Dave's Reviews Pacifica Tribune

Pacifica Tribune

The Best of Pacifca, Volume 1 now available/August 18, 2010

There is a very cool CD called "The Best of Pacifica Volume 1 - Pacifca Artists playing for the Arts of Pacifica". The CD benefits Pacifca Community Television Channel 26 and Pacifca Performances.

The compact "vinyl" features songs performed by and in my cases written by the following hometown musicians - Mike Tyler, Shelter Cove Blues Society, Marcos Jaramillo, Gary Horsman, Uke Lorenz and Blue Moon Medicine, Ian Butler, Dave Crimmen, The Linda Martians, Belligerance, Inverness and Billy the Shape, a one stop shop for hot.

Song styles and moods travel many diverse roads of extemely stisfying listens. There is a dreamy fusion of classic and psychedelic rock (Tyler). Mellow jazz, funk, world-beat harmonica driven blues (Shelter Cove Blues Society). Segovia-driven eloquent classical guitar (Marcos Jaramillo). Thoughtful, modern folk, sea-like chanty (Gary Horsman). American-storytelling folk with a bit of celtic and yee-haw (Uke Lorenz and Blue Moon Medicine). Smart beachy jukebox pop and black light rock carrying important messages for a better world (Ian Butler).

Also there is stuff to make your 1957 hot rod shake out its tires and dance (Crimmen). Very hip martini/James Bond music (The Linda Martians)

Alternative rock, rap, heavy metal kickers (Beligerance)

Heat-filled, hook-driven post-grunge (Incerneas). Life-lived,new wave, post punk, synth pop, groovy figer-snap (Billy the Shape).

The project is the brain-storm of musicians Uke Lorenz Blue Moon Medicine) and Steven Roark (Billy the Shape). Lorenz, the owner of Blue Moon Music has seen an amazing amount of local talent come into his store, which includes Steven Roark.

"Steve, this Pacifica bon vivant and Safeway bagger, has been coming to my store for a few years and we struck up a friendship." Uke said.

"He is a very talented songwriter and lyricist, in fact the songs are just pouring out of him. He had given ma a few songs to record and I wrote music to some of his lyrics. Last fall I mentioned to him, wouldn't it be nice to make a compilation CD of all the diverse talent Pacifica has to offer?"

Between the two men talking it over with various musicians contacts, the idea gelled into a double project.

"We were swamped with musicians who wanted to participate and from the start we wanted to create something that would introduce the variety of Pacifca musical talent to Pacificans and at the same time support the organizations that are supporting the musicians."

Musicians quickly dropped CDs off with Steve and Uke and suggested which songs should be used for the record. The mastering process took a bit longer than expected, and Uke, while still maintaining his two local businesses, moved to Surrey, British Columbia.

"My commute takes a little longer!"

A little shy of a year later, the CD is now packages and ready to be played.

Locals know many of these musicians from gigs at such places as Cheers, Nick's, Portofino's, Pacifica Performances, The Bruce Latimer Show (PCT 26), Shelidance, Orchard Gardens and the Earth Day Party at Linda Mar Beach. And despite living in British Columbia, Uke makes his way to the Chit Chat Cafe once or twice a month to do a show called "Uke and Friends."

The CD sells for $15.00 ($10.00 if that's all your budget can do.) All money made goes directly to Pacificas Performances and PCT 26. "The Best of Pacifica Volume 1" can be purchased at Pacifica Performances, PCT 26, Blue Moon Music, or email Uke Lorenz with your phone number at uke@sbcglobal.net and he can process your order.

"I learned a couple of things on this project." Uke said. "One, the 21 songs we crammed onto this first CD were the maximum we could get on a single CD. Two, there are so many other musicians around Pacifica and the Coastside that did not make it onto Volume 1 that we have to have a Volume 2- Nomi Harper, Nancy Hall, Lee Parvin, Frank Risinger, Leighanna Murphy, The Biscuit Wheels, David Cannaday and his band View from Space- I could go on and on!"

"I have been blessed to have the support of my family and friends in my various endeavors." Uke continued.

"And music has given me so much. So I just want to say to all you parents out there - please, send your children to music lessons. In my estimate it is the greatest gift you can give a child."

