By John Pluntze
Before I list some of the many musical happenings that are once again taking place in the Wood River Valley (and elsewhere) this week, I want to introduce you to a wonderful -- and wonderfully exhuberant -- duo who'll be performing up at Redfish Lodge this coming Wednesday, from 6;-8 p.m.: Gwyneth & Monko ( http://www.gwynethandmonko.com ).
Formed in 2009 as band, just after the release of Gwyneth Moreland's( http://www.GwynethMoreland.com ) first, critically-acclaimed solo album, "Wishbone" -- as she was actively searching for an accompanist for her next album -- she and Michael Monko seemed like a match made in Heaven from the get go, since Moreland is not only a very accomplished vocalist but also a multi-talented musician in her own right (banjo, accordion, ukelele, and piano).
Monko, who grew up in San Francisco and who, up until he met Moreland, had been mainly playing hard rock on the electric guitar (while simultaneously listening to blue grass) in high school, found himself being drawn more and more toward classic folk and country instruments such as the fiddle, banjo and mandolin -- another aspect to his musical persona that seemed to Moreland like he might be a perfect fit for the sort of duo she was envisioning.
"Yeah, I think we were DEFINITELY meant to perform together", Moreland told me when I talked with both her and Monko via phone last month (after Redfish manager Jeff Clegg graciously and generously introduced us to each other, via e-mail).
Moreland's family life was almost as radically different growing up as their respective singing styles were as well.
One of five children, Moreland grew up in Mendocino, CA (her parents bought a house there in 1972, after they graduated from Stanford University -- a "back-to-the-land" form of life that both of them were anxious for at that point in their lives). As a child, Moreland grew up with no TV (ironic since one of Moreland's aunts was Donna Reed -- of "The Donna Reed Show" and "From Here To Eternity" fame) CD player, or junk food, but instead found herself often happily enjoying her parents' Bob Dylan and Joan Baez albums.
With a voice that often conjures up images of Beth Orton, Gillian Welch, Nanci Griffith and Jenny Lewis, Moreland's vocals are an extremely apt match for Monko's virtuoso guitar, fiddle, mandolin and bass work -- a match that is often so well received by audiences throughout the United States that it often has those very same people enthusiastically recommending Gwyneth & Monko to their friends, family members, etc. ... which is precisely how this terrific duo ended up being booked at Redfish Lodge in the first place.
"Well, Gwyneth and I were playing at the Bohemia Coffee House in Ojai earlier this year, and it turned out that two off the people who saw us there -- Tod Gunter and Lisa Krueger -- live part of the year in Stanley", Monko explained. "So evidently they loved our music so much that they recommended us to Jeff Clegg there Redfish Lodge, and the next thing we knew we got a phone call from Jeff wondering if we could play there this summer."
Considering the fact that, in the past two years, Gwyneth & Monko have traveled some 60,000 miles and played more than 250 shows throughout the U.S., their delightful brand of Americana/roots/folk/alternative music has obviously found a welcome home.
"We really, really love what we do", Moreland said, before quickly adding, "and the fact that we get a chance to perform at places as beautiful as Redfish Lake is just sooo, so special and exciting -- and hopefully that excitement and gratitude will be very much in evidence when we play at Redfish."
Samples of Gwyneth & Monko's music can be found on YouTube, as well as at the websites listed above. They'll perform at Redfish Lodge ( http://www.RedfishLake.com /774-3536) this coming Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m.
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Okay, and now for some other music news for the week that you may want to likewise make note of...
On Tuesday, the Ketchum Farmers Market ( http://www.wrfarmersmarket.org ) will feature the multi-facteted instrumentalist-vocalist Aaron Baker, who'll play there from 2-6 p.m. there. The Thursday Farmers Market in Hailey will feature John & Jenny.
Also on Tuesday, up at the Sun Valley Pavilion, Creedence Clearwater Revisited ( http://www.creedence-revisited.com ) -- a very entertaining re-working of the classic, 1970s band Creedence Clearwater Revival (the Revisited band features two of the original CCR members, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford, as well as Steve Gunner, Kurt Griffey and John Tristao) -- will perform their own brand of rockin'-stompin' musical fun, starting at 8 p.m. there. Expect to hear a plethora of CCR classics including "Suzie Q", "Proud Mary", "Down On the Corner", "Fortunate Son", "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Travelin' Band". Tickets ($29-$79) at: www.seats.sunvalley.com / 622-2135)
On Wednesday evening, in addition to the aforementioned Gwyneth & Monko concert up at Redfish, the final "Back Alley Party" concert of the summer takes place at The Wicked Spud in Hailey (305 N. Main), featuring one of the hottest/most popular Valley-based bands working today, CakeFaceJane ( http://www.CakeFaceJane.com ), with music slated to run from 6-9:30 p.m. Wine, beer and raffle-ticket sales this week will benefit the Papoose Club, and also the Blaine County Education Foundation. Major props to "Back Alley Party" organizers Dana DuGan (720-1791) and Heidi Albrecht (788-7827) for amassing yet another terrific array of music there at "The Spud" this year; you ladies TOTALLY rock in my book!!!
