Something new, as of 27 Aug 2008
Send a message just to Warren
Send a message to Jim & Warren
Send a message to Keith & Warren
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Something new, as of 27 Aug 2008 Send a message just to Warren Send a message to Jim & Warren Send a message to Keith & Warren |
Gigs: Recent and upcoming...
for Keith & Warren and Jim & Warren and WA... Fri 1 Aug 2008 :: Keith & Warren explain the unexplainable at the Irvine Spectrum Center
 16 Aug 2008 :: Jim & Warren tell it like it just might be, at the Mission Viejo Borders 
We started right in with Luke's 'Break Your Heart', after reviewing the chords for Jim, and we played it again later. We also ran through at least a couple of other Luke songs, including... (?)We also played Jim's lovely 'Tangerine Kisses', and my new 'Your Kind Forgiveness' (despite my confusion about the transition 'gaskets' between verses). We played for a couple of hours altogether, sampling several songs from the standard J&W catalog. This proved to be a challenge with Luke sitting in, though, as it's not clear to him how to play on a song that he doesn't know the chord progression for. It's miraculous that anyone can do that at all, really. Afterward, Luke made it very plain that he'd had a great time, and that it was helpful to have just this sort of venue to start out with. The following wknd he played his first-ever open mic, at La Cave in Costa Mesa, and said it went very well. Now that's what I call Progress. Video clip: Luke and Dad warming up. Lovely weather... warm but plenty of shade... a gentle breeze rather than the stiff wind of last time. The stage was set up in advance of Keith's arrival, but in the wrong spot. All was in place by the time I arrived at 10:30. There's something very nice about these gigs, which was very much in evidence this time: lots of appreciative attention from lovely young moms and their kids - mainly babies and toddlers. They sit on the grass off to the side, or right in front of us, becoming The Audience, despite the presence of a more diverse collection of other people, including dads, at the picnic tables just beyond. When we first contacted the Zoo about playing there, I imagined that we might play roughly a 50-50 mix of kids and 'grown-ups' songs. I now see how naive that was, given the actual Facts On The Grass. So... this time out, we played the kids songs almost exclusively, including two iterations of 'Puff'. Luckily for me, I like some of these songs too, particularly 'Rainbow Connection', 'Jenny dreams of Trains', and 'The Last Unicorn'... but many of them ('You'll Be in My Heart', 'Winnie the Pooh', 'Puff') seem just sappy, insipid, and even evasive to me. So I've advised Keith that he should consider this as a great solo gig opp, going forward. He's not even sure about that, since his kids songs probably mean little to the two year olds he'll be playing for here, though I'm sure that the mom's appreciate them very much. Well... there were some people to play for... not at all the packed house of partyers that we understood to be the standard wknd scene at Java Joe's... but there were at least a dozen people for awhile, thinning to to almost no one mid-way through, and picking up a bit later. For the last couple of hours, though, we played to a Scrabble game, and to a couple of responsive girls (way in the back). It was a bit more like a Borders gig at the Yorba Linda or Costa Mesa store... As Keith said afterward, "Not enough people to call for rock 'n roll"... so we didn't gravitate toward the 'harder' songs, as planned, though we did play quite a few of them over the course of the evening, including 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', 'Southern Cross', 'Five O'Clock World' (twice), 'Old Man' (twice), and even 'Mother Goose'. At 4-1/2 hours (straight through) it was, I believe, our longest gig ever. By 11:00 my fingers were sore and I was feeling tired, and I could see that Keith was too. It wasn't clear how or when to stop, though. Keith finally decided to 'call it' at midnight, though Chuck and the Scrabble players were still going strong, having roped the nearby girls into some very silly banter about popular medications for STDs. Concerned that my fingers were