For a couple of weeks I had heard that there were surfable waves down at Avila Beach. That was surprising to me because the waves at the pier are either: 1.) tiny, 2.) shorebreaky or 3.) hollow killers.
But last week I went and checked it out for myself, and it was true — surf at Avila! I guess it probably has something to do with the big swells shifting the bottom. But it was like Pismo, with waist- to chest-high sets and good shape.
I don’t expect Avila Pier to become a great surf spot. But just in case, I did find a really cool beach cam for that spot. The great thing about this is that you can actually control the movement of the camera, deciding where to focus and how much to zoom in.
Photo: Joe Johnston
Posted on February 9th, 2010 by Pat
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It was only a matter of time before the Malloy brothers would be featured on Surf Night at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.
First of all, the brothers Malloy (along with cousin Emmet) are from the Central Coast (Ventura.) Secondly, they have become titans in the surf film industry.
Their company, The Moonshine Conspiracy — which includes singer surfer/Jack Johnson as an owner – has produced several popular surf films, including “Thicker Than Water,” “Sprout,” “Shelter” and “The Seedling.” And a music division of that company eventually became Johnson’s Brushfire Records.
Not only do the Malloys make movies — they also appear in them. They are, after all, first rate surfers, whose friends include the top names in surfing. While they are succesful, competetive surfers, they embody the spirit of soul surfing.
Their film “Waverider” will no doubt showcase some of that. In the film, the brothers return to Ireland — they were featured there in Dana Brown’s “Step Into Liquid” — where they trace the history of the Stoke there through George Freeth, the “Father of Modern Surfing,” who first introduced surfing to the mainland in the early 20th century. In Ireland, they also find Irish surfers and chronicle surfing a 50-foot wave there.
So far director Joel Conroy has signed on to appear with the film, with other “notable surfers” to be announced later.
The film does feature Kelly Slater, who has appeared at the Santa Barbara Film Fest. But we’ll see if he actually comes to little SLO.
The event will be held at the Fremont March 18.
In the future, be sure to check Sarah Linn’s movie blog for more on the film festival. She recently interviewed this year’s King Vidor recipient, Alan Arkin, so you can expect to read about that both on her blog and in The Tribune.
Posted on February 8th, 2010 by Pat
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Sometimes lawyers don’t do much to help their reputation.
Take, for instance, two different lawsuits currently involving music rights.
The first, from Australia, involves the Men at Work song “Down Under,” which a judge just ruled ripped off part of a 1934 Aussie kids song, “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.” The second involves a New York club getting sued because a band performed a Springsteen cover song there.
Two things are egregious about the Men at Work suit:
1.) Their song sounds nothing like the kids song. Yet, because of a judge’s lousy ruling, Men at Work will have to fork over substantial royalties.
2.) The royalties don’t even go to a deserving party. Larrikan Music bought the rights to the song after the author, Marion Sinclair, died in 1988. So the company will get royalty money for a song they had nothing to do with.
In the other suit, from America, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is suing Connolly’s Pub in Manhatten after a band performed Springsteen songs there. ASCAP lawyers argue that the pub did not pay licensing fees that allow artists to reap royalties.
My two questions here:
1.) Do the artists ever really get that money, or does ASCAP?
2.) Why did ASCAP and its attorneys feel they had the right to list Springsteen as a plaintiff without asking? (Springsteen forced them to remove his name from the suit.)
I’m all for artists getting their due. But when you get big corporations and attorneys involved, you have to suspect that they’re in it more for themselves than the artist.
I wonder if they work this hard for struggling musicians.
Posted on February 4th, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Music | 2 Comments »
There’s something — I won’t say “organic” because it’s cliche — about talented musicians performing in unusual settings.
I particularly like it when artists perform in stripped-down settings because it shows who’s really got performing chops. In a big, showy venue, you don’t know what trickery is being used to enhance a show. (Yeah, I’m talking to you, Ashley Simpson!)
So I was pretty intrigued last night when I stumbled on videos for this odd series called Black Cab Sessions. The premise is pretty simple: Musicians perform while sitting in the back of a cab as it drives through the streets of London. Some of these performers are apparently better known in the U.K. But there are also some well-known American acts featured, including My Morning Jacket (above), Ryan Adams and Brian Wilson. I was especially impressed by Amanda Palmer, who does a stunning cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” with a ukulele.
Good stuff. Makes me want to take my uke on a city bus. But something tells me my performance wouldn’t go over as well as Palmer’s might.
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Music | 3 Comments »
I guess I have a morbid fascination with Buddy Holly.
Not only because of the plane crash that ended his life, but also for what might have been. Would he have become a washed-up 50s rocker like Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino, or would he have endured?
