FRIDAY: It is said that Roy Acuff would walk into a studio, sit down, perform a song, then move on to the next. No touch-ups, no let's-try-that-agains. He never cared about perfection. His songs were real. What's that got to do with "Wild Bill" Sparkman? He plays by the same sit-down-and-play rules. When he performs a song from the past, he does it with all the "scratches, dents, and imperfection" (his words) intack. That means his guitar playing, and his vocal interpretation of a song are wrong and real - the kind of sound to feel in your soul. For the first installment of a residency at The Lab, Sparkman will explore the birth of the blues. You know it's gonna get real. (DF)
7-9:30 pm. The Lab, 3728 The Barnyard Suite G-23, Carmel. $15, info@thelabarts.com, thelabarts.com.
Monterey County Weekly
December 12-18
THE "LIVE" DOCUMENTARY OF BOB DYLAN.
FRIDAY: Local performers Taelen Thomas and Bill Sparkman bring the life and music of iconic folk artist Bob Dylan to life through poetry, theater and music in this two-man show. This "Live Musical Documentary" recounts Dylan's life and long history with music. Door at 5pm.
Friday. Begin 5:30 pm. The Lab, 3728 The Barnyard Suite G-23, Carmel. $15, info@thelabarts.com, thelabarts.com.
Monterey County Weekly
January 9-15, 2020
SONGS FROM LAUREL CANYON AT THE LAB
FRIDAY: The haze around L.A.'s Laurel Canyon in the 1960's wasn't smog. Chris Hillman of The Byrds wrote the now classic "So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star" in Laurel Canyon. He remembers writing the song in his house. He just can't recall which street he lived on. Glen Frey of The Eagles drove to Laurel Canyon on his first day in California. He told Vanity Fair that the first person he saw was David Crosby, decked out in a cape, standing in front of a store as stiff as a statue. The Byrds, Crosby Still Nash and Young. The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, The Mamas and The Papas, Linda Ronstadt....the musicians who lived, jammed and toked in the neighborhood have been the subject of films, books and now a performance by local legends Taelen Thomas and Bill Sparkman. A performance artist (Taelen) and a do-it-all musician (Sparkman) may be the only pair capable of tackling the time, place and songs on a single stage in an homage entitled "Songs From Laurel Canyon." Of course, if the audience gets in the true spirit of Laurel Canyon with a few doobies, it may not be a memorable performance. Door at 5pm. (DF)
Begin 5:30 pm. The Lab, 3728 The Barnyard Suite G-23, Carmel. $15, info@thelabarts.com, thelabarts.com.
Monterey County Weekly
February 13-19
Storied Songs
Local duo performs a live documentary of Waylon Jennings' life and music.
By Rory Glass
"What do Outlaw Country and Valentine's Day have to do with each other?"
I asked the question three times in my interviews about Taelen Thomas and Bill Sparkman's presentation of Waylon Jennings' music. Each time I received the same "nothing, it was purely coincidence" response.
Thomas chuckles though, and says, "If there isn't a connection, we can make one with beautiful poems and love songs." Off the cuff he recites some of Jennings' lyrics: "Late one night a light of love finally gave a sign Jessie parked her Cadillac and took her place in line."
Reciting poetry and lyrics from memory is second nature to the Bard of Monterey. When Thomas combines his craft with Sparkman's well of over 66 Jennings songs, the result is a living documentary of a classic country icon. They interpose live acoustic music with stories about songs and the artist. It's been well scripted, and told by two experienced performers. It's not their first rodeo, either.
This will be the third installment in an unintentional series. The previous episodes - about Bob Dylan and the music of Laurel Canyon - were both performed to a packed audience at The Lab. Mike Scutari, who booked the show at The Lab, says, "Taelen and Bill are the real deals. Having them join forces has been epic, and people are really enjoying their performances."
Since Sparkman share the same rich, baritone register as Jennings, the songs come naturally. "I jumped on the band-wagon quickly and started doing only outlaw country."
Bill Sparkman began performing out country as a Marine in Vietnam.
Meanwhile Taelen Thomas is a master at telling stories. Together they've been bringing the musical past to life.
Outlaws don't do roses for Valentine's Day though, so bring a six-pack.
Friday. Begin 5:30 pm. The Lab, 3728 The Barnyard Suite G-23, Carmel. $15, info@thelabarts.com, thelabarts.com.
On March 12, 2020 California Shut Down Entertainment, Restaurants, & Bars! After 9 years of building Spirit Wind Productions into a profitable business, and finding our niche, Performing Arts instead of bars, The Covid Pandemic abruptly halted our movement forward. Our perfect small Performing Arts Venue had to close. But we plan to rebuild, so here we go!
