Free Funk
Mindil Beach Markets headlines no-cover show at Jose’s
with Jonah & The Whalewatchers.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The last few days have been intense yet enjoyable for funk-reggae-rock outfit Mindil Beach Markets, a British Columbian quintet which draws its name from a hip Australian beach community. In addition to playing a show nearly nightly in a different city during the infant stages of a brief-but-broad West Coast tour, its members are experiencing their first taste of the good old U.S. of A.
“There are a lot of little differences,” says singer/guitarist and bassist Pat Codere, evoking Pulp Fiction-royale-with-cheese moments. “It’s cool being out of your country for the first time.”
Everyone in the band unanimously agrees that the biggest (and sweetest) difference they’ve noticed between the two countries thus far is the price of beer: It’s much cheaper here than in their native Canada.
Codere and the rest of the Mindil crew have been rapidly playing their way down the northwest coast through Medford, Ore., Eureka, Calif. and eventually, Monterey, which represents their Thursday stop at Jose’s.
Mindil recently released its full-length debut, which Codere says is a rock-reggae oriented album with a touch of ska. There are the familiar fingerprints of Sublime and Red Hot Chili Peppers, but the influences also include the blues and even some elements of hip-hop.
The LP’s opening track, “Working Man Blues,” represents that extreme genre mash-up, with raunchy harmonica, rich acoustic guitar riffage, scat, horns and quintessential reggae rhythm.
On tour, the group’s been highly motivated to give U.S. citizens a taste of their music through free CDs, which they’ve been personally handing out in every new city they visit. Recently, they shelled out 700 in Portland.
“We want to get our music out there in any way possible,” Codere says. “We want to do the West Coast circuit every two months so we figure if we plant the seed now, we’ll be able to grow a fan base over time – and besides, these days, with the Internet, music is still free at the end of the day.”
Mindil’s upcoming Monterey gig originally stemmed from a Craigslist post – and the response Mindil received from Jonah & The Whalewatchers’ drummer John Tallon.
“They put an ad up that they were coming through the area on tour and they were looking for bands to play gigs with them,” Tallon says. “I responded and they checked out our band and they asked us to play the show with them.”
The longtime local reggae outfit has been working on new music that’s slightly different from its usual roots style.
“Some of the new stuff we’ve been doing has more of a Latin feel to it,” Tallon says. “We’re getting more into the samba-reggae style; reggae has always been a mixture of a number of styles of music and it’s continuing to evolve.”
There’s more free music where that comes from: The night begins with the instrumental prog rock of the Strawberry Girls and a local metal trio called The Strange Three.
MINDIL BEACH MARKETS plays 9pm, Thursday, Oct. 13, at Jose’s Underground Lounge, 638 Wave St., Monterey. Free. 655-4419
Jonah and the Whalewatchers: Press
First Night finales summon the new year with swingin' blues and roots reggae with Red Beans and Rice and Jonah and the Whale Watchers
By LILY DAYTON Herald Correspondent Updated: 12/31/2009 01:09:55 PM PST
Traditionally, First Night Monterey culminates with an enormous outdoor concert finale where everyone congregates to count down to the New Year and boogie to some live music. This year, the party atmosphere will continue with a countdown and boogying, but rather than one outdoor finale, there will be two acts to welcome the new year in two separate indoor venues. The two finale bands this year are some of Monterey's favorite local bands, Jonah and the Whale Watchers, and Red Beans and Rice. Jonah and the Whale Watchers will play reggae at the Golden State Theatre and Red Beans and Rice will play their upbeat danceable mix of New Orleans R&B and Texas-style blues at the Conference Serra Ballroom. Each band will play more than one set, between which the crowd will be cleared out to allow room for new revelers. Though admission will be free to First Night button-wearers, due to the limited space of these smaller venues, finale tickets will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis at the Portola Plaza kiosk between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the day of event. The change in finale venues this year was necessitated by funding cuts First Night Monterey received from the city of Monterey, as well as a decrease in sponsorship and foundation funding. This budget decrease made the $60,000 cost of renting out Custom House Plaza for the big finale