-Jean Bartlett

Jean Bartlett at the Little Brown Church Benefit Concert Aug. 2010

photo credit Dave Crimmen

Spindrift at the Hop - A benefit for PSP with the cast of 'Bye Bye Birdie' Saturday/August 4 - 10, 2010

On Saturday, Aug. 14, from 8 to 11 p.m. musician Dave Crimmen with his vocal ease and guitar treats and his roots in Sun Records Era of rock 'n' roll, will bring out his band to shake out a whole lotta sock hoppin' for a benefit at the Spindrift, featuring the cast of "Bye Bye Birdie."

"Bye Bye Birdie" written by Michael Stewart and with music by Charles Strouse is climbing on board the Pacifica Spindrift Stage weekends running Sept. 3 through Oct. 3. (The Spindrift presnetation is directed by George Mauro, with music direction by Bob Sunshine and choreography by Natalia Luna.)

The 1960 Tony-Award winning musical, inspired by Elvis Presley tells the story of a rock 'n' roll singer, Conrad Birdie, who is about to be inducted into the army.

Before that induction takes place, Birdie's agent secretary Rosie concots a final national publicity plan where Conrad will bid farewell to a "typical" American teenage girl with an all-American kiss. Even though everyone swoons when Conrad shows up in there town, the singer just wants to be a regular guy.

Crimmen, whose original tunes swing like a stock car race at the famed Charlotte Speedway, is perfect to rev up the engine for the upcoming "Birdie" production. A West Coast legend of rockabilly, Dave has composed music for movies and television and he is a frequent tune on college radio. Bill Griffith of B.A.M. Magazine wrote, "Dave's music conjures up visions of pony-tailed girls doing the bop, in fact, this stuff would work in a 'Back to the Beach' movie soundtrack. Makes me feel like I want to hop in my Chevy convertable to meet Artur Fonzarelli at Arnold's!"

So ladies, if you're thinking it is time to blow off the dust on those tapered pants, peppermint tops and/or wide skirts with petticoats- and gents, if it's been a while since you plastered your hair in a ducktail, then you better get yourself to the Spindrift where the dance floor is out, Dave Crimmen and his band are on stage and the cast of "Bye Bye Birdie" is celebrating their wop-bop-a-lou in three hours of singing and dancing on stage at the Spindrift, 1050 Crespi Drive, Pacifica.

Tickets for this Spindrift fund-raiser are just $10.00 bucks a pop. Reservations at 359-8002. Visit www.pacificaspindrift.org

-Jean Bartlett

Dave Crimmen: A blast from the past; appearing Saturday/April 5, 2006

Or is he? Beware: Listening to Dave Crimmen may cause be-bop convulsions and a sudden hankerin' for a sock hop. The rock-a-billy genre still lives.

Speaking of which, Crimmen's "Rockabilly Rave" delivers as promised on his CD "Where He Left Off". His stylings have been praised by such as KFRC radio, Blue Suede News and Goldmine, just to name a few. His music has even made it to television and film: His song "Take Me Baby" from the same CD, was used in the film "The Game" starring Michael Douglas, while his song "It Was Love" (same CD) was used in "Melrose Place" on Fox. Also according to his bio, three of his songs were used in the CBS television movie "Songs In Ordinary Time" starring, Sissy Spacek and Beau Bridges.

Crimmen's music is so nostalgic and true to the '50s era that it becomes a worthy music history tribute for every generation and those to come. The nice thing about it is that his music is still pulling quite a following. So be sure to follw Dave Crimmen to Winter's Tavern on Saturday, April 8, for a bring-it-home rock down and have some "modern" good old - fashioned fun. Bring socks.

-Cyndi Caldwell

Jean Bartlett (left, reporter for the Pacifica Tribune)

Bill Shaffer (right, Dave's bass player)

photo credit Sharon Caren

Pacifica swings to Rockabilly artist Dave Crimmen/August 30, 2000

There was a whole lotta shakin' going on when Dave Crimmen, vocals/guitar, Bill Shaffer, bass/back-up vocals and Greg Windust, drummer/back-up vocals, shot on stage at the Sanchez Concert Hall in a Pacifica Arts and Heritage Council-sponsored show and delivered the best rockabilly music to hit the ear waves since Elvis exploded on the Sun Records' scene. And I'm telling everyone right now, and that includes you, Margot and Jeff, Elizabeth and Patrick, next time Crimmen hits the stage bring your children, 50 of your closest friends and your dance shoes; cause hot-diggity-dog, Crimmen's music packs one rockin' wallop. Zowie!

