Having lived in the Santa Maria Valley my whole life, and grown up as a musician, I’ve come to notice a stereotype about the area’s music scene. I am referring to the generally stated: “Santa Maria doesn’t have a music scene!”
People who believe that are wrong.
This misconception, in my humble opinion, comes from the musical community’s closeness. Say the garage band down the street from you has a show lined up. In this age of social networking, you’d have to be the group’s friend on Myspace or join an e-mail list to be privy to their next performance. Also, I’d bet a bass clef that the next time you pass by a local coffee shop, pub, or winery, you’ll be able to find flyers advertising an upcoming big concert.
One of the greatest things about Santa Maria is its diversity, and the same goes for its music scene. Our humble city of 93,000 boasts the stalwart Santa Maria Philharmonic Society and Orchestra, several skilled student ensembles over at Allan Hancock College, middle and high school music programs, several community choirs, church worship bands and choirs, performing bands from mariachi to classic rock, singer songwriters, composers, and vocalists galore.
My musical journey began at the age of 8 when I started studying classical-style piano with Patty Boyd, only to take a break after several years to pursue other interests. After making friends with musicians in high school, I went back to the piano, started learning guitar and mandolin, and discovered a talent I never knew I had: musical improvisation. I’ve managed to expand upon and foster this talent with the help of retired piano performer and musical educator extraordinaire Ron Richards.
By my first year of college, I had decided that a major in music was the path for me, with a long-term goal of earning a doctorate in music and teaching at the university level. In this first year at Hancock, in Dr. Marcus Englemann’s music theory I class, I met my soul mate and musical companion, my fiancée Candice Meras. A supremely talented opera singer and violinist, she shares the dream of a doctorate in music and spreading insight through education; we also share a rabid obsession with the greatest band of all time: The Beatles.
I have performed up and down the Central Coast, including a set at KCBX’s Live Oak Festival with a band I was in with singer/songwriter and longtime friend Champion McConnell, where we both had a chance to meet one of our musical heroes: folk/rock legend Arlo Guthrie. I’ve also performed countless times with musical brother and brother-in-law Izaac Meras, a born bluesman with a mastery of the guitar and a songwriting talent to be reckoned with.
Candice and I took a break from school over the last year to own and operate Coffee and Company in Town Center West, where we hosted a public piano, acoustic concerts, and regular open mic nights, a tradition still honored by our successor, Coffee Time. Candice and I currently sing with the Allan Hancock College Choral Singers under the keen direction of Dr. Ann Lucas.
I am also a musical educator. I teach out of Music School 101 in Nipomo, part of Drum School 101 in SLO and Paso Robles. I enjoy sharing musical knowledge with anyone who wants to learn; I’ve taught students ages 5 to 75, and will be the first to tell you it’s never too late to learn.
But enough about me. “With great power comes great responsibility,” said Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, and I believe that’s what has been granted to me in the form of this column. I solemnly swear to promote any and all musical manifestations throughout the area of Northern Santa Barbara County (and Nipomo).
But for success, I must ask for your help. My goal is to create Santa Maria’s definitive musical resource, and that can only be achieved with community participation. Tell your friends, family members, and even complete strangers to send any and all musical information my way, so I can highlight our area’s diverse musical selections in a meaningful, relevant, and timely manner.
“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy,” said the late, great Ludwig van Beethoven. I agree. It is the universal language. Where words fail, music speaks, and Santa Marians definitely have a lot to say. Share it with me, and I shall return the favor.
Keep it natural
The Natural History Museum presents an Earth Day Celebration April 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with featured musical guests The Fleas, a ukulele band made up of 35 of Rice School’s fourth-grade students taught by Brett Bigger. The ukulele super group will be performing selections from The Beatles; Richie Valens; Peter, Paul, and Mary; Jason Mraz; and plenty from the folk lexicon.
Top o’ the evenin’ to ya
O’Sullivan’s Pub presents Hang the DJ, a monthly DJ event featuring indie, nu-disco, deep house, and dub step jams March 31 from 8 p.m. to April 1 at 1 a.m. The Koffin Kats rock the pub with their psycho-billy sound with guest openers Black Rose Phantoms, Abstract, and The Marquees, all starting at 7 p.m. April 7 (21 and older only, $10 cover).
Jam like a maverick
The Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez hosts the country twang of the Jimi Nelson Band at 8:30 p.m. on April 1, followed by a late night DJ at 11:30 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” features Jimi and Friends at 3 p.m. and the Jimi Nelson Band at 8:30 p.m. on April 2 with a DJ at 11:30 p.m. “Tales from the Tavern” is an intimate concert series featuring Tish Hinojosa and Jimmy LaFave at 7 p.m. on April 6 (tickets at talesfromthetavern.com or 688-0383).
One more
The Chumash Casino Resort presents the Mexican cumbia music group Kumbia All Starz performing their hits, including “Ayer Fue Kumbia Kings, Hoy Es Kumbia All Starz” and “Chiquilla” April 7 at 8 p.m. m
Contact Calendar Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 7, 2011.