hammond respectively, and The New Mastersounds were born. Though it was raw, and more of a boogaloo sound at first, it was powerful from the start. Their first rehearsal was hot enough for Blow it Hard Records to release on two limited-edition 7" singles in 2000.

Music is a burst of choices. Not only what note to play when and with what instrument, but whether to play a note at all. Salvador Santana, the 26-year-old keyboardist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter with strong Bay Area roots, knows what it means to navigate the infinite options of music. His 2008 innovative debut with the Salvador Santana Band--simply called SSB--pursued the scope of his ability. But for Santana, it wasn't enough. He has no choice but to push himself further.

He's fast at work, up and down the West Coast, recording a follow-up album that has him dropping the Band portion of SSB's moniker, placing the focus solely on Salvador Santana. Of course, he's not doing it alone. Collaboration has always been the centerpiece of his creations, and his yet untitled record is being built around the inspirations of two legends: Beastie Boy studio wizard Money Mark and Bay Area MC/producer Del the Funky Homosapien.

"With all the people I've ever collaborated with or just working by myself, I have never produced so many ideas into songs as I have during these Money Mark sessions. That guy is just a machine."

While Del is helping Santana hone his writing skills, Money Mark is opening up a way of recording that was previously unknown. He has turned Santana's ADD, something he heard was a handicap his entire life, into a tool for genius.

"ADD isn't a deficiency, it's actually just another way of learning. The way most schools want you to learn, doesn't apply to me. And kicking it with Money Mark, him being older than me and kind of mentoring me, he's showing me that it's cool to be all over the place. It's cool to sit there and work on a song, then out of nowhere, interrupt everything and work on another idea. To just go with it."

The disparate sounds of SSB were born out of live performances remade in the studio, with the exception of "Summer's Day," a catchy California anthem produced by Jurassic 5's DJ Nu-Mark. The song stood out among many stand outs, melding hip-hop and Beach Boys breeze, on an album that seamlessly moved through rock, funk, R&B and traditional Latin rhythms. Nu-Mark's production and Santana's keyboards are the foundation of "Summer's Day," eschewing the live instruments found on the rest of SSB, and it's the spark that drives the new record.

"With the last record, even though you get a variety of music, I feel like it was limited. And I don't want anything to sound limited on this new record, I want each song to be its own thing. And it's already turning out like that."

Santana is pushed by a need to step out of his comfort zone in a quest for new ideas. He jokingly says that he wants to combine polka and trance for a whole new genre of music, but as the saying goes, there's truth in every joke. "Even if there's a jazz song next to a reggae song, because there's something reoccurring, a through-line across the whole record, people will be able to feel why those songs are linked together."

Easy going and humble, Santana exudes the Bay Area vibe. He began playing the drums at age three--sitting on his father's lap, controlling the snare and tom, as his father worked the hi-hat and kick drum--but his true love was discovered when he began taking piano lessons when he was six. Later, he studied at San Francisco's heralded School of the Arts before attending Cal Arts in Valencia, CA. His education, passion and lineage has turned Santana into a monster on the keys, leading him to say that he's "a musician first, a vocalist second and a performer second-and-a-half."

Music truly thrives in his veins. His maternal grandfather was blues pioneer Saunders King and his paternal grandfather was the internationally celebrated violinist and mariachi bandleader Jose Santana. And, of course, his father is 10X Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carlos Santana...who's also a frequent collaborator (Salvador got a Grammy for co-composing "El Farol" from 1999's smash album Supernatural).

But with his upcoming project, Salvador Santana will truly become a brand of his own.

"With the last record I was very passive and insecure, only because I wasn't listening to my gut, allowing my second opinions to get to me. Knowing what I know now, I could have played that part better. I don't ever want to have that feeling ever again."

In addition to his musical desires, Santana has worldly efforts on his mind. After a trip to South Africa and inspiring work with Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA), something triggered inside of Santana to make sure his music wasn't only about personal glory. Once the record is released and he begins touring the project, Salvador will be posting various non-profit organizations on his website that will receive a percentage of the profits. "I want to use music in a positive way, and give back to people in need. There can never be enough people who do that." And there can never be enough musicians pushing their art to the brink.

Monday March 15

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
RESIDENT SELECTORS DJ JACQUES & DJ GUACAMOLE
& special guests to be announced

Thursday March 18

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
funk / breaks / boogie

Q DUP FOUNDATION
funk / breaks / boogie
(q dup, LA))
www.qduprecords.com

Qdup Records showcases the eclectic mix of tempos and styles that have influenced us so much over the years. We’re committed to exploring the funkier side of breaks, electronica, hip-hop and soul. Expect to see more tunes from the Qdup stable as well as re-rubs and tracks from friends and like-minded artists that are sure to keep the party moving and heads bobbing.

Qdup’s collective is made up of Jason Brown AKA Jayclue, Allen McDaniel AKA Amac, and Rex Holloway AKA The Disco Bastard & Pockets Fat. The 3 DJ / Producers came together after collaborating with each other from different sides of the US coast. Jayclue and Amac were long time friends having met up in the DC Metro area where both had mutual interests in the areas underground music scene.

Years later with Jayclue having re-located to Los Angeles, he started collaborating in the studio with Rex . It was not long before the pair started plans get the Qdup label off the ground. Soon after all 3 were collaborating back and forth across the country and combining forces to make up Qdup Foundation.

also
TAL M KLEIN
(starfish, SF)
www.myspace.com/tmkftw

in his words...

Somewhere around 1996 Dave Marino made the tragic mistake of letting me into his recording studio. Since then I've been an auditory menace to the world at large, forcing my records, mp3's, and cd's down everybody throats like it was cod oil and the asian flu was going out of business. I'm all about drunk funk, that's music which inspires one to both chill and shake their ass at the same time. Finding that perfect funky record, to me, is like winning the chocolate, money, and sex lottery.

I used to record under the moniker "Trancenden" but decided to shed it after people kept thinking I made and spun trance music. Now people just know me as Tal M. Klein, but you can call me Tal. I'm a vinyl purist, but I'm not a bigot. You can play whatever music you want on whatever media you like, and as long as the music is good, I'm happy. I just like crate digging. My records are produced in San Francisco (I pretty much exclusively use Ableton Live), manufactured in Czech Republic by Pirates Press and distributed exclusively in the UK by Kudos Records which means that to buy my music in my home town of San Francisco you pay import prices. Is that not the epitome of irony?

I've been fortunate enough to work with my friends on many musical projects ranging from country blues to 80's synth pop. On my spare time, I compose background music for TV shows. You've probably heard my music while idly flipping channels on the telly. I've recently completed recording my fifth album "Plastic Starfish" which was released by Aniligital Music on 28.04.2008. You can download many of my DJ sets at www.last2djs.com I am currently working on several new projects. They are all top secret and if I told you.. well... then you'd know.  

Monday March 22

MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT
(every Monday)
With DJ Jacques & DJ Guacamole
WBLK Dancehall Massive
reggae / dancehall / hip hop

Featuring...
RESIDENT SELECTORS DJ JACQUES & DJ GUACAMOLE
& special guests to be announced

Thursday March 25

The JUKE JOINT (every thursday)
funk / breaks / boogie

U9LIFT
breaks / downbeat / glitch
(the fringe, SF)
www.myspace.com/benmaybe