Starting set one with "It's Got That Beat" by Crimmen, audience members waited about two seconds before they rushed to the dance floor. What took them so long? With a sound reminiscent of Elvis, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and Harold Jenkins (a.k.a. Conway Twitty), Crimmen and his band churned out one great tune after another, the majority of which, Crimmen wrote. Of course who would expect anything less from a guy who can count Brenda Lee as one of his admiring fans?

Just back from a trip to Jackson, Tennessee, playing center stage at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Crimmen has a very impressive resume. His song, "Take Me Baby," is used in the film, "The Game," with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. "Baby Shake It Up" was used in NBC's DATELINE. "A Girl Like You" can be heard in FOX's, "The Zone." "It Was Love" added the love in a scene with Heather Locklear of "Melrose Place." Crimmen has been featured in numerous publications including: Blue Suede News, BAM, Hogtown News, Texas Jamboree, Relix, and the list goes on (including the Pacifica Tribune). "Playing music is just something I have to do," Crimmen said. "Amen to that," say the rest of us.

Slick on guitar, smooth on lyrics, this man can croon like nobody's business. And his lyrics and melodies make people smile and laugh and give an extra squeeze to the one they love. I even saw a little kissing going on the dance floor when Crimmen and his band performed, "A Little Bit Of Love" by Crimmen. One of those nice and easy songs that just makes you want to grab your guy or gal, jump in your turquoise and white, '55 Chevy Bel Air, and drive to Make-Out Hill. I say turquoise in particular because one thing Crimmen makes clear is he finds turquoise to be fine. In a turquoise shirt, with a turquoise ring for every finger, from where I was sitting, I'd say he was batting baby turquoises; well, maybe it was just the lighting, or the music.

What motivates this tall (6 foot 4), cool, rock and rolling hep cat to write and sing songs straight out of the fifties? Girls. In fact it is Crimmen's girl, Pacifican Sharon Caren, who inspired him to write "She Can't Stop Dancin'." Just like so many other of Crimmen's tunes-to-be-danced-to, this song brought the audience straight to their feet. Speaking of the audience, let's hear from them.

Pacifican Bill Cary: "I am enjoying the evening. He really delivers. Every note is total rockabilly." Four-year-old daughter, Anna, agreed then ran off to dance.

Debbie Gartner, from San Bruno: "I think it's great! It's nice to be able to come out and bring the kids. Nice way to spend the evening with our friends who live in Pacifica."

Pacifican Martha Williams: "I think it is fabulous. It's very important to have a venue such as the Sanchez Concert Hall where you can be comfortable and bring your kids and listen to really good music, like this."

Merrill Bobele from El Granada: "This is a change from the usual venue. He is a really talented guy with a talented back-up group. I am really enjoying this evening." (Note Merrill and his wife, Joanne, cut quite the rug on the dance floor, several times.)

Band member, bass player and former Pacifican, Shaffer, had this to say about us. "It's a nice crowd. Very nice place to play. I especially enjoy that there are people here of all ages." The people of all ages included Shaffer's 1 year-old daughter, Serena, who enjoyed every bit of the music with her mom, Carol.

Rocking through a 15-song second set, Crimmen and his band mates gave us an additional two more rounds of hot rocking rockabilly before they took their final bows. Band Mates, Windust (who once attended Oceana High for a year) on drums and Shaffer on bass, made playing great rockabilly look as easy as pie; you got yourself some great back-up there Mr. Crimmen. And Crimmen, well, I expect this will be just about the last time I will see him perform and still manage to have some elbow room to call my own. Double ou-la-la! with a beat.

Crimmen's band can next be heard on the 8th of September at Charlie's Place, Pacifica, and/or try Moon McShane's in Burlingame on the 9th, and don't miss their Cheers performance in Pacifica, September 15th. Check out Dave's website: www.davecrimmen.com. Be sure and buy his latest CD's on line; worth every rockabilly cent.

-Jean Bartlett