prohibitive. Both Jonah and the Whale Watchers and Red Beans and Rice have performed at First Night Monterey, including the Custom House Plaza finale, for many years. "It's going to be different in the smaller indoor venue," said John Tallon, drummer for Jonah and the Whale Watchers, though he noted that the band had a great time playing at the Golden State Theatre two years ago. Tallon said the band loves playing at First Night because "it's an opportunity for kids to see us since all ages can come. We have a lot of younger fans who don't get to see us, because we're often playing in clubs for over 21. This is our opportunity to get the message out to the young people." Gil Rubio, guitarist and leader of Red Beans and Rice, agreed. "We like to be at festivals and events that are not limited to the drinking crowd," he said. "We're all family people; we all have family and the importance of family to us is huge. We love to see an 80-year-old dancing and right next to him is a kid in diapers and they're all getting something out of it." Both beloved local bands should have a lot of dancing going on in their audiences. Rubio described Red Beans and Rice as "a blues-influenced New Orleans band. We play contemporary blues, a lot of originals. We incorporate a touch of Cajun, a touch of Latin, a little bit of rhythm and blues, a little bit of jazz, the blues and the feeling in it, a little bit of gospel." He said that their music contains an enormous range of influences, comparing it to New Orleans itself. "John Santos, the percussionist from San Francisco says 'the heart of the west is the Caribbean,'" said Rubio. "A lot of music came to the U.S. through New Orleans, due to the railroads and the river. Jazz, early rock 'n' roll, Latin influence — all these came from the port in New Orleans. All the influences there seeped into our music." In a parallel fashion, the music of Jonah and the Whale Watchers comes from diverse influences outside the Monterey Bay area. "Reggae is a pretty wide range of musical styles," said Tallon. "In Jamaica they have the influence of African music, the American South — they got their radio from the Southeast Seaboard — Florida, Louisiana, Texas, then all the different islands in the Caribbean have their influence, too. It's a huge melting pot of cultures." Tallon compared their use of reggae musical sounds to the use of blues patterns. "We do a lot of covers; we twist them around in our own way. It's kind of like how the blues is a recycling of music; they take the same traditional musical patterns and come up with original lyrics and twist them. In reggae it's the same way — you'll have a bass line that you recognize as reggae." Both band members said they are looking forward to performing at First Night Monterey once again, and each has big hopes for 2010. "I would hope that all of us — the whole community, starting with ourselves — could learn to be a little more tolerant of each other and understanding and in turn that will bring peace to all of us," said Rubio. "Talk to your enemies. We need to realize our common grounds and thrive upon them. When we learn to live with ourselves, it will bring more peace and understanding." "I hope that President Obama can do all the stuff that he intended to do," said Tallon, quick to add that their music is not very political. "Our music is about peace and love — the whole idea about one love, one heart, that we're all part of the same consciousness. Our music is all very positive. I always have the same resolution, which is to try to be a better person and try to help heal the world with music and day-to-day life." Lily Dayton can be reached at montereybaylily@gmail.com.GO! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST NIGHT FINALES ·What: Red Beans and Rice ·Where: Monterey Conference Center, Serra Ballroom, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey ·When: 9:30 and 11:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31 ·What: Jonah and the Whale Watchers ·Where: Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey ·When: 9:30, 10:15 and 11:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31 ·Tickets: First Night buttons $20, $12/$15 children 5-15, 4 and under free at www.firstnightmonterey.org or various locations throughout county (see Web site) ·Information: www.firstnightmonterey.org
Carmel Pine Cone – July 3, 2009
by Chris Counts
INDEPENDENCE DAY –
JAMAICAN STYLE
The Big Sur River Inn will put a Caribbean twist on Independence Day when Jonah and theWhalewatchers, one of Monterey County’s most enduring live acts, perform Saturday, July 4 on it’s outside terrace. “ We’ll have a BBQ going all weekend on our back lawn” said Janet Lesniak, the River Inn’s general manager. “ It should be a great time by the river.”
