Merry Christmas From Us' To You's

 (photo John Hancock)
Last night was the big Christmas Party and 10 year anniversary for the San Diego Troubadour Newspaper, and what a celebration and gathering of tribes it was. Everybody got up and played a song or two on stage, while out back around a campfire there was a perpetual trad/music-jam going. Kent and Liz, the owners of the newspaper hopped on stage and sang some Everly Bros.,  Lou Curtis a long time accomplice to, and purveyor of, the San Diego folk scene sang a traditional tune and accompanied himself on auto-harp. There were too many cookies, alot of wine and even a few kids. 

(photo John Hancock)

My son Alexander and I were down in the city all afternoon because we'd gone to see the Old Globe Theater's wonderful production of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. We wandered around Balboa Park and then came over to the Troubadour party at nightfall. Folks were already up on stage playin' music and the party was jumpin'. Alexander was up for playing a song on mandolin and so we played House of the Rising Sun. Sure, not very christmas-y, but the only song he knows all the way through and plays melody on. 

(Last Christmas the Women's Group Widow's fund from Pilgrim Church-UCC  gave us a money gift toward a musical instrument for Alexander. He chose mandolin and has been taking lessons for about 4 months)

(photo Dan Chusid)

It turned into a little media-fest with our friendly neighborhood paprazzi-pals snapping lots of photos of Alexander's first time playing mandolin on stage and solo-ing (his idea). I was just the backup musician here, while he made his fedora-hat-wearing-debut. Fearless, is what I'd call his performance.  

(photo Dennis Andersen)

Other notable news of the night; Alexander learned how to play pool from some kids dad and later got more pool shark pointers from Skid Roper (Mojo Nixon's longtime washboard player).

(photo Dennis Andersen)

(photo Dennis Andersen)

I'd like to express my appreciation to the San Diego Troubadour for supporting acoustic music and artists in our community. You guys have a tough job getting the zine together every month but we musicians thank you for your ardour and commitment, from the bottom of our hearts.  

http://sandiegotroubadour.com/