hurting, despite the fact that K&W were up the next evening at Borders MV, I had some fun (and limited success) figuring out how to play slide guitar with the edge of a harmonica. It's not ideal, so I must remember to always bring the slide bottle along, but it saved my further injury, and amused the girls in the back of the room. The sound was limited by the lousy little second spkr we borrowed from Chuck, and Keith's new magnetic soundhole pickup is buzzing badly, but it seemed well balanced, and my guitar sounded right. Once again, I experienced the huge cumulative benefit of playing so often, and of of playing some of these songs so many times. Some of the songs sounded like Best Ever takes -- at least for me -- and maybe for both us us. I captured about an hours worth of video. One confusing comment to me from the guitarist who was running the Scrabble game: "You need to turn up.". I've heard that a few times times recently, at least with Keith, including the last time we played at Borders MV. I don't understand how that can be right, considering what I'm hearing from the speaker behind me -- unless these people are close enough so that they're hearing a lot of the acoustic sound of Keith's guitar and voice, in addition to what emerges from the PA spkrs. That could easily be true for anyone sitting nearby. Not sure how to compensate for that... Listening to the video from this show convinces me that my guitar tone is often / usually / always too 'dark' -- especially for the material K&W are doing -- despite rolling off all the bass with my tone controls and EQ pedal. I'm starting to dream of Strat / Twin Reverb sparkle and shimmer. $64 altogether - $44 in tips, and $20 kindly tossed in by proprietor Chuck. That's pretty good for us. Weekend gigs on the Joe's calendar are sopped up all the way till December. I declined Keith's query about going in for a Thursday gig soon, and he agreed that he should consider going in solo. So... not sure what's next. It may be the end of the line for me. Keith will probably want to soldier on. See also Keith's bloggage. 
Very good, all things considered, though I was feeling very tired at first... brightened up later thanks to a dish of coffee ice cream. The sound was much better this time, and I had none of the tuning issues of last time, and none of my equipment failed.It's so nice to have so many people to play for, even if most of them are just strolling by on their way to somewhere else (or are meandering back and forth all evening)... $60 in tips... even better than the first time we played here... and way ahead of the typical Borders outing. See also Keith's bloggage. 
I dropped into the drum circle afterward (in the park next to the boardwalk). I'd brought the bundle-sticks along, in hopes that Sarah might join us, but they proved to work well (against the handle of the gig-cart) for this hopped-up jam. We had some pretty stiff competition this time, at right... she sounded good too... Shortly thereafter one of our lady pals from the clothing store at our left came out to quiz us on the gallery gal's presentation, and to assure us that she loves our music. She said they turn their radio off when we start up, and only wishes we were a lot louder. [Is that even possible!?] 
from the nearby kids fountain). Fortunately, Keith was able to snag a second speaker, or our sound would have been quite thin and small. As it was, Keith heard some distortion (that I managed not to notice). He only realized toward the end that the main reason that the sound sounded wrong to him was that he'd forgotten to bring the reverb level back up, after backing it way off for a recent solo wedding gig.I was able to dial in my own sound fairly well, though I often wished I could brighten it up further... maybe I should see about new pickups for my $60 Strat... or find the short-scale Jazzmaster or Jaguar of my dreams -- though they offer darker-than-Strat tones. .. or I could just jump all the way to a 'Tele'.... I don't know... Anyhow... not only were they lots of people -- on the order of Brea Downtown -- there were tables and chairs for them, so there were always people camped out for awhile, and some of them were quite attentive and appreciative, including a couple of 