The Whalewatchers begin playing at 1 PM. Admission is FREE. For more info, call (831) 667-2700.
Runners take on a brisk Sunday morning along Highway 1 for the 2009 Big Sur International Marathon.
By Nic Coury
Chilly winds didn't stop the giant crowd who gathered for a 6:45am start at Big Sur Station on Sunday. Finishing in top spot was 22-year-old Ryan Hafer of Colorado Springs, CO with a time of two hours and 32 minutes—seven minutes before the second place winner Eric Bowles of Los Angeles. Family and friends of runners cheered on along Highway 1, while a variety of bands, like Jonah and the Whalewatchers kept up the beat.
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Rastafari Out
Eek-A-Mouse and Don Carlos top an impressive bill at Fox benefit show.
By Stuart Thornton
The title track of Eek-A-Mouse’s 1996 album Black Cowboy begins with a military drumroll followed by a cacophony of gun shots being fired, horses braying and cowboys yelling “Yee haw.” Then the revered reggae artist pours imagery and characters straight from a Western film– Jessie James, the O.K. Corral, Boot Hill– over an elastic reggae groove. Later on, between gratuitously using the word “reckon,” Eek-A-Mouse describes being a fugitive on the run, fleeing for the Mexican border. Born in Jamaica as Ripton Hilton, Eek-A-Mouse released a couple of singles that went nowhere under his birth name. In 1979, he decided to go by Eek-A-Mouse, the name of a racehorse... In 1982, Eek-A-Mouse released his landmark Wa-Do-Dem album featuring classics including “Ganja Smuggling” ... Also on Saturday night’s bill is longtime reggae crooner Don Carlos. Carlos is known for being one of the founders of the Grammy award-winning reggae group Black Uhuru. After starting the group ... With his solo work, Carlos melds soulful singing with reggae music. On his “Peace and Love,” he pours his sweet vocals over a stuttering drumbeat and a reggae groove. Meanwhile, his a capella “You Are My Sunshine” owes an obvious debt to soul and gospel music. The reggae show, which includes performances by local acts Jonah and the Whalewatchers and Michael Annotti, is a benefit concert for the Daniel Vasquez Foundation. Vasquez was a founding member of Jonah and the Whalewatchers who passed away last year after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bike on Highway 1. Richard Vasquez, Daniel’s brother who co-founded the foundation and organized the concert, says the purpose of the show is to raise money for scholarships that the organization will then give away. “This is a benefit concert,” he says. “Every red cent of it is going to scholarships in his name.” The scholarships will be given away to individuals who excel in areas that were important parts of Daniel’s life: sports, music, dance and healing arts. According to Richard, the foundation has already given out three scholarships of $1,000 each. A clarinet player and Gonzales High School valedictorian, Elizabeth Miller, received a scholarship for music, while David Castro, who is also from Gonzales High School, took home scholarship money for being an outstanding athlete in football, baseball and basketball. Meanwhile, San Diego’s Bill Tillman, who studies physical therapy at Mesa College, was a recipient of a scholarship for his work in the healing arts. Richard says the foundation is looking for more than just people who stand out in one of the four areas. They want someone with Daniel’s sensibilities. “My brother was always giving,” he says. “We’re looking for that type of giving person.” Eek-A-Mouse, Don Carlos, Jonah and the Whalewatchers and Michael Annotti play 7:30pm Saturday, July 19, at the Fox Theater, 241 S. Main St., Salinas. $25-$35. 758-8459.
There is a new CD compilation called Skankin’ Cali Style, which features tracks from California reggae groups from Calexico to the Bay Area. One track, titled "Jah Talk to Us," is contributed by local reggae mainstays Jonah and the Whalewatchers. On the tune, the band gives shout-outs to folks like Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, Martin Luther King and Haile Selassie, over horn-drenched music that sounds a bit like True Democracy-era Steel Pulse. It’s good stuff. Basically, if you have never seen this 14 year-old Monterey County institution, it’s about time.
