Songs & Stories Steven Roby

In this interview, Grammy Award winner Jim Kimo West discusses his musical journey and the rich history of Hawaiian slack key guitar. He elaborates on how slack key guitar strings are tuned differently than standard guitars, a practice that originated in the 19th century when Spanish cowboys introduced guitars to Hawaii. West recalls his first encounter with Hawaiian music in the remote town of Hana, Maui, which influenced his style and led him to create music that resonates deeply with the Hawaiian landscape.

 

West also shares a poignant personal story about how he found solace in slack key guitar playing after the sudden death of a close friend. His compositions, initially a personal tribute, gradually gained widespread recognition, culminating in his participation in the Hawaii Slack Key Festival and the release of multiple albums. Despite not having won a Na Hoku Hanohano Award, often dubbed the Hawaiian Grammy, West's music continues to touch hearts and be an influential force in Hawaiian music, a testament to the power of music as a form of expression and healing.

The conversation shifts to West's collaboration with Ken Emerson and their upcoming San Francisco and Santa Rosa shows. West highlights their spontaneous performance style, which often includes improvisation and reimagined covers of classic songs. He also mentions their shared Grammy win and the virtual experience of the award ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the interview concludes, West provides information on where to find his music online, ensuring listeners can easily explore his extensive catalog of work.


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This is not just an interview with Paul Kamm, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for Achilles Wheel. It's a conversation about the inspiration that led to the formation of this group, a journey that we invite you, the audience, to be a part of. We also delve into what you can look forward to at their Sweetwater Music Hall show in Mill Valley on Wednesday, July 10.

Achilles Wheel is a California band that blurs the lines between genres with infectious high-energy dance beats and stark lyrical ballads—Roots Rock storytelling combined with dance hall psychedelia.

Much like life, their music breathes in and out with joy and pain, hurtling forward like a wheel, intent on hope and love. They play hard as a way to break down walls and celebrate life. Their idealism is not diminished by the harsh light of the modern world as we struggle to live free and have a good time… and, in the end - hopefully make a difference. Achilles Wheel fearlessly sings out to these times, the here and now.


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This is an interview with guitarist Stephen Dunne and vocalist Dana Morey, who are part of the legendary Bay Area band Cold Blood. We discussed their upcoming show in Santa Rosa (Fridays at the Hood) on July 5th and their music.

Cold Blood, as a whole, features a stellar group of musicians who have been playing together for nearly 20 years, including Steve Dunne on guitar, Steve Salinas on keyboards, a gritty-growling horn section comprised of John Hablieb and Rob Zuckerman along with a stellar rhythm section featuring Evan Palmerston on bass and T Moran on drums. The band members are all veteran Bay Area musicians who have played with many great artists, including Elvin Bishop, Jefferson Starship, Boz Skaggs, Albert Collins, and more.


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This is an interview with renowned Jazz drummer Jon Krosnick, who has been a significant figure in the music industry for several decades.

Krosnick began playing piano at age 6 and drums at age 9. Most of his formal musical training occurred during ten summers spent at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. There, he studied classical percussion and jazz drumming, and he performed with orchestras, concert bands, percussion ensembles, jazz bands, and backup bands for musical theater performances. Recognizing his accomplishments during those years, Jon was awarded the NMC Jazz Scholarship, and he won the High School Division's Concerto Competition. Jon studied classical percussion at Interlochen with many noted instructors, including Niel DePonte (Oregon Symphony) and Scott Stevens (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra).  While studying classical percussion with Fred Hinger (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) in high school, Jon won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Student Concerto Competition and performed with the orchestra...


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Joining us now is Asher Belsky, a guitar virtuoso, songwriter, and vocalist. His music, a fusion of rock and R&B, has resonated across the Bay Area, gracing renowned venues like the Black Cat Jazz Club, Great American Music Hall, and the Bottom of the Hill. And, he’s only 19.

You can catch Asher live at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Vallet on Friday, JUNE 28th, for a 9 pm show. He’s here to talk about that and much more.


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This is an interview with renowned bluesman Spike Sikes. The Pacific Sun has described his music as a slow burn of blues, jazz, and soul, and his band, the Awesome Hotcakes, was honored with the award for "Hardest Working Band in Sonoma."

Spike will perform a solo set at The Lost Church in Santa Rosa on Sunday, June 30th, for an 8:15 pm show. 


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