Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson sing their "Dreams of the San Joaquin"
Also, what Fresno needs (music venue edition) + a new compilation from Sleepy Ghost Records
Shoutout to the Fresnan for catching this Stereogum story on Michael McDonald’s collaboration with Willie Nelson and David Hidalgo on “Dreams of the San Joaquin,” a song with close ties to the region, title and lyrical content not withstanding.
The song was written (or co-written) by Randy Sharpe, a Grammy winning singer/songwriter, guitarist and producer type with some serious credits within in he country music world, who also happens to be from Visalia.
Sharp cut his teeth playing county and roots music at mass gatherings at his grandparent’s place in Woodlake, according to a interview with the Times Delta in 2015. He records out of his Kaweah Recording Studios in LA, to give you an idea of where his roots lie.
“Dreams of the San Joaquin” is a biography of multiple generations of the Sharp family in the Valley. It was originally written for Linda Ronstadt, who recorded it on her 1998 album “We Ran,” though the Gambler himself, Kenny Rogers, released a version on his 2013 album “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”
Sharp released a version of the song himself in 2012. It was the final track of the same-named album, which he recorded with his wife Sharon Bays and daughter Maia Sharp.
The McDonald/Nelson/Hidalgo version is what you’d expect, in the best way. McDonald and Nelson trade off singing verses before joining together in kind of call-and-response duet, accompanied by quiet acoustic guitar plucking.
Money from sales of the track go to RAICES, the Refugee And Immigrant Center For Education And Legal Services, and to the United Farm Workers Of America.
What Fresno needs; music venue edition
Here’s a fun game to play any time a visible commercial building goes vacant in Fresno.
You lay out the dream business you would like to see in said building.
For instance: the old Chicken Pie Shop would make for a perfect mid-sized music venue (if it doesn’t end up a cannabis dispensary).
As would the old IMAX theater at River Park. The building is empty, now that Regal has moved the IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX screens under the same roof.
River Park would be an ideal location for a well-funded, well-operated mid-sized music venue. Something akin a House of Blues or a Cabo Wabo (though we know how well that worked out last time).
The center has already hinted it is OK with hosting live music events. BarrelHouse Brewing Co. will start having bands on its stage June 3.
Of course, when I say ideal location, I am talking in business terms only. Live music seems to be the sole holdout for entertainment south of Shaw (not counting Save Mart Center). We should consolidate those efforts, not split them further.
“Pop-punk Party,” various artists, Sleepy Ghost Records
Sleepy Ghost Records has put out a consistent run of (mostly digital) releases from a solid (if not fully incestuous) roster of bands that includes the Sunnydales, among others.
The label’s latest release (digital only for now, but physical copies are planned) is a quad-split compilation featuring E.P.s from Space Vampires, Sunnydales, Sneeze Muffin and Mantis Watch.
The 19 tracks on the album are all variations on a theme and it is kind of fun to hear the subtle differences the four bands bring to what are essentially the same sets of ideas (from the standpoint of song structure and instrumentation, anyway).
The album is available on Bandcamp.
That’s it for this week. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com