9pm. Ocean Thunder, 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. No cover. 643-9169.
Jonah and the Whalewatchers make a new reggae sound all their own.
It''s almost impossible to live around here for any length of time without hearing locals rave about the Monterey reggae band Jonah and the Whalewatchers. But anyone expecting a band that sounds like Bob Marley and the Wailers is in for a surprise. The Whalewatchers'' sound, while undeniably reggae, has a unique aspect. Even the band''s Marley covers (and they mix some in) are bouncing reinterpretations of the classic songs--true to the roots, yet infused with the band''s unique melodic sensibility
The Whalewatchers are fronted by singer and bassist Alex Shirley, a thickly accented Jamaican export, and also features the classic reggae lineup: two guitars (Jun Tatsuoda and Tracy Chesebrough) and a strong drummer (John Tallon). What makes the Whalewatchers unique is the inclusion of steel drummer Cary Lowney, and trumpeter/ percussionist Bill Steacy --both of whom solo frequently. The Whalewatchers'' live show alternately sounds like a hot jam session and a carefully rehearsed set spun out of the classic Jamaican tradition.
Many people were genuinely shocked that a music writer had lived on the Peninsula for 11 years without ever seeing them. "But I don''t like reggae." I said. "Go", they said. "You''ll like this band."
So I went, preparing to be impressed--or at least to be able to tolerate the music for long enough to get a sense of the band and what made them so supposedly great. The crowd seemed primed for a good show--both the seasoned regulars and the young, luminous hippies were in attendance. As the show kicked off, the crowd grew, and the luminous hippies alternated between sipping their beverages and dancing like fireflies to the warm beat.
The band covered the Marley classic "One Love" (a song I, reggae-non-enthusiast, have never cared for) and found a way to make it resonate even in my dubious ears. Something about the warmth of the environment, the obvious enthusiasm of the audience, and the electric energy in the air made the moment nearly perfect.
The core of the band has been together for 13 years, with Alex Shirley at the helm. "There were no reggae bands in this area," Shirley says. He spoke to some friends and fellow musicians, and Jonah was born.
The band started in the garage of a friend, practicing and playing and getting a sense of themselves as musicians. Their somewhat innovative take on reggae came to them fairly naturally.
"Reggae''s already pretty sophisticated," Shirley says, "so that''s what we try to do." The band bio, authored by Tallon, states that their music "fuses Caribbean and African beats with American jazz, blues and soul to create a very unique sound that is most often identified as reggae." Tallon also mentions calypso, soca, and hip-hop as influences.
Whatever the combination of music types the band employs, it seems to be working, as J&WW have a loyal and still-growing fan base after more than a decade. Fans who have been with the band since the beginning still show up to hear the band play, and new fans are won over by Shirley's and his bandmates obvious enthusiasm for the music. At any show the audience is full of middle-aged women and young creatures in flowing clothing, as well as the occasional septuagenarians rocking out.
While Jonah and the Whalewatchers occasionally touch on the political subjects that are rife in the world of reggae music, the band is much more into commenting on the beauty of life. "My message is that I try to tell the crowd that they all been given a great gift by the most high Jah," Shirley says. "We try to spread that message every time we play."
Jonah and the Whalewatchers play Blue Fin on Thursday at 9pm.
A Run With a View
Captain Grose's Marathon pages
Posted on Thu, Apr. 25, 2002
By ANNA DAVISON
________________________________________
Even if pounding the pavement isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of reasons to head down Highway 1 this weekend.
Sure, there’ll be hoards of sweaty runners competing in the Big Sur International Marathon, but there’ll also be a host of great musical acts and other entertainment - from Dixieland to drumming. It could be the perfect excuse to pack a picnic basket and head out to the coast for a Sunday in the sun.
The lineup of performers includes seasoned artists like jazz/blues trio Andrea’s Fault, classical ensemble I Cantori Carmel and reggae band Jonah and the Whalewatchers, as well as student musicians from Seaside High School, Robert Louis Stevenson School and San Benancio Middle School, among others.
