Image provided by: Upper Left Edge; Cannon Beach, OR
About The upper left edge. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2000)
• / ( R ESTAURANT A Misty River Rising by Billy Lloyd Hulls Located in the Cannon ‘Beach -diotel 1116 S- Memlock. "Playing" music they call it. But as any working muscian knows it takes a lot of work to "play". There are gigs and then there are gigs. Playing an open sided gazebo in Waterfront Park during Rose Festival, which means it’s cold, windy and raining, it is alter all June in Oregon, at noon, is no one's idea of "playing". How I came to find myself there is really none of your business, let's say 1 was looking for a friend. But as 1 wandered through the endless booths and displays of things I have long since lost interest in, looking for a dry place to dnnk my coffee and smoke a cigarette, I came upon the aformentioned gazebo, where a band was setting up. 1 found a plastic chair out of the downpour and watched a depressing scene 1 had taken part in so many times. Outside in bad weather playing to people eating cotton candy and comdogs. Not exactly the gig from hell but certainly mentioned in Dante' long lost book on the suffering of artists. The musicians seemed to be familiar with the dues paying part of the deal, and after getting levels set they looked around at each other and started it off. The guitar player, a grown up woman named Carol Harley, played simple traditional rythm keeping the chords coming while she looked out at the weather. Her smile seemed to say, "Well, I've had a baby, I've changed diapers, 1 can handle this." Beside her was another woman, young enough to be Carol's daughter, named Dana Abel, on accordian, and she was, again playing the simple traditional, high quality, nothing fancy, nothing wasted style. Beside her was was Laura Quigley, who is not only young enough to be, but in fact is Carol Harley's daughter. She was playing bass with skill belying her age. Her animated face was quick to smile or scrunch up while working through a change, and mostly showing that she was doing that, oh so, important task of listening to the whole band. The last musician was Chris Kokesh, she was playing violin and would pick up a guitar occasionally. During the quick sound check on her guitar she had played the introduction to "One More Dollar", a song that Spud taught our band. I wanted to hear their arrangement. No, it wasn't all that altrueistic I admit, these were four very attractive and talented women, and they sing that harmony that women alone can do. The one that men would be wise to listen to very carefully. Individually they take the lead vocal duties and each is unto herself enique, in range and phrasing. You could call this a 'four piece country chick band' but you would be stupid if you did. I bought their new CD "Rising" when they were finished and noticed that they had 'guests' like Glen Moore, a legendary Oregon jazz bass player, and mandolinist John Reichman, as well as other local 'pros' sitting in. They play the kind of music that I've heard called "Americana" a mixture of acoustic folk, bluegrass, Celtic, rock and jazz. Chris's original songs are very different from the 'oh, baby, come home to Momma' of traditional country, but not the often bitter feminist rants of some 'grrri' bands. Her song, "Real as a Dream" tells of a relationship gone bad and ends with the lines "You on your white horse, BIG WAVE CAFE HWY 101 @ Manzanita Junction Songwriters in the Round Beach Series Saturday July 22nd 9:00 PM Gourmet Food & Great Music 503-368-W AVE y CANNON BEACH AMERICAN LEGION 1216 South Hemlock Cannon Beach, Oregon 436-2‘JTJ Monday Night Jam 6PM - 8:30PM (503)436-0908 ‘Reserva tions S ugges ted Light Lunch 12:00 - 4:00 homemade soups, chozoders, bread and delightful desserts Dinner Served 4:00 ■ 9:00 Azoard winning chowders, unique salads pasta, seafood, steals and chicken Monday - QreepSpedals 'Wednesday ■ (Pasta Specials ClosedSunday made for the sunset, you and your princess bride. Is this the end of the story, I fight the dragons, you get the glory." Dana's original, "This American Dream", talks with compassion about a husband and father working his way out of poverty only to find that, "the things money can't buy are lacking in my life." What really struck me on that rainy morning on the banks of the Willamette was not just that they were troopers, but that they were working hard to make the music their own. The voices could be compared favorably to Emmy Lou Harris, Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, or Maria Muldaur, but their phrasing, the mix of the words and the harmony, the timing, the full rest, dramatic mixing of what is being sung with how it is being sung adds a jazz flavor that makes their sound different. They are not quite seasoned pros yet, but the beginnings of a band that you will be hearing a lot more about in the future. They are called Misty River and they play around Portland, Oregon and even have a web site; www.mistyriverband.com. M e m be r» & Guests D onations at the D oor Proceeds to B enefit C om m unity Free Pool & Darts M onday Night Jam 7pm until 9pm Rob Sheris Band with Nancy King July 15 at the Bald Eagle Coffee House at 1287 S. Hemlock in Mid-town Cannon Beach and July 16th at 2PM for the Concerts in the Park Series. Casually ‘Elegant Dining Grant/Matheney Jazz duo to perform in July The critically acclaimed jazz duo of Darrell Grant and Dmitri Mathney will bring their chamber jazz music to Seaside at 7:30 P.M. on July 15th at Nicholson Hall (816 N. Holladay Dr.). With their “Salon Concert” performances, the classically trained duo blends the intimacy of chmaber music with the playful, sontaneous, spirit of American jazz to take the listener on an inspired musical journey. The do has performed on major concert stages from Carnegie Hall to the Montery, Telluride and San Francisco jass festivals. “The Salon Concert is a setting which we feel celebrates the best of what music is all about” says Grant. “It allows us to share the creative spirit, to make a real connection with our audience, and to acheive a level of heartfelt communication that exceeds that which often occurs in larger esembles". For further infromation, contact Bob Ragsdale (436-2947) or Nicholson Hall (717-0143) Budweiser K IN G O F B E E R S, L/ke M/ke\ hike » Clatsop Distributing has been proudly serving and supporting Clatsop County for over 27 years. Please drink responsibly and enjoy your Summer. Are you ready for a Bud tonight? BILL’S i Tavern & Brewhouse 188 N. HEMLOCK CANNON BEACH, OR 97110 436-2202 V B ill says, “ I f you’ re in a h urry, you don’ t belong here.” Liberty doesn’t work as well in practice as it does in speeches. ~ Will Rogers V 0 Mike's Bike Shop 6 I Rentals • Repairs • Sales 24 years downtown, on Spruce Street 436-1266 (O u t ¿EFT*EDGE JTttW 2000 I / o f state inquiries, 800-492-1266)
