Wanna host a House Concert? Take a peek inside the Bat Cave

Move over Gotham City. There's a new Caped Crusader in town and he's made Shiloh, Illinois his home. Only this "Batman" is more likely to be found flipping burgers than bad guys, and his "trusty sidekick" is...his wife, Jill. Tom Melendez originally earned the moniker a few years back when he donned the Dark Knight's costume for a Halloween party. His "crime fighting" antics that night are the stuff of local legend, but the nickname stuck. So, when Tom and Jill started hosting parties in their renovated basement, it was only natural that the space be christened "The Bat Cave". Now, the Bat Cave is also earning accolades for being one of the busiest House Concert venues in the country.


"We bought this house about seven years ago," explains Tom. "A buddy had turned us on to Jimmy Buffett, and we had a boat that we would take out on the local lakes, but we didn't consider ourselves 'Parrot Heads'. Then, one day, Jill and I were out in front of our house cleaning our boat. Well, in all honesty, we were doing more talking and beer drinking than cleaning - I think it probably looked worse when we were done than better. But, in any case, we were ATTEMPTING to wash our boat, and we were listening to Jimmy Buffett while we were doing it. A neighbor saw us out there and - I guess because we had all the right stuff; beer, a boat, and Buffett - said 'You guys should join the Parrot Head Club!' So we did."


The closest Parrot Head Club was located in St. Louis, about fifteen minutes from Shiloh. The Melendezes started attending meetings and events and, as often happens, were introduced to the world of "Trop Rock" through other club members. "We started hearing all these other artists and thought, 'wow, this is pretty cool!', says Jill. "Next thing you know, we're buying new cds and listening to them on our boat. The first Trop Rock show we went to was at Table Rock Lake with Eric Stone and John Reno." And, as I often hear from people around the country I talk Trop Rock with, it was a trip to Key West and Meeting Of The Minds that turned them into full fledged Trop Rock fans. "MOTM changes you forever," adds Tom.


How did you guys get started hosting House Concerts?

Tom: "We went to see Paul Roush and Troy Allen at a St. Louis Parrot Head Club event. After it was over, we were talking to Troy and telling him about this big 4th of July party we throw at our house every year. We asked him, 'Why don't you come to our next one and play?' That 4th of July - 2010 - Troy came up from Texas. In addition to our usual group of friends, we invited the Parrot Head Club and anyone else who wanted to hear him play, and that was our first 'House Concert'!""

Jill: "Hearing the stories behind his songs was really cool. That November, we went to Meeting of The Minds and first heard about DJ Jeff Allen and BeachFront Radio. We started listening to it when we got back home and got introduced to a lot more artists there."

Tom: "We had a great time with Troy at the 4th of July party - he wound up hanging out with us for three days - but, Jill and I never really said to each other, 'Let's do another one!' But, then we were in Key West, meeting people like Hugo Duarte, and I thought - 'I'd really like to get some of these artists up to our area, so people who don't get to go to the events we do can see and hear them' Gee, if we could just find a place for them to play...".


So, how did it go from "Wish we had a place for them to play in our area"..to "We HAVE a place for them to play!"?

Tom: "Our house is on a lake and we have a big back yard. Plus, the basement - the 'Bat Cave' - is already set up for entertaining. Pretty much as soon as we started thinking about places for Trop Rock artists to play in the area, we thought of our place. We never really looked anywhere else. Honestly, it's partly selfish. Part of the reason for bringing the artists to our area is so that WE - Jill and I - get to hear them play. We love having people over and love seeing them have a good time, and the artists get their music and stories heard. Everybody wins this way."

Jill: "All of a sudden, we've become a venue!"


How many House Concerts have you hosted now?

Tom: "We've done six so far. We did three just this month. We didn't really plan on having so many in one month, it just worked out that way. "


Tell me a little about House Concerts at the Bat Cave, for others who might be interested in hosting their own...

Tom: "We generally do shows on Friday or Saturdays, so most people don't have to worry about going to work the next day. But, it depends on when the artist is available. Our basement - the Bat Cave - holds about 30-35 people with the seating we set up, couches, etc. But, we prefer to do shows in the back yard, weather permitting. I will get the grill going after work and invite people to come over about 6. We provide burgers, hot dogs, that sort of thing and ask people to bring side dishes, chairs to sit on, and whatever they want to drink. Shows usually start around 7pm, go until about 10 or so. Then, we have a 'meet and greet' after the performance so people in the audience can talk to the artist, get their cds signed, pictures taken."


What about "production", sound and stage?

Tom: "The artists usually bring their own sound equipment. Outside, we have a small 'stage' - pretty much some plywood covered with old carpet - but it works. We even did one show on the boat dock, with the lake for a back ground. We'll string some lights up and that's it. Nadirah was another story!"


Tell me about that one.

Tom: "It was Paul Roush, then Nadirah Shakoor. We rented a big tent - like a circus tent - to hold all the people and got one of the Parrot Head Club members who has a sound company to bring a P.A. and lights. It was like a professional show! (laughs)."


You said you do your shows outside whenver possible. Have you ever had any problem with neighbors complaining about noise?

Jill: "Only once, and that was Nadirah's show. The cops came - they were very nice - asked us to shut it down by 10:00, which we did."

Tom: "Nadirah was on a Tuesday night, too. Like I said, our back yard is big, and behind us is a lake. Plus, we live on a cul de sac. So, there aren't alot of neighbors to bother. And we make sure to invite everyone around us - at least let them know we're going to be doing a show. And we finish early enough so it's usually not a big problem."


Do you have any rules for the audience?

Tom: "We generally let the artists tell us what they want. Each one is different. Some prefer quiet during the show, others don't mind a little talking. Some prefer to have the time during their break, if they take one, to themselves. Others don't mind talking to people between their 'sets'. We ask them, then I'll get up before the show and let the audience know what's up for that night."


How do you let people know about the shows?

Jill: "I'll put something on Facebook and ask people to RSVP.The rest are neighbors, and people that we meet through work. Tom is an accountant and he tells his customers, people we know will bring co-workers to introduce them to Trop Rock. So, it's mostly all friends and friends of friends."

Tom: "If it were up to me, I'd invite EVERYONE!"


How involved is the St. Louis Parrot Head Club?

Tom: "We keep the House Concerts separate - they're not officially a club function -although, most of the people who come to the shows are club members. We couldn't do it without them."


You've got anywhere from 35-65 people coming in to your home every couple of weeks - ever have any problems?

Tom: "We're sort of used to it - having hosted big parties for years. And the people who like this music aren't looking to cause trouble. Also, we have set it up so we don't have many people going through the main part of the house most of the time. If it's indoors, we have a separate entrance to the Bat Cave and a bathroom down there. If it's outdoors and a bigger event, we'll rent a couple of port a potties."

Jill: "The place can get messy. But, I'm lucky. We have some great friends who help us keep an eye on things during the event, then help clean up after."


You mentioned earlier that you provide some food, and had sound and lights for Nadirah. Now you say port-a-potties. So, there is some cost to you for hosting these?

Tom: "Some. Burgers, hot dogs. Some times we'll get a tent to put so the performer has something over his equipment, in case it rains. For Nadirah and Paul we did it up big... Overall, it's not really that much of an expense and we think it's worth it, to have people we like and admire coming to our house."


What do you charge?

Tom: "Generally, it's $15. We collect it at the door and every bit of that money goes directly to the artist. We don't take a dime. The peformers also sell their cds, t shirts, whatever they bring, and they get all that money, too."


So, what's next at the Bat Cave?

Tom: "We plan to keep doing these as long as we can."

Jill: "Although this month was a little hectic!"

Tom: (laughs) "Yeah, we may start spacing them out a little more. Ideally, one or two a month. But, we don't get to see these guys alot so it's a big deal for us when we can host them here. We're really excited about our next one. It's August 5th. John Patti is coming with Scott Bryant and some other guys. It will be John's first 'headlining event'. You should come, Fred!"


Thanks for the invitation! If I was independently wealthy, Georgia and I would do nothing but run around the country every week going to Parrot Head events and House Concerts. Unfortunately, there are those annoying bills. Maybe one day when this blog takes off...


And with that dream still in my head, we'll leave the Bat Cave and the home of Tom and Jill Melendez. If you are interested in hosting your own House Concerts, you can look them up on Facebook or contact the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance, a group that was formed largely to host House Concerts - specifically in the Atlanta area - and help spread the word about them around the country, at atlantatra@yahoo.com.




http://stlphc.org/

http://www.beachfrontradio.com/home.cfm

http://www.nadirahshakoor.com/fr_home.cfm

http://www.paulroush.com/

http://www.johnpatti.com/

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

Shurl Gates: Passionate Parrothead

When it comes to music, Shurl Gates is the first to tell you she can't play an instrument, isn't going to win any karaoke contests. But, she more than makes up for that lack of performing skills with a deep love - make that an unbridled PASSION - for music. "I'm not much of a tv person, but I have music playing in my house 24/7. I love listening to it, going out to hear it, being around it", says Gates. That passion has led her to become one of the most familiar faces in the Trop Rock world and most ardent supporters of the people who make the music.

Shurl Galiher Gates story begins in the small Oregon coastal town of North Bend, where she moved as a kid. She went to school, married, and raised a family there. But, as all great stories go, something happened that changed her life forever. In Shurl's case, that "sudden twist of fate" was divorce.

