americana – San Diego Folk Heritage

First Thing’s First with Eve Selis

This Saturday May 2nd, San Diego Folk Heritage is excited to welcome not one, but five stellar musicians to our Encinitas stage in the form of local Americana act Berkley Hart Selis Twang, featuring notable songwriters Jeff Berkley, Calman Hart, Eve Selis and Marc “Twang” Intravaia and special guest opener Barbara Nesbitt (a former San Diegan who now calls Austin home).

In the interest of folk heritage, we challenged each songwriter to revisit their personal music heritage and recall their first songwriting experience. So far you’ve heard from Barbara, Jeff, and Calman. Here’s Eve’s first songwriting memory:

Eve Selis: The first song I ever wrote was with my older sisters and our neighbor. It was 1971 and I was 8 yrs old. We wrote it as a surprise for our dad’s 38th birthday. My mom paid $100 for all 5 girls to go into a recording studio and then had a 45 rpm record made for our dad. My sister Lee played guitar on it. I can’t remember what it was called – possibly “Laugh, Sing, Live.” But I do remember the lyrics. It’s very cheesy and sugar sweet but the entire experience obviously made an impression on me even if I didn’t know it at the time.

The first record I ever bought was Jesus Christ Super Star and I loved to listen to Simon & Garfunkle, Loggins & Messina, Seals & Crofts and of course, Barbara Streisand because my older sister Gabrielle owned every album of hers and was in charge of the record player! It wasn’t until I heard the song “You’re So Vain” on the radio that I knew I wanted to be a singer when I grew up. My sister Jeanne found the original recording reel while moving my mom and gave us all cassette tapes for Christmas one year.

Chorus:
Laugh and people will laugh with you
Sing and people will sing with you
Live and people will live with you – ooh
AhAhAh

Share your love my friend
And it will never end
Give all the love you can
And lend a helping hand

Chorus

Here’s more from Eve on the topic of songwriting and performing…

First Thing’s First with Calman Hart

Calman Hart: The first song I remember writing was called “I Love Her”. It was 1970 and I was 11 years old. This was when pop radio wasn’t broken down by genre. In one afternoon you would hear The Beatles, The Guess Who, Bobby Sherman, Santana, The Kinks, The Temptations, CSN&Y, Elvis Presley and Anne Murray, all on the same station. “Fire and Rain” was big. I decided I wanted to be James Taylor. 1970 was also a year when Walter Cronkite was coming on the TV each night and showing us horrible pictures of the Viet Nam war, which was in full swing. As a kid in the fifth grade, it was hard to fully understand all that the war meant, but I understood enough to be terrified that I might one day be drafted and sent off to fight in a war that no one seemed to believe in. The words are understandably corny and juvenile; yet they are also charmingly heartbreaking to me because when I think of them, I remember the anxiety I felt. I still remember the melody and all the words:

When they took me away from my broken down shack
I told her that I’d be coming back
And she said she’d wait for me till she died

I love her, yes I do
I love her, more than you
I love her, yes I do
I love her, more than anything else

All you are is a bloody fight
You really don’t know what is wrong or right
And you’re gonna keep going till one side dies

[chorus]

Here’s a lovely live performance of Calman’s song “It’s Going to be Okay” from last year’s Acoustic Alliance anniversary party.

First Thing’s First with Jeff Berkley

In the interest of folk heritage, we challenged each songwriter to revisit their personal music heritage and recall their first songwriting experience. Over the next few days, we’ll be revealing their answers one by one!

Jeff Berkley: “I do remember writing my first song. Maybe I was 17? It was about love and loss. I don’t remember it or the title even. I recorded it on my dual cassette deck that had an input for mic’s and guitar cables. I’m not sure where that is? I was inspired by so much different music from Bauhaus to Dylan. From The Replacements to Woody Guthrie. Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, James Taylor, ACDC, all sorts of stuff. A song called “Not My Heart” I wrote when I was 19 was the first time I wrote a song that I thought was good. That song ended up on a Berkley Hart record called Crow that came out just a couple years back. It was inspired by The Waterboys Room To Roam Record! There’s a song called “A Bang On The Ear” that I love!!!! It moves the same as “Not My Heart” did when i wrote it in 19…”

Here’s one of our favorite Jeff Berkley-penned songs from a 2014 house concert performance:

Check back in tomorrow for the next installment of our series with Calman Hart! For more info/tickets for Saturday’s concert, click here.

First Thing’s First with Barbara Nesbitt

Barbara Nesbitt: “The first original songs I was singing were written by the guitar player in my first band when I was 16 and were based on things I shared with him about my life mixed with imagery from incredibly vivid dreams I had (still have). It was a few years later that I wanted to learn to play guitar so that I could write songs myself. The first song I really wrote for the band was inspired by the relationship (or lack thereof) I had with my estranged father. It was an appeal for understanding and a statement that my heart was open and was called, “Where Are You Now?” I wouldn’t say the sound was inspired directly by any artist but I was listening nonstop to CCR, James Taylor, Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan among many, many others! It wasn’t until i moved to San Diego about 10 years ago and was inspired by the creativity of my friends and support of my writing that I really began to open up as a writer and I hope never to stop!”

