Zone Recording Studio

When the Might Chiplings were on the show they were all 16 years old and two of them were twins who look nothing alike.  Strange.  Here is their bio - The Mighty Chiplings began as a solo venture on the streets of Sebastopol. Marshall Thiessen and his banjo were soon joined by twin brother David on mandolin, a close friend Jesse Fichman on guitar, and another buddy Adrian Shader on the fiddle. A local legend, Chip Dunbar, coached the rowdy 11 year olds into the makings of a band. When Chip unexpectedly passed away, the name he dubbed them with stuck in memorial and the Mighty Chiplings were born. After a parade of inspiring teachers, countless bluegrass festivals, hours of practice, hours of goofing around, playing on the streets and playing on the stage, the boys matured into a true bluegrass band. No one could have predicted how far the boys have come, and no one can predict where the Mighty Chiplings will pick, frail, and bow in the future. For bookings please contact Terri Thiessen at 823-0392 or 479-9290.

These guys are good, with real jazz, rock, world, classical, and Northern Cali jamband sensibilities.  Josh Needleman, (hence the band name) on acoustic guitars & vocals, Rami Ziadeh does percussion & vocals, (he was on TNL with Kazamoze) Tristan Arnold on string bass & vocals, and David Boyden - fiddle & mandolin.  This show aired on 6/23/11 from Zone Recording in Cotati.  I mean these guys are really good!  Keep in touch with them here - www.thepineneedles.net. www.zonerecording.com

A “Windshield Cowboy” is someone who pretends to be a horse-riding cowboy, but who actually is more at home behind the wheel of a pickup, commonly used in reference to George W Bush.  Well, these Windshield Cowboys are the real deal, musically speaking.  They are are an original band from Santa Cruz and Sonoma County, CA.  They’ve been recording with musical idols John Allair, piano, and David Grisman, mando.  Stay up to date with them at windshieldcowboys.com. www.zonerecording.com

As I mentioned during this show, Brulee must be seen to be fully enjoyed.  Vocalist Julie Crystel (aka Julie Weiner) and keyboardist Doug Onstad know how to work a song into a dramatic, funny, engaging performance.  They draw from the great jazz and standards repertoire, giving each song their own treatment.  And on their album(s) they use some of the best session players around.  Check them out here - www.bruleesonomacounty.com.  This show ran on 3/31/11. www.zonerecording.com

Allison is a wonderful singer/songwriter, accompanied on this show by guitarist and friend Mark Benanti.  From her bio - “Alison Harris grew up in the Sonoma County countryside among creeks, golden fields, and redwood trees. Coastal winds, open spaces, and a musical family lead her to the pleasures of music and imagination.”  This local warmth is portrayed in her songs and has led some to say “Alison Harris sounds like a country songbird perched on Bonnie Raitt’s shoulder.”  She was on Thursday Night Live on 4/21/11.  We’ve been honored to record her her at Zone Recording Studio a few times before. www.zonerecording.com

This “high octane hootenanny” band played a slightly unplugged show when they were on Thursday Night Live from Zone Recording.  In fact, George, the drummer, played brushes on a suitcase.  PMW is Josh Brough - Banjo, keyboards, harmonica, vocals, Jason Beard - Guitar,mandolin, Aspen Stevenson - Bass, vocals, George Smeltz - Drums, suitcase, vocals and Chris Haugen – Guitar.  They are cool guys, great players, and an exciting act to see live. This show is from 11/12/10. www.zonerecording.com

Robert Ethington and wife Amy are a splendid duo, and a great example of how to make music part of family life.  He mentions during the show how after dinner at their house, instead of the TV coming on, it’s time to sing!  This is from their website - “Deemed a captivating combination of heartland patois, Kerouac-inspired angst, and ecological wistfulness, Robert’s songwriting is imbued with the rust of the great cosmological conundrums. Sometimes, it’s “Americana on adrenaline” says Robert, and other times, “it’s strumming the sunset while sitting on the back porch.”  That about sums it up for me.  Take a listen to this Thursday Night Live show from from Zone Recording 6/16/11. www.zonerecording.com

