Recorded in their old chicken coop garage turned recording studio in Pasadena, CA, Old Californio set out to mix a gritty soup of bucolic rock and roll influenced as much by Moby Grape, Crazy Horse and The Grateful Dead as by the chaparral canyons and ungovernable San Gabriel mountains themselves. The 10 songs on Westering Again evoke winsome images of riparian vistas and wine stained front porches, and of places forgotten and out of the way. The album ventures from raw riparian rock & roll, to harmony rich folk/ country, to the psychedelic/ philosophic.
Westering Again will be released on their own independent Californio Records label and will available for sale on April 7th through CD Baby, iTunes and Amazon.com and was co-produced by Old Californio and Alfonso Rodenas (Mark Olson, Ben Vaughn, Los Tigres Del Norte) and mixed / mastered at Las Virgenes Recording. The core of the band include singer/ guitarist Rich Dembowski, drummer Justin Smith, bassist Jason Chesney, guitarist Woody Aplanalp and keyboardist Levi Nuñez. Also, contributing to the album are their heavy friends - frequent collaborator Dave Gleason on guitar, bassist Tony Russell, accordionist Debra Tala, trumpeteer Slim Zwerling, and pianist Dan Mudd.
The ten tracks on Westering Again are
1. “Mother Road”
2. “Riparian High” 3. “City Lines” 4. “Just Like Joseph Campbell” 5. “From the Mouths of Babes” 6. “Warmth of the Sun” 7. “Harmony” 8. “Lazy Old San Gabriels” 9. “Are You Coming Home” 10. “California Goodness”
Riparian High - Live on KPFK's Travel Tips for Azatlan, July 11, 2009
Are You Coming Home - Live on KPFK's Travel Tips for Azatlan, July 11, 2009
Chilao Flats - Live on KPFK's Travel Tips for Azatlan, July 11, 2009
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
OLD CALIFORNIO at The Press this Friday, August 28th! 10 pm. 21+. NO cover. Dinner reservations required if you want a table, call 909.625.4808. For map and directions, click here.
Just dropping by to say Hi and see what you’re up to and how you are doing.
As always, wishing you well. Stay positive, productive & purpose driven.
Peace
Michael
Four more little sonic gems for your August pleasure are now available on the site. Blitzen Trapper, Boulder Acoustic Society, Jay Brannan and The Wiyos. Yet another fine quartet even though we say so ourselves as picked them out.
Hey Old Californio, Thanks for the comment. We'll be in Pasadena at the Levitt Pavillion on Sat. Aug. 29th. It's free, so come check it out. I just played there with Pistolera this past Saturday and it's a great place. Bring a blanket and sit in the grass, or party with the dancers stage right. Hope to see you there.
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff