Henry Miller Memorial Library

Big Sur, California
"The real leader has no need to lead - he is content to point the way."

Posts Tagged ‘music’

Levi Strom, Kath Bloom, Melisssa Underwood: Monday night at the Henry Miller Library!

Posted on: by hmmler

I must say, I’m warming up to these indoor winter shows. We have them inside the library, put out 30 or so chairs, make coffee and tea, serve wine, and just relax. No PA. No amps. Total living room-vibe intimacy and magic.  Everything but a fooz (sp?) ball table.

Last week’s Bee Eaters show was captivating. And tomorrow’s looks to be the same.  On Monday, January 31st, we’ll be hosting Melissa Underwood, Kath Bloom, and Levi Strom.

Kath is awesome; she’s been crafting tender folk tunes since the 70s. I mean, for real, “Come Here” is one of the prettiest songs you’ll ever hear:

Meanwhile, Melissa, who lives just down the road in Carmel Valley, plays eerie, gorgeous pop tunes, oftentimes on electric guitar.

And Levi (Riders on the Strom) is, well, what can you say?  Monterey County Herald’s recent profile said it better than I could, that’s for sure.

This show will rule!

Best Year Ever! Summary of sick 2010 shows. Totally sick.

Posted on: by hmmler

2010 was totally sick at the Henry Miller Library.  Yo La Tengo, Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, etc., yada yada yada.  And don’t get us started on Monterey County proper; heck, Dylan played Monterey!

So, recently, the three luminaries behind many of Monterey country’s amazing concerts in 2010 – music promoter Tobin Peregrina, FolkYEAH! mastermind Britt Govea and do-everything Henry Miller Library director Magnus Toren – shared their favorite moments from those shows and other acoustic highlights from 2010 with the Weekly.  Read the whole thing here.

Al Jardine of the Beach Boys

But, since Magnus is my boss, let’s get some of his crucial commentary first:

“The 2010 season was amazing in so many ways,” Toren says. “The generosity of all the artists in the top 10 list is heart warming—when performing at the library they don’t do it for the money! Without the many volunteers, staff and interns and, of course, Britt Govea, none of this would have happened.”

“Yo La Tengo “They flew from the East Coast, stayed almost a week in Big Sur. Getting to know Georgia [Hubley] and Ira [Kaplan] is one of my most treasured memories. What generosity of talent and heart!” the xx “Having two of the biggest selling indie bands in the world (the xx and Arcade Fire) in our small redwood grove were highlights but, again, how can you put one above the other?” Arcade Fire “The rain—which came during soundcheck for Arcade Fire and brought the whole band inside with acoustic instruments for an impromptu concert/rehearsal—was one of the most memorable in my 17 years here.”

Keep reading here…

Another rare HML show – tonight! The Bee Eaters

Posted on: by hmmler

We normally don’t have winter shows here at the library.  For a few reasons.  Here are two:

1) The weather.  Winters in Big Sur can be Biblical.   Co-workers get stranded, as the dirt roads they live on become muddy rivers.  People subsist on beans and stale coffee.  The CHP hands out sandbags.  Arks float down Highway 1, etc.  And…

2) People don’t want to schlep down to the Library.  Because we’re “too far” (rolls eyes)

Well, both those things go out the window tonight (besides, it’s beautiful out – like, 70 degrees!) for the Bee Eaters.  How could we say no?

The Bee Eaters trace their roots back to musical traditions as diverse as bluegrass, Celtic, jazz and old-time. While today’s new breed often produces an amalgamation of sounds and styles based on a distant view, the Bee Eaters were raised embedded in these traditions… raised to mold, meld, shape them and carry them forward, leaving their own indelible marks in the process.

More info on the show on the Henry Miller Library site!  See you there!

Getting in touch with our inner (musical) child with Dan Bern

Posted on: by hmmler

I was eavesdropping on the Dan Bern songwriting workshop last night  and realized the participants were singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”  And later, “You are My Sunshine.”  So cute.  But to what end?  I thought.

Then it hit me: when you go retreat at Esalen, you get in touch with your inner child (while eating killer red quinoa.)  Why not do so musically?  Those melodies have been ingrained in us since an early age (less so for me, sadly; came from a circus family), and their simplicity is stunning.  And fun!

There’s an old saying that John Lennon wrote at least 10 songs that ripped off “Three Blind Mice” (eg. “My Mummy’s Dead,” “All You Need Is Love.”)

So why not get in touch with your inner musical child? This is a rhetorical question.

Look at ‘em go!

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