Garrin Benfield plays freestyle acoustic rock, and he’s a serious singer/songwriter. He can flat-pick his way through complicated arrangements and also uses a Loop Station to create grooves and background to play over.  He has been touring nationally for ten years and has played many of North America’s best music venues, so it was a real treat to have him on Thursday Night Live from Zone Recording on 10/27/12.  Check him out at garrin.com. www.zonerecording.com

This was a wild show with members of Gatorbeat and the Pulsators jamming on some hot Louisiana style music.  Randy Quan played guitar, Johnny Campbell on drums, and the rest is a blur.  But the energy is amazing and the musical friendship is obvious.  This Thursday Night Live from Zone Recoding was broadcast on 2/24/11. www.zonerecording.com

In 2009, the local music community was shocked at the news that the great musician Johnny Downer died unexpectedly while vacationing in Mexico.  Every year since, there has been a Johnny Downer Tribute at Hopmonk Tavern, in Sebastopol, CA,   where Downer often performed.  Bill DeCarli organized a great group of musicians to play and brought them in to Zone Recording to do a Thursday Night Live show on the KRUSH.  They included Free Peoples, Honeyman Band, and Jug Dealers. The show aired on 1/5/12. www.zonerecording.com

Kazamoze is a world rock mix of western and eastern beats, styles, melody and instrumentation. The sound is energetic and passionate, with theirukulele funk, slide cuattro, melodic bass, world beat and 4 part harmonies.  And somewhere during this show they explain how they got their name. They are - Yousef Saádeh - vocals, cuattro, guitars, Tomanonymous - vocals, basses, Dru Rodgers - vocals, ukuleles, Rami Ziadeh - vocals, drums, percussion.  They were great fun to hang with.  Check them out at www.kazamoze.com. www.zonemusic.com

At the Kate Wolf Festival this year, somebody mistook me for Kevin Russell. (not that we look alike)  and I said, “You know, I would like to be Kevin Russell.  He’s well liked, talented, seems happy . . .”  It’s all true.  And he has created a musical community around his many bands and wonderful shows that he promotes. I play bass in one of his bands, The Rhythm Rangers, and I always look forward to talking with him.  Here he is on Thursday Night Live from Zone Recording Studio on Feb. 2nd, 2011. www.zonerecording.com

Bluesman Michael Barclay is one of the top blues guitar players and singers we’ve ever heard.   His electric band has included Kent Fossgreen and Steven Winter on bass, Banana on rhythm guitar and organ, Joel Rudinow  on keys, Kendrick Freeman and Terry Baker  on drums, Roger Volz on sax, and Michael Barclay on lead guitar and vocals. He did an acoustic set on Thursday Night Live from Zone Recoding Studio on Dec 12th, 2010.  He recorded some of his early work here at Zone, but over the years I taught him so much about Pro Tools he now does most of his recording himself.  A good friend.  Find him at www.sonic.net/~michaelb/. www.zonerecording.com

Pat Jordan is a hoot.  He looks like a stock broker and rocks like a mad man on acoustic guitar and lead vocals. And he is very funny. Drummer Rob Matteri is a force in the back, and he’s joined by Josh Barrett’s playful passion on bass to fill out the rhythm section. Simon Melrose’s distinct tones and understated solo work fill the spaces with electric guitar, and Brendan Buss rounds out the band’s sound  on the saxophone.  They were on Thursday Night Live from Zone Recording in Cotati on 12/2/10.  They are at www.patjordanband.com. www.zonemusic.com

Tom Farnham – lead vocals, guitar, ukulele, Pamela Joyce -lead vocals, guitar, ukulele, John Lonacker – electric stand up bass, Russ Gauthier – lead vocals, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo make up this wacky and fun loving group. They were a ball to have on Thursday Night Live from Zone Recording on 3/24/11. www.zonerecording.com