WEEKLY UPDATE FOR OUR MUSIC FANS!

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, there are so many things for which I am thankful. Music, of course, is just about at the top of my gratitude list. For nearly fifty years now, it continues to save me on a daily basis. In addition to it introducing me to Siobhan back in the late 1970s, it has put me in contact with a countless number of terrific people over these many years, and it has created a myriad of unbelievably beautiful experiences and relationships with them. This past weekend was no exception. It was just a reflection of many other weekends like it.
It started on Saturday night at Rio Tomatlan with our monthly show in the bar during the dinner hours. Perry Cleaveland was free, and he joined us with his fiddle, mandolins, and great high harmony, and as always, he took us to a higher level with our music. Willie DeVargas, a friend and full-time working musician from the New York City area, was up visiting family and friends for Thanksgiving. Willie, a one-man band, took his guitar, cajon, cymbal, harmonica, and voice and thoroughly entertained the bar during our break.
The fun continued on Sunday when Siobhan and I hosted our songwriters concert series in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. Our featured guests were The Dady Brothers, and they packed the house, dazzling the crowd with their heart-felt songs and excellent musicianship. I watched John and Joe Dady create magic in their shows for many years, and here’s how they did it in this one. Heat Wave, a hot young bluegrass band, played in the restaurant for the Sunday brunch before John and Joe’s concert. When they came upstairs to watch the show, in an impromptu fashion as he so often does, John told the three young musicians to go get their instruments and join them on stage for a couple of songs. They also asked Perry Cleaveland to grab a mandolin and join them. So, John and Joe, along with Brandon Masur, Richie Colf, Max Flansburg, and Perry Cleaveland, ignited the standing room only hall with some unbelievable picking. I could feel the smiles of both young and old emanating throughout the room. It was pure magic! The beauty for me was watching two to three generations come together to enjoy music. Also, it was exciting to watch the baton of music being passed from an older generation to a younger one. Hats off to John and Joe for creating this magic moment in time and giving everyone one unbelievably awesome show!
In addition to thanking the musicians who contributed to these two great days at Rio, I want to give a big shoutout to Chris, Erin, Teresa, Shannon, Jt, Julie, Brittany, Trevor, Andrew, Amy, Sadie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help they give us to make it happen at Rio for our shows and our concerts. A big shoutout to Scott Regan for promoting our concerts on WRUR’s “Open Tunings!” Finally, a big shoutout to everyone who came to Rio either on Saturday or Sunday! It was great catching up with you, especially those former students who remember me from my other life.
Still reading? If so, thanks for being in our lives and Have a great Thanksgiving!