It’d probably make a good novel that I should probably write, except every novel I’ve ever pitched has been rudely rejected. But if I WERE to write it, the timeline would go something like this:
Feb. 3, 1959: Buddy Holly looks at the weather outside the Surf Ballroom and decides to take the bus. “I’m not flying in THIS weather,” he says. “Besides, did you see that pilot? Dude looks younger than me!”
1961 – Milking his popularity, Holly appears in movies. One of them is in 3-D, featuring 3-D glasses that look like Holly’s. Holly threatens to get new, thinner frames. “You can’t get new frames,” his manager says. “We’ve got a whole marketing plan based on The Buddy Holly Glasses!”
1964 – The British invasion begins, and 50’s rockers are no longer cool, so Buddy Holly begins playing Vegas. Elvis, upon meeting him, says, “I like your style, kid. But lose the nerd glasses.”
March, 1966 — After years of being off the charts, Holly takes to drinking heavily. He’s arrested for drunk driving in El Paso, telling the cops, “Do you know who I am?” The cops don’t know.
July, 1967 — Time magazine story: “What Happened to Buddy Holly?” The reporter notes that Holly’s manager stole millions from him. Holly now lives with his maternal grandmother and earns $60 a week delivering chicken.
August, 1967 — The Beatles, having read the Time piece, invite their idol to India. There he takes up the sitar, drops acid and plays “Rave On” with John Lennon until sunrise.
Summer, 1969 — Holly marks comeback with a new psychedelic album, featuring George Harrison and Eric Clapton on guitar. He shows up at Woodstock with John Lennon shades, long hair and a frilly vest. His performance kicks off the “Woodstock” movie.
1971 — Holly starts his own record label. Don McLean is the first performer to sign on.
1975 – After years of touring, Holly announces his “retirement.” He gives ”final show” in Texas, with guests Santana, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles, Paul McCartney and KC and the Sunshine Band.
1976 — Holly releases new album, featuring disco music. Backlash results, and a mob of angry rock purists burn a pile of his records.
1978 — Holly is nominated for an Oscar for his role in “The Deer Hunter.” Loses to Warren Beatty. With popularity from the nomination, he goes back on tour.
Spring, 1984 – Accounces his plan to unseat the House of Representatives incumbent in his district in Texas. Upon hearing the announcement, his opponent scoffs: “That’ll be the day.” Holly wins by a landslide. A Democrat, he performs at Reagan’s inauguration in 1985 as a bi-partisan gesture.
April, 1986 – The Washington Post quotes Holly: “I guess I just don’t belong in Washington.” He goes back to studio for a comeback album and tapes his first music video. He turns down a chance to hang with MTV for spring break.
July, 1987 — He performs a rock-fuelled version of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the MLB All-Star Game. After the game, he asks Cal Ripken Jr. to record a song with him. The track appears on the next album — a covers project featuring old jazz standards. Holly and Ripken duet on “It Had to Be You.”
October, 1994 – Buddy Holly publishes his first kids book, “Peggy Sue Goes to School,” which debuts #1 on the NYT bestseller list. During his nationwide signing tour, he jams with fellow author Stephen King.
September, 2003 – ”Holly,” based on the rocker’s life, is set to film. Toby Maguire plays the lead, while Gary Busey plays Holly in his later years. Holly has a cameo as a radio DJ in Lubbock, Texas.
February 3, 2009 — Stephen King and Holly collaborate on Broadway show about the tragic death of Ritchie Valens. It’s called “The Day the Music Died.” The final scene features the fatal plane crash. The soundtrack, released exclusively on iTunes, introduces Holly to yet another generation. Guest artists include McCartney, Lady Gaga, The Flaming Lips, Elvis Costello and Usher.
Posted on February 2nd, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Music | 2 Comments »
Something tells me this year’s Big, Bad & Ugly surf contest is going to be a good one.
The annual contest, held at Morro Rock, is supposed to feature big waves. But some years the waves are just . . . eh.
On the other hand, this year has featured lots of big waves, and there’s no reason to suggest that won’t be the case Feb. 13, when this year’s contest takes place. Here’s the official announcement:
The 20th Annual Big, Bad & Ugly Surf Contest
On Feb.13, 2010 the Estero Bay Surf Club will be holding the 20th Annual Big, Bad & Ugly Surf Contest at Morro Rock. Surfers from San Diego to San Francisco will be gathering at The Rock for this year’s contest. The event will conclude with a Golf Tournament on February 14th at the Pine Seas Golf Course in Los Osos. Questions & entry forms contact: Val Wright; (805) 995-2779; fignueton@AOL.com.
