Report from the KWMR’s Far West

I got a call a little over a week ago from KWMR, the community radio station in Point Reyes Station. They carry my radio show, and I usually go out there at least once a year to assist with fund-raising. I am a strong supporter of community radio, and both Rita and I feel a tremendous affinity for both the physical and social settings.

The benefit had been scheduled for quite some time, but I guess they made a late decision to have a second stage for smaller acts between sets by the three bands on the mainstage. I was offered the last slot, between The Mother Hips and the Alison Brown Quartet.

I said yes, of course! Rita loves an excuse to visit west Marin, and so do I. Supporting KWMR, hearing my friends Hot Buttered Rum and two acts I’ve never seen before – I don’t see the downside. I emailed Aaron Redner, HBR’s fiddle player, and he agreed to join me in my set. And on Sunday I extended the invitation to the other band members.

I had been told there would be no amplification at all on the second stage, so I just brought my Martin – no looper, etc. Turns out they did have a sound system, powered by a donated mobile solar unit. Just as well not to have all the signal processors for a thirty-minute set anyway.

Bryan Horne, HBR’s bassist, agreed to join Aaron and me. While The Mother Hips were playing on the mainstage, Aaron and I met near the second stage to run through an original song I wanted him to help with: “That’s Real Love.” We had more time to kill, so we also ran through “Lazy River Road” (which I refer to as “a Grateful Dead song for people who think they don’t like Grateful Dead songs”), and my song “Save Us from the Saved.”

The afternoon was just as sweet as could be. The KWMR people made me feel like a real asset to their occasion; Jerry Lunsford, “The Hippie from Olema,” informed me he’s booking one of the venues in Pt. Reyes Station and offered me a gig in August; the hospitality tent was stocked with tiny sweet oysters, which made my bride very happy; the place was teeming with children, middle-aged hippies like us, younger hippies, and really old hippies, too. I mean “hippies” in the sweetest sense of the word: people who tread lightly on the earth, dress a bit more colorfully than I usually do, enjoy good music – you know. It felt good to be there among these people.

The sound system was live even when the stage was not being used. There were kids playing on and near the stage, including a little guy with an inflatable guitar who sat on the stool and hollered into the live microphone from time to time while Aaron and I were trying to rehearse nearby. A little closer to showtime, I sat on the edge of the low stage and conversed with two girls in probably the 4-5-year-old range, each of whom had a painted face and was gnawing on a peach the size of her head. They were covered in juice.

The fog hovered offshore, keeping the temperature in the just-about-perfect zone without impeding the sunshine one bit.

Get the picture?

Adrienne introduced me warmly from the big stage. There were a few dozen people, of all ages, already in chairs before me as I began, and more people headed my way as the set progressed.

I began by thanking everyone for supporting KWMR, etc., and launched into “Shove in the Right Direction.” Very well-received. I followed with “It’s Gonna Get Better,” also well-received. Two energetic, positive-themed songs – great way to start. Then I brought Aaron up and we did “Lazy River Road,” “That’s Real Love,” and “Save Us from the Saved.” Bryan joined us for the last two songs, “Jackaroe” and “Friend of the Devil.” I felt great up there along, great with Aaron supporting and soloing, and great with Bryan slapping bass solos on both songs. The energy was terrific! It lasted maybe 35 minutes, every moment of it a pleasure.

Photos by Rita Hurault