18-yr old girls just off the boat from Taiwan, one of whom just about cheered for Keith's reading of Elton John's 'Your Song'. She was very keen to know when we'd be there again, so she could bring her (other) girlfriend. Farah showed up, after all, so we also got to meet her husband Robert [?], and her son. Daleen, Geneva and Acacia were on hand too, together with three service dog collies, much to the delight of passers-by. Acacia had a lot of fun counting the cash for us: $64.62 -- right up there with Brea DT... and for a lot less driving. My shoulder was pretty sore after three hours or so, but we continued gamely for the assigned 4-hour stretch -- Keith without any break whatsoever, and I just briefly went off to get a soda at some point. I did notice that I was flagging a bit during the last hour, but not nearly so much as at the 5-hour marathon at Java Joe's in June. Here, at least, there were people to play for. For an alternative pov, check out Keith's blog Quite a wild weekend for me: Thu, with Luke: StereoFix at the Viper Room, and IPO at The Knitting Factory (Alter Knit stage) | Fri: This K&W gig at the Spectrum Ctr. | Sat, with Luke: NXNP conference (first ever) in San Diego | Sun: Deke Dickerson, and the Smith's Ranch Boys, at Safari Sam's (Sunset, near Western) -- including chatting up the entire Dime Box Band... Kristie, Edie, and my old pal Yolande.  form, having played a few times lately,and the crowd (mostly unknowns, a couple of 'Regular') was very responsive -- to quite a lot of the songs. I don't recall J&W getting this warm a reception ever, anywhere... very gratifying -- all the more because I was able to sing reasonably well (in contrast to the previous gig at SCP, where that seemed all but impossible).We played in the corner, half-obscuring the bookcase, which put 'my' spkr to my side, rather than behind me. Somehow, this worked very well... probably by allowing me to pull up my mic channel more than usual (without inducing ringing). The room is so reflective that there was plenty of sound bouncing back; I could really hear myself for a change. Special guest: Dave Guy, longtime OC musician (Grandpa's Become a Fungus) who I'd met the previous wknd on my way down to the L. Beach (met Randy Katenhusen that evening too). Dave said afterward that 'Starman' was his fav song of the few he heard... and he offered his services on rhythm guitar and percussion... ?? No confrontations with gallery personnel, for a change. I crossed paths with Digger as I was heading out of town, but felt more interested in getting home to work on projects than to jump into his (highly erratic) program. 
Not quite as many people out on the street as there should have been (very comfortable weather, shops open all over), and too many extremely noisy cars and bikes, but many of the people who checked us out stuck around for awhile, and let us know how happy they were to hear their favorite songs... dropping some $70 into our guitar case and tip jar, as if to prove it...A second speaker wasn't available, so we fed the StageMate's phones output into the tape inputs (RCA jacks) on a second (older) StageMate PA. It worked very well, with the added benefit of a dedicated volume control for the additional 'speaker'. Daleen and Acacia came along for the ride, together with their full complement of three shelty service dogs [?]. It was very nice to have them there, and the dogs proved to be excellent promoters, attracting other dogs, their owners, and little kids and their moms. Musical highlight for me: Steve Winwood's 'Can't Find My Way Home' for which Keith graciously let me take several turns. 
Blawg of previous gigs: as far back as Aug 2004 
OC Music Awards, 2009
Jim & Warren Gig pics: RSM, 20 Aug 2005 La Habra, 7 Nov 2004 |
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Jim & Warren's set list (26 Feb 2006)
New and unheard of!
Jim & Warren's pretty good cover of Rhett Miller's
There is a World Inside the World -- SC Plaza Borders, 3 March 2006
New and over quickly!
39 seconds of
Jim & Warren romping through Jim's
instrumental composition Gone -- SC Plaza Borders, 3 March 2006
Video clip... Keith & Warren playing Chris Isaak's Blue Spanish Sky -- Mission Viejo Borders, 12 Nov 2005 (loads slowly).