(By the way, if you miss the CakeFaceJane guys on Wednesday evening, there'll also be playing at Rotary Park on Saturday afternoon, around 1 p.m. or so, during the Duck Race Party there).
Lefty's (231 6th Street E -- next to Globus restaurant/ 726-2744) will have a special Wednesday evening concert from 6-9 p.m. or so, featuring the Jon Hogan String Band ( http://www.Reverbnation.com/JonHoganBand ). On Saturday (Sept. 1), Matt Cifrese is tentatively scheduled for music there, while on Sunday, Capt. Dano is the featured musical player at Lefty's.
On Thursday evening, the final, family-friendly "Ketchum Town Square" concert takes place from 6- 8 p.m. (right next to Starbucks) -- this week, the popular bluegrass band, Dewey, Pickett & Howe perform -- while up at the Sun Valley Pavilion, not one but two 60-something female phenoms -- nine-time Grammy-winning blues, rock, R&B and pop songstress Bonnie Raitt ( http://www.BonnieRaitt.com ), and also legendary gospel and R&B singer Mavis Maples ( http://www.MavisStaples.com ) -- will take the stage there, with music slated to start at 8 p.m.Tickets from http://www.SunValleyCenter.org / 726-9491 x 10).
And down in Bellevue on Thursday evening, at the Silver Dollar Saloon (101 S. Main St./ 788-2900), the Bermuda Cowboys play from 5-7 p.m. there. (On Friday, Old Death Whisper does the same -- from 9:30 p.m., on).
On Friday evening (Aug. 31), at Whiskey,s ( http://www.WhiskeyJacques.com / 726-5297/ 251 N. Main St.), the Polyrhythmics band ( http://www.Reverbnation.com/Polyrhythmics ) will be the featured band, while on Saturday evening, Hellbound Glory ( ( http://www.HellboundGlory.com ) will be the featured musical attraction -- this in addition to a FREE/NO cover music offering upstairs at Whiskey's (courtesy of Bret Mosley) on Wednesday evening ... and also DJ Spice Train seriously kickin' it there at Whiskey's on Thursday evening.
In Hailey On Friday, at the Sun Valley Brewery (202 N. Main St./788-0805), the "psycho-billy/folk-grass" band, The Billy Goats, will be the featured Block Party Concert offering there, with music slated to start around 7 p.m. or so.
Up at Redfish Lodge on Saturday (Sept. 1), there will be a special Labor Day-oriented concert, featuring another one of the Wood River Valley's most popular bands -- All-Night Diner (from 6-8 p.m.) -- while on Sunday evening (from 5-8 p.m.), another fave Valley-based band (Old Death Whisper) takes the stage ... for what will be, sadly, the final Redfish Lodge concert of the season. Major props to Lodge manager Jeff Clegg for once again booking sooo many eclectic and terrific musical acts there at the Lodge this summer!!!
Also on Saturday, in the Ketchum Town Square, there will be a special afternoon concert immediately after the Wagon Days Parade ends -- featuring, once again, that bluegrass band, Dewey, Pickett & Howe.
Ohhhh and on Sunday, be sure to check out that Latino X band -- the one that's fronted by Valley-based, female DJ Marlin Valdivia -- that will be playing at the Bellevue Memorial Park, from around 1:15, on, that day. They are definitely worth making time for ... as are the other musical offerings happening at the park that day: Holistic Meditation, The Sofa Kings, Spare Change, Paddy Wagon and The Boulder Brothers.
(Monday at Bellevue Memorial Park will have a plethora of music and other assorted entertainment as well there -- courtesy of The Rocky Top Cloggers Of Twin Falls, the Wood River Folkloric Dancers, cowboy poets Mick Halverson and Dan Shoemaker, Muzzy Braun, Paddy Wagon, and the Idaho Old-Time Fiddlers.)
And that's just some of the fun that awaits avid music loving residents and visitors alike here in the Wood River Valley this week. Enjoy!!! :)
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Questions or comments regarding this "Harmonic Convergence" (local music scene-oriented) column can be sent to John, at: lovesbiking2001@yahoo.com. And to read any of John's previous "HC" columns -- which include raves on local faves Paul Tillotson, Sheryll Mae Grace, Gayle Chapman, Bruce Innes, Molly Venter, Josiah Venter, Cow Says Mooo, CakeFaceJane, All-Night Diner, and FOX's award-winning musical-dramedy series, "Glee" -- simply type "John Pluntze" and/or "Harmonic Convergence" into the SVO search engine here.