"It was 2001, I was single again and looking to make some major changes in my life. Two of my kids had moved to Florida so I decided to go there." "There" was just outside of Tampa, where she met and started dating a Parrothead. "I had always loved Jimmy Buffett's music, but had never been exposed to the whole lifestyle". Looking to make friends in her new home, she joined the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. A former Mormon, it didn't take long for the colorful, and gregarious Phlockers to get her life going in a new direction. "That was it. I found myself - the 'me' I didn't even know was missing. It was a celebration of a new beginning." Through the TBPHC, Shurl began attending events and hearing her first "Trop Rock" bands. "I LOVED it, became a huge fan. I've always been a very social person, so I would make a point of going up and introducing myself, telling them how much I enjoyed hearing them," explains Gates. "One of the great things about Trop Rock is that the people involved are so down to earth, so approachable." Before long, she counted among her friends hard working musicians like Jimi Pappas and John Frinzi, and started getting calls from artists that were looking to play in the area. "Guys would call and say, 'I'm coming down there on my way to Meeting of the Minds. Do you know anyplace to play around Tampa?' So I'd make some calls. I started getting to know the clubs and the people who ran them. It was just something I would do as a favor to friends. I also got to know the people at Radio Margaritaville, like JD Spradlin and Steve Huntington. Steve, it turned out was a big baseball fan, so we had that in common" (Gates' son in law is All Star Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Roy "Doc" Halladay - Fred). In 2007, she was introduced to Deb Grisham - wife of Coral Reefer Doyle Grisham and owner of Deb Grisham Entertainment, which represents a number of artists, including Nadirah Shakoor, The Mayer Brothers - Peter and "Uncle Jim", John Frinzi, and John Patti. "We became on line friends, trading emails and talking about music and places for artists to play in Florida." Her list of connections continued to grow until 2008, when Michelle Becker of the Margarita Mafia called Shurl to see if she might be able to help bring in some well known presenters for that year's Trop Rock Awards in Key West. "I called Doyle and asked him if he'd be interested and he said 'YES'! Then Nadirah and Tina Gullickson agreed to do it." Her efforts not only helped cement her reputation as a true mover and shaker in the Trop Rock world, but also won her the first ever "Fan Of The Year" award.

Things REALLY changed for Gates the next year. "I was having dinner with (trop rock artist) Rob Mehl. He mentioned to me that he was looking for a Manager and I replied, 'I need a job!'", although she says she wasn't being serious at the time. "The truth is I was looking for something constructive to do - alimony only goes so far!", she jokes. "But, I had never thought that what I had been doing for all those years just to help my friends might turn into a business. Later, I was talking to Steve Huntington and he encouraged me, said it would be perfect for me". Gates Music Management was born. "It really just came out of me trying to create a job for myself, doing something I loved to do."

Two years later, Gates Music Management boasts a close working relationship with a number of top Trop Rock acts, some she managers and some she helps and supports in whatever ways she can. "I feel it's important for them to find work however and wherever they can. So, in that regard I'm not exclusive with anyone. And I only work with artists I truly believe 100% in." 


"I don't expect to get rich from this. I do it because it makes me feel good and that makes it worthwhile"




I asked Shurl to give me the low down down of some of her favorite artists (note: Some of the bands mentioned can be found in previous posts in Beaches, Bands and Bars - Fred):


Homemade Wine - "They're from Knoxville, Tennesee. They started as a three piece, by brothers Ryan and Todd Sheley. Now, they're a full band and one of the most sought after acts in Trop Rock. They'll be playing on Thursday night at this year's Meeting Of The Minds."


Jimmy Parish & The Ocean Waves Band - "From Jacksonville, Florida. They stay extremely busy. He was just down here to play a pre-Buffett show party and will be back later this month to play at The Yard (more on The Yard later - Fred). Jimmy is the complete package. A great singer, songwriter and a true gentleman."

John Reno - "John is originally from New Orleans, so he has a definite jazz influence in his music. He lives in Fairhope, Alabama now but he spends alot of time here in Florida - especially in the Ft. Myers to Tampa area. He plays a wide variety of music, from soft, romatic ballads to over the top funny songs. The one everyone always wants to hear is 'Jello Shots'. He's an amazing songwriter and has a great feel for the audience when he's playing live."

Mike Aiken - "I've known Mike for many years. Back in the days of MySpace, I would look around for new music. I came across Mike's page and liked what I heard. But, I couldn't buy his cd - there was something wrong with the site. I'm not one to give up easily, so i looked around until I found a phone number, called and spoke to a woman. I asked her if Mike ever came down to Florida. The woman turned out to be Mike's wife, Amy, who put Mike on the phone. We developed a friendship and FINALLY, after six years, I was able to get him a gig down here at the Yard!"