The above photo, from the 2007 contest, was taken by Mike Baird, who has chronicled a few Ugly contests.
Posted on February 1st, 2010 by Pat
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While doing a little research on “The Catcher in the Rye,” I read an interesting lyric from an obscure indie band called Clem Snide:
And the first thing every killer reads / is Catcher in the Rye
Of course, the first name that came to my mind was Mark David Chapman, John Lennon’s killer, who was obsessed with J.D. Salinger’s only novel. But then I looked into it more and found a couple of other notorious assassin types who were big “Catcher in the Rye” fans.
After John Hinckley Dr. tried to assassinate President Reagan in 1981 — partly to impress actress Jodie Foster — police found “Catcher in the Rye” among his belongings at a nearby hotel. And Robert Bardo, who gunned down 21-year-old actress Rebecca Schaeffer, had a copy of the book on him when he showed up at Schaeffer’s place in 1989.
Several other murderers have reportedly been inspired by the novel’s main character, Holden Caulfield. Of course, all these killers seem to forget one thing: While Caulfield was an alienated, rebellious youth, he never killed anyone.
Posted on January 29th, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Books, Music | 1 Comment »
An inexperienced pilot and lousy weather caused the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly. But while it’s been 51 years since “the day the music died,” (the anniversary of Holly’s death is next week), Holly’s music has endured.
I recently spent a lot of time listening to Holly’s music, and I’m amazed by how many great songs he had in such a short time. At the time of his death, Holly was only 22 — just a year older than the pilot who flew his plane on that ill-fated day. And yet he produced dozens of songs that wound up influencing the greatest songwriters of the next several decades.
The Beatles were, of course, huge fans. But they’re not alone. Dozens of well-known acts — including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and R.E.M. — have covered his songs either on record or in live shows through the years.
Sadly, you find fewer Holly covers among today’s well-known acts. But M. Ward recently paid respects with a cover of the Holly song “Rave On.”
Ward, a Cal Poly graduate who got his start playing Linnaea’s in San Luis Obispo, has become a critic favorite in recent years. And he finally achieved some commercial success after teaming with actress Zooey Deschanel to form She & Him.
His cover of “Rave On” appears on his latest solo album, “Hold Time,” with Deschanel performing backing vocals.
Back to the crash, this site offers a detailed report of the accident that was performed by the Civil Aeronautics Board. Llinked to this site, you’ll also read a coroner’s report and a detailed summary of Holly’s injuries, which were substantial.
While the plane crashed around 9 p.m. Feb. 3, the wreck wasn’t discovered until the next morning. Holly’s body lay just a few feet from the crumpled plane in a snowy Iowa farm field.
Posted on January 28th, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Music | 2 Comments »
It seems hard to believe that Jimi Hendrix could release an album of new material 40 years after his death, but, hey — stranger things . . .
The album, containing 12 new songs, is called “Valley of Neptune,” and is slated for global release Feb. 2. It includes originals and covers, including Hendrix doing the Cream song “Sunshine of Your Love.”
That release coincides well with the upcoming Experience Hendrix tour, which stops in Santa Barbara March 4. The tour features well known guitarists – along with Hendrix bassist Billy Cox — performing Hendrix tunes. Some of the musicans on the tour include Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Satriani and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith.
Coincidentally, I stumbled across an interesting video of Hendrix on YouTube (that’s it above) last night. In the video, he’s hanging out with the Rolling Stones, and the music you hear is a little jam featuring the two.
Now that’s a band.
Posted on January 27th, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Music | 1 Comment »
OK, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t have a lot of time today, so I’m just going to throw up some more photos, which, well, happen to include one of me.
The first, however, is a shot that I took of Tribune photog Joe Johnston. I mentioned in yesterday’s post how Joe finally got some photos of me and how I then shot some decent photos of Joe. Here’s one taken from the parking lot at Morro Rock. By the time I snapped this, Joe was halfway between the Rock and the Pit. But it makes for a pretty decent scenic moment, especially with a little sunlight peeking through the clouds.
This next one is of me at Morro Bay. Like always, the waves seemed a lot bigger when we were out there. So I was surprised to see these mole hills in the photos. Still — it was a fun day. You know, back when we had this thing called sun.
If you want to see really big waves, check out Mike Jones’ photos at his Azhiaziam site. He has some particularly gnarly looking shots from last weekend.
Of course, this leads me to a little plug: This Sunday, the Tribune will feature a story on Jones, who took up big wave photography after injuring his wrist skateboarding a few years ago. His story will be in the Central Coast Living section.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 by Pat
Filed under: Surf stuff | 1 Comment »