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Free song one
:: Jim & Warren's medium-fi recording of the late Buffalo Springfield classic I Am a Child :: WA: lead vocal, guitar, tambourine. :: Jim: harmony vocal, guitar, harmonica. Recorded at JR's Flippen Way studio/den, 31 May 2004. WA's transcription of this song. |
Free song two
:: Keith & Warren's medium-fi recording of the traditional song The Water Is Wide :: Keith: vocal, Ovation acoustic guitar. :: WA: Ibanez electric blue guitar. Recorded at JR's Flippen Way studio/den, 17 Apr 2004. |
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Free song three
:: Jim & Warren's lo-fi live recording of the Jim's poststructural space age instrumental Orbit :: Jim: rhythm guitar (Gibson Songwriter). :: WA: melody guitar (Ibanez AFS-75). Recorded while pretending to be a jam band at the La Habra Borders Cafe, 6 Nov 2004. |
Free song four
:: Jim & Warren's lo-fi live recording of Jim's blues-fringed and well-rusticated instrumental Gone :: Jim: rhythm guitar (Gibson Songwriter). :: WA: melody (slide) guitar (AFS-75). Recorded under duress at the La Habra Borders cafe, 6 Nov 2004. |
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Free song five
:: Keith & Warren's medium-fi recording of the Michael Carr & Jimmy Kennedy classic South of the Border :: Keith: vocal, acoustic guitar. :: WA: electric guitar, harmonica. Recorded at JR's Flippen Way studio/den, 31 May 2004. |
Free song six
:: Keith & Warren's medium-fi recording of the Chris Isaak song Forever Blue :: Keith: vocal, acoustic guitar. :: WA: electric guitar. Recorded at JR's Flippen Way studio/den, 31 May 2004. |
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Free song seven
:: Jim & Warren's lo-fi live recording of Nick Lowe's classic (What's so Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding :: Jim: 1st vocal, acoustical guitar. :: WA: 2nd vocal, electrical guitar, harmonica. Recorded dead or alive at the La Habra Borders cafe, 6 Nov 2004. |
Free song eight
:: Jim & Warren's lo-fi live recording of (Buddy and) Julie Miller's lovely Holding Up the Sky :: Jim: lead vocal, acoustical guitar. :: WA: harmony vocal, Ibanez AFS-75 electrical guitar, harmonica. Recorded on the spot at the La Habra Borders cafe, 6 Nov 2004. |
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Free song nine
:: Jim & Warren's lo-fi live recording of the Jayhawks' Angelyne :: Jim: lead vocal, acoustical guitar. :: WA: harmony vocal, electrical guitar. Recorded anxiously at the La Habra Borders cafe, 6 Nov 2004. |
Free song ten
:: Jim & Warren's lo-fi live recording of Lou Reed's scary Perfect Day :: Jim: lead vocal, acoustical guitar. :: WA: harmony vocal, electrical guitar. :: Cathy: additional vocals ("...do do do..."). Recorded deleriously at the La Habra Borders cafe, 6 Nov 2004. |
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Free song eleven
:: Keith & Warren's medium-fi recording of the Eagle's
Desperado :: Keith: vocal, acoustic guitar. :: WA: electric guitar. Recorded at Rancho Santa Margarita Borders cafe, 11 Nov 2005 (from PA's monitor out). |
Free song twelve
:: Keith & Warren's medium-fi recording of Five O'clock World, more or less as recorded by Hal Ketchum :: Keith: vocal, acoustic guitar. :: WA: electric guitar. Recorded at Mission Viejo Borders cafe, 12 Nov 2005 (from PA's monitor out). |
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1 minute streaming video clip of the intermittently acclaimed Irish Wanderers ripping through a smashing tune at the Earthday event at The CAMP, Costa Mesa, 23 Apr 2005: The Red Haired Boy (Windows Media Video) |
Keith & Warren explode on(to) the scene at RSM:
You could find a treat at Borders tonight
- Janet Whitcomb for RSM edition of OC Register, 8 Oct 2004
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Tumbling 
toward 
abstraction 
...A few essential early 20th Century paintings
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...in 'our' little alcove alongside the Fingerhut Gallery. Incredibly, I've never seen anyone else set up there, and it didn't occur to me either, until Jim suggested it, a few weeks ago. As I arrived, three young guys were working their way through 'All Along the Watchtower' (Em), sitting at the east bench at the Forest & PCH intersection -- separated from the entrance to the Gallery by just three feet of sidewalk. I joined in with my G harmonica, just before they were accosted by the same dark-haired Gallery Gal who had explained various things to J&W two wknds ago. She convinced them to relocate to the geographic corner (whence Digger typically bellows forth). I let them know that we'd be setting up nearby, and the young singer said something like "It's a free sidewalk". He then started up 'Wish You Were Here', which prompted me to discover that the signature riff can also be played on the incredibly versatile G harmonica -- which I should remember to try with J&W.
