Jefferson Starship lands in Sonoma...

J.M. Berry

...and you can tell everyone you read it here first. The band will be in town for three nights, Feb. 15, 16 and 17, 2008 at the Ledson Lounge doing songs in ways they have never done before. Each night, founding members Paul Kantner, and David Freiberg with longtime vocalist Diana Mangano and pianist Chris Smith will be playing a different album, all acoustic and almost in it’s entirety along with other deep album cuts. The Friday night show will feature the blockbuster release “Dragonfly.” Saturday the group weaves its way through three albums, “Sunfighter,” “Manhole,” and “Tollbooth” and Sunday night they wrap it all up with “Blows Against the Empire.” This will be the first time ever that the band has done these songs acoustic and they will also be previewing new tracks that will appear on the next Jefferson Starship album. Tickets go on sale at the Ledson Lounge on Jan. 3 and are a nostalgic $67 each. Seating is limited to 70 per night.
This Friday brings a blowout to the Moose Lodge down on Broadway. A harmonica blowout, to be exact, with Junior Boogie coming to town and some of the finest harmonica players in Sonoma battling it out. Smokin’ Joe Herschaft, The Journeyman - Corey Jennings and Dave Chavoya will all be taking the stage in separate sets and together for a big blow-out at the end of the night. Show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door or at Sonoma Valley Music.
This Saturday brings a reggae music festival show to Andrews Hall that is a benefit for the Sonoma Academy. The young DJ Selecta Rah Rah will be spinning classic reggae tunes and new dub-plate mixes as well. The show is for all ages and is a alcohol free event. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show goes until 10 p.m. We have to give props to the young Selecta and tell everyone about his reggae show “The Dub Shack” on KSVY 91.3 Saturday nights at midnight.
Pete Olson will be bringing his solo-acoustic act to Murphyís Irish Pub Sunday night from 6 - 8 p.m. Pete also has a new CD out and it might even be ready for sale at the show. Pete will be playing tunes from the new disc and some country music classics as well. This Friday brings the Spiral Mystics to Murphy’s as well. That show starts at 8 p.m.
The Schellville Grill has been doing its share of keeping local music happening lately and this weekend is no exception. Friday night brings some new local talent to the stage. Having just moved to town, but not wasting any time, Cynthia Tarr and Cliff Hugo will be joined by Bruce Gordon and Carl Kraines in an act that essentially has no name but they do define Elvis as a genre of music. After some thought, we believe they could be right. Cliff has done session work for some top acts, Supertramp and Ray Charles to name a few and Cynthia has collaborated with Keb’ Mo’ and many others. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Tonight on the Big Show we have Chris Blackard and members of Astral Kitchen. We’re not sure if they’re bringing amps or acoustics but it should be a fun time. Be sure to tune in.

J.M. Berry is host of KSVY 91.3 Sonoma radioís Sonoma Valley Music Scene heard Thursday nights from 8-10. He can be reached on the Columns page.