“I’m a great proponent of getting kids out there and letting them play professionally,” said Janet Lesniak, musical director for the Big Sur International Marathon.
She’ll be running the course and is looking forward as much to the music as to the finish line.
Lesniak is particularly excited at the prospect of seeing drum and dance group Big Sur Natives performing on Monastery Beach, “if I’m still alive at mile 24.5,” she laughed.
The group will be performing from 4 a.m., for the benefit of the runners who will be bused from Carmel to the starting line in Big Sur. The race gun goes off at 7 a.m. and elite runners will cross the finish line in Carmel a little past 9 a.m.
More than 20 other acts will be spread out along the marathon course, which will be closed to vehicle traffic at 4 a.m. Sunday. Spectators hoping to enjoy the performances along the running route, “will have to either get up very early and pick their spot, or walk back,” Lesniak said. Most of the spectators congregate along the finish line, but many hike or bike miles down the closed road to escape the crowds. There will be plenty going on at the end of the course, located near the intersection of Highway 1 and Rio Road at The Crossroads shopping center. “The big show is going to be at the finishing line,” said spokeswoman Franca Gargiulo.
Eclectic jazz combo This and That Quartet will be playing on the awards stage at 8:30 a.m. and spectators can sample food from vendors and stock up on marathon-wear. The Monterey Jazz Festival Honors Band will also be entertaining the crowd, and VIPs can enjoy jazz flutist Kenny Stahl.
“I think it’s a great day for non-runners to be inspired to be runners,” Gargiulo remarked.
After all, as she pointed out, “the core goal of the marathon is to promote health and fitness.
Performances:
START: Jacqui Hope singing the Star Spangled Banner mile 1.5: Zun Zun (pan flutes)
mile 2: RLS Lower/Middle School Band
mile 2.7: Seaside High School Orchestra
mile 3.5 Susan Bradley Harp
mile 5 NRG Rhythm&Blues;mile 8 York School Brass Quintet
mile9.8 Watsonville Taiko Drums
mile 11 Oasis
mile 12 Russ Guarino’s Dixieland Band
mile 13 Jonathan Lee on the Yamaha Concert Grand Piano
mile 14 JazzMasters Workshop
mile15.4 Andrea’s Fault
mile 15.6 Wild Coast Brass Quintet
mile17.3 Walter Colton Middle School
mile18 San Benancio Middle School Jazz
mile 19 Frank Paul School Room 24 Band
mile 21 Class Brass Quintet
mile 22.5 Nick Fettis Piano
mile 23 I Cantori Di Carmel
mile 23.5 Coast Highlander Bagpipers
mile 24.5 Big Sur Natives
mile 25 Monterey Community Band
mile 25.4 Jonah and the Whalewatchers
Awards Stage: This and That Quartet
VIP Tent: Kenny Stahl
High Five Party: Monterey Jazz Festival Honor Band
Now is the time to find inspiration in all sorts of soulful media.
Ocean Thunder kicks off its celebration on Friday with the reigning reggae kings of Monterey, Jonah & the Whalewatchers. Jonah performed at Morgan's Coffee & Tea during the Valentine's Day weekend and brought another crowd into "positive vibration."
..."The group is straight out of the spiritual significance book of Jamaican reggae. J&WW;are positive, progressive and unifying in a way rarely seen anywhere in music right now."
The Monterey reggae group Jonah & the Whalewatchers perform at Ocean Thunder on Saturday.
The singer and leader of the group, Alex Shirley, stopped by the Artists Showcase at Viva last Tuesday to play an acoustic set. While there, he joined the fold of more than a few musicians who are talking about finding ways to work with each other in finding gigs and filling holes in their bands.
Jonah will have Ocean Thunder hopping, as it has done in the past. The show will be an intimate change from their regular performances at Blue Fin and a welcome addition to Ocean Thunder's usually blues-stuffed weekend.
Jonah and the Whalewatchers, Saturday, Ocean Thunder, 9pm, no cover.