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November 30, 2006

Inland Empire Music Awards showcases local musicians

Award season is upon us and our own Inland Empire will have its time in the spotlight. The Inland Empire Music Awards is an awesome opportunity for the local music community to get some recognition for their own star quality.
Yours truly will be judging this year’s show and I hope to be seeing some submissions coming from all over the Inland Empire, but specifically from Redlands.
It’s not that I’m partial to Redlands; I feel that I have a pretty fair opinion of music. But I have been showcasing local bands and their latest albums once a week in the Facts for more than nine months. And let me just say, I never run out a material and I always meet beautiful, interesting people.
My main beat at the Redlands Daily Facts is public safety. I’m the reporter at the scene of the house fire or following up on the murder trial. But because I am such a lover of music and a lover of community, my editor let me start up the Local Music Scene column.
I have met so many really capable musicians and truly genuine people during my nine-month stint as local music columnist and I would like to see some of them get the recognition they deserve.
Of the musicians that have been featured in my column, I have a few nominations.
For Best Alternative – Phoenix and the Turtle of Yucaipa; Best Country – Bucksworth of Riverside and Kelly McGuire of Redlands; Best Folk – Jay Ray of Wrightwood, Spiro (soon to be in Venice Beach), Lori Larson and Mobetta Loretta, both of Redlands; Best Jazz – Hip Pocket, Hobo Jazz and The Zanja 8, all of Redlands; Best Pop Rock – Chris Thayer and Anderson Hall, both of Redlands; Best Indie Rock – Bad News for the Toros of Redlands; and Best Classic Rock – All Marbles of Redlands.
For all intents and purposes, I have not seen a list of any of the other nominees, but of the bands that I have been fortunate enough to see live at the Vault, or the Performance Loft or the Tobacco Lounge, these are a few artists that I think should take advantage of the extended deadline and submit some of their music by Dec. 15.
In fact, I encourage all musicians a like to submit their work.
The reason I wish to support this fairly new award show, now on its third year, is that I like what founder and producer Martin Brown hopes to accomplish with it.
“I am very proud to see the award show in it’s third season,� Brown said. “It goes to show that the public is still interested in being entertained by good music when they go out to dinner or to a neighborhood venue. The idea behind the IEMAs is really to bring the community together for one night and show them that the I.E. has a diverse scene.�
I couldn’t agree more.
What better way to find out what other local musicians are doing and support those whose work you commend, then to submit to and attend your local music award show.
All of you deserve to be there.

Information: www.ieweekly.com/iema

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)

November 29, 2006

Support for the local scene

REDLANDS — A necessary part of the local music community is support. Such support was shown Saturday, Nov. 25, when the music community came together at the Vault for a live performance that incorporated several local musicians.
Local guitarist Spiro Nicolopoulos performed an acoustic and electric set Saturday night on the patio of the Vault, surrounded by community members and other local musicians.
In his acoustic set, Nicolopoulos performed music from his recent folk blues CD, “Brand New Old Glory.�
According to Nicolopoulos, the album’s lyrics are not “overtly political,� but carry a definite message.
At the show Nicolopoulos performed songs off of “Brand New Old Glory� with the accompaniment of local harmonica player, Curry Harter, and long-time musical partner, guitarist Matt McNight, formerly of Chicago.
The three musicians played musical chairs during the set, rotating in Redlands native, guitarist Micah Henry.
“That’s what we do.� Patrick said. “We help each other out.�
The performance was seamless and greatly appreciated by local musicians Matt Coleman of Hobo Jazz and Phil Mielke of All Marbles who socialized in the audience while enjoying the show. And Chad Patrick of Anderson Hall photographed the show for his friends.
Nicolopoulos’ new band (which currently waits to be named) played the second half of the show with Henry and drummer Jason Seccuro.
“I thought it was a great first show,� Nicolopoulos said. “I was happy to see that people were there supporting.�
The band performed all of their own original music which Nicolopoulos said each member had a part in composing.
“Everyone chipped in for the new material,� he said.
Nicolopoulos originally hoped to play with eight other musicians, but was very happy with the four who he was able to perform with.
Harter really brought out the blues in Nicolopoulos’ music with his strong harmonica stylings and McNight provided a necessary foundation with his guitar. And Henry, Seccuro and Nicolopoulos just plain rocked.
Though Nicolopoulos is currently in the process of moving to Venice Beach he said that the music community is a kind of traveling community. For Nicolopoulos, his home is a place where he keeps his things, but his music always travels.
On the road, musicians maintain that feeling of community through trade and communication, supporting each other and accompanying each other when possible.
But no matter where Nicolopoulos lives he knows that he will always return to Redlands if only for a short while.
“I love Redlands too much,� he said.

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 10:41 AM | Comments (0)

November 21, 2006

Three artists release CDs this month

Fall appears to be the time for CD release parties. Three more CDs were released this month by local artists and the new local record label.
Loretta Chacon, aka Mobetta Loretta, released her first five-track EP on Nov. 14.
“It’s a compilation of roots rock, folk (and) a little bit of country and blues,� Chacon said.
Chacon recorded the EP from her home studio, which she said was “a great learning process.�
“When I recorded it in my home studio it was a very interesting process because I had total control,� she said.
The record took Chacon four months to complete and she is happy with the results.
“I think it’s a good mix,� she said. “I kind of took some creative risks.�
Chacon’s song “Wish you were here,� featured on the new EP, won her the title of Folk Rock artist of the Year at this year’s LA Music Awards.
Chacon will be performing Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Music Room in San Bernardino and will also hold a CD release party on Jan. 13, at the Vault on Vine Street.
Information: www.mobettaloretta.com
Redlands record label, Denmark-based Musikministeriet released the third CD of Danish indie rock band, Racetrack Babies.
The band includes Hans Christian Wayne on vocals, Minh Le on bass, Morten Soefting on drums and Soren Hansen on guitar.
“Summer Salt Santiago� is the bands first release in the United States.
When asked what makes Racetrack Babies so different, Musikministeriet Director Claus Enevoldsen said “the recipe is simple: Add a dose of indie pioneers such as Dinosaur Jr., the Pixies, Madrugada and Sonic Youth; mix with a generous amount of John Agnello (producer and mixer for such artists as Patti Smith, Steve Wynn and Dinosaur Jr.). And last but not least, sprinkle with songwriter and lead singer Hans Christian Wayne’s Scandanavian creativity, and voila, you’ve got ‘Summer Salt Santiago.’�
The album was produced in an untraditional fashion. The band brought 30 songs to the studio, taped on an old Dictaphone. Before beginning to record, band members decided which songs to include on the album.
Information: www.racetrackbabies.dk or www.musikministeriet.com
Swiss native and Redlands resident Daniela Bumann released a new meditation CD, “Vibrant Living Meditations,� this month.
The words and harp accompaniment on the CD are meant to promote inspiration and focus. Each track is designed for a certain kind of meditation including “Morning Power Up,� “Mid-Day lift,� “Gratitude� and “Deep Relaxation.�
Bumann is the founder of Vibrant Living, training and seminars, located in Redlands.
Information: www.movementwithjoy.com

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)