We hope so too! Here’s a great 2010 live performance of one of Barbara’s many wonderful songs, “Message to You,” performed with her full band in San Diego.

Check back in tomorrow for the next installment of our series with acclaimed songwriter and producer Jeff Berkley! For more info/tickets for Saturday’s concert, click here.

Four Play with The Dustbowl Revival’s Z. Lupetin

We had 4 questions for The Dustbowl Revival’s founder Zachary Lupetin. He had 4 answers. Lupetin and his Venice Beach-based band of merry men/women are headed to San Diego this Friday, April 3rd to perform at Templar’s Hall in Poway. This energetic young roots/jazz collective was named LA Weekly’s “Best Live Band” so we’re definitely looking forward to a barn-burner!

1.I see from your press page that many media outlets have used some fun descriptive words and metaphors to convey the essence of your band and your music. Now I’d like to hear how you describe The Dustbowl Revival.
I would describe The Dustbowl Revival as a brass band and a string band who had a baby. It’s a great confluence of roots music sounds that have been forged through five straight years of playing on the road.

2. Your tour schedule is packed! What’s one city/country you’ve never played in but would love to?
We have never played in Austin or New Orleans – love to make the pilgrimage down there soon.

3. Is there any song that has been banned for life in the tour van?
We try and avoid any smooth jazz in the van at all times.

4. It’s been a while since you’ve played in San Diego – what can first-time attendees expect from your award-winning live shows?
Our show in San Diego will showcase some of our newest material we are passionate about now – we never make a set list the same twice so it’s a discovery process we play with the audience.

THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL “RIVERBOAT QUEEN” from The Dustbowl Revival on Vimeo.

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San Diego friends, we hope you’ll join San Diego Folk Heritage in welcoming The Dustbowl Revival to our Poway Stage for a wonderful evening of live music. For tickets and information, please visit www.sdfolkheritage.org. Full Press Release: http://bit.ly/1BmjVrV.

Getting Emotional with Happy Traum

Greetings, Folk Heritage friends! We just wrapped up a lovely show last Friday with Chris Stuart and Janet Beazley in Poway, and we’re now gearing up for another performance on Friday, January 30th at Templar’s Hall with acclaimed American folk musician Happy Traum. San Diego’s own Chris Clarke will open the show. Tickets are available at the door or online.

Playing off Happy’s name, we asked him a few emotionally-driven questions about his personal and musical journey.

You were an active participant during the Greenwich Village folk days of the 50s/60s. What is one of your happiest memories from that era?
My first day, as a teen-aged novice guitarist/folksinger, finding my way to Washington Square on a sunny Sunday afternoon and finding a park filled with like-minded players from all over the city jamming on guitars, banjos, fiddles, mandolins and other acoustic instruments. They were playing bluegrass, folksongs, blues, ragtime, calypso, old-time and every other genre of “folk music” you could think of. It was the start of many trips to the Village over there next decade.

What angers you about today’s politics?
The hardened attitudes and intolerance for other’s viewpoints. Left or Right, we need to find common ground.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
My wife and I are avid table tennis players and enthusiasts.

In addition to performing, you are an accomplished writer and instructor. How do you handle the stress of multi-tasking?
It’s not stressful if you love what you’re doing and feel fulfilled and lucky to be able to do what you like. I’m challenged and invigorated by what I do, not stressed.

As the music industry limps along in the digital age, is there anything that worries you about the industry now compared to earlier years?
I’m optimistic because I see so many people still making music together “the old-fashioned way.” There may be more front porch pickers, local bands, open mics, jam sessions, song circles and other musical communication going on than ever before. Digital delivery means more access, even though it may mean less monetary income. Still, musicians are finding a way to make a living and get their music out to others.

What song gives you the most joy to perform live?
I always love to play Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain.” It never comes out the same way twice.

Your friend and fellow musician Bob Dylan certainly has a way with words. What is one of the most amusing things he ever said to you?
He once told me (this was back in the late Sixties) that Perry Como was the greatest living singer. I thought it was amusing at the time, but he was very serious and meant it.

You’ve traveled extensively throughout the world. What do you love the most about visiting a new city?
First, finding where the good food is and then meeting musically like-minded people, who are seemingly everywhere. It’s through them that I discover things I need to know about a new city.

We hope you’ll join us on January 30 for Happy’s performance. As an added bonus, Happy will be teaching a guitar workshop on Sunday, February 1, also at Templar’s Hall in Poway. For more information on both events, please visit www.sdfolkheritage.org.