Mike Miller - "Mike is from Illinois, a retired police man and founding member of the Boat Drunks. When he retired, he moved onto a sailboat and now spends his winters in Florida. We hosted a cd release party for him in September."


Freebo - "Bass player from California, has played with Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Dr, John - lots of great people. I met him at Meeting Of The Minds one year and loved his music. It's not traditional Trop Rock but it fits in with it. He played a gig here with John Frinzi."


Jim Hoehn - "From Wisconsin. I also met him at a MOTM and became a fan. He's an amazing storyteller and has been a big support to me."

Rob Mehl - "He's from Hawaii where they have a long history of 'talk stories'. He's a great storyteller."


AJ Swearingen - "Another local guy. He was hired to play my son's engagement party. There were lots of things going on but, in the middle of it all, I kept stopping to listen to him. I thought, 'I really love this guy!' He reminded me alot of John Frinzi. When it was over, I went up to talk to him and it turned out he knew John - had grown up in the same area! He's not really what you'd call Trop Rock, but close enough that Jeff Allen has started playing one of his songs on BeachFront Radio (Trop Rock internet radio station, featured previously in BB&B - Fred)."


Michael Weiss - "One night I walked into one of my favorite places in Tampa, the Hideaway Cafe, and Michael was playing. I became an instant fan. He's starting to make a big splash around here - played a Pre-Buffett party, has a song on BeachFront Radio."


Trop Rock Junkies - "They're from the Tampa area, do a Buffett tribute but also some originals. They played the B Stage before the recent Buffett show last month."


"Also, people like Paul Roush, John Friday, Bob Karwin. And another guy I have been talking to is Eric Stone, from the British Virgin Islands. Eric stays very busy there in the BVI, but I would love to work with him if the opportunity came up."


I also asked Shurl about her favorite spots - for live music, as well as food and drinks - in the Tampa area:


The Yard- It is literally a backyard of a home owned by a wonderful couple, Mark and Sharon Leveratte. About three years ago, they decided they wanted to host a House Concert. It was such a success that they decided to do more. As guys would come to me, I would suggest it as a place for them to play. Before you know it, they had built a palapa style stage with a tiki bar and were hosting shows once a month. Now they have a fire pit, bathrooms in the backyard, they're building a bunk house for travelling artists to crash in. It's amazing. They won "House Concert Venue Of The Year" at the Trop Rock Awards in 2010. And they don't make a dime. Every thing collected at the door goes directly to the artists and every dollar raised from raffles (of Sharon's handmade jewelry and Mark's carved wood signs) goes back into making the venue a better place for artists to play.  They do it all because they love the music!" (note: they are currently in need of a website and looking for a Trop Rock fan who might be willing to donate some time to make that happen - Fred)


Hideaway Cafe - "In St. Pete (St. Petersburg, FL), owned by Josh Kelly, who is an artist himself. It's a great listening room that hosts all indy artists, playing all original music."


The Palm Pavilion - "It's my favorite beach bar. Right on the beach in Clearwater, owned by a guy named Ken Hamilton. Great food, lots of room, a great place for artists."


Whiskey Joe's - "On the Causeway right as you come into Tampa. The Tampa Bay Parrothead Club meets there every week. They're building a brand new music venue right on the beach that will hold about 1500 people. I can't wait to do shows there!"


Skippers - "In Tampa. We just did the Coral Reefer Souls Show there, which was a huge success. Lots of possibilities for the future there."


Rapscallions - "In Land O Lakes, a suburb of Tampa. The bar there is named after Billy Peoples, a well known Florida Parrot Head. They host alot of Trop Rock."

"Also, two other places I love that are outside the Tampa area are Archies in Ft. Pierce - It's sort of a biker's bar, but with a Pirate theme - a great place, and The Nav-A-Gator near Arcadia, Florida- It's famous in Trop Rock circles."

http://www.facebook.com/people/Gates-MusicManagement/100001472834315

http://www.debgrishamentertainment.com/about.php

http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/

http://www.finsup.com/_/index.html

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

http://www.margaritamafia.com

http://www.beachfrontradio.com/home.cfm

 

http://www.johnfrinzi.com

http://www.gigmasters.com/Acoustic-Guitar/Jimi-Pappas/

http://doylegrisham.com/

http://www.nadirahshakoor.com/fr_home.cfm

http://www.petermayer.com

http://www.unclejimrocks.com

http://www.tinag.com/

http://www.johnpatti.com/

http://www.robmehl.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Homemade-Wine-the-Band/117718255508

http://jimmyparrishonline.com/

http://johnreno.com/

http://www.mikeaikenmusic.com/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-R-Miller-Musician/113707452013105
http://freebomusic.com/
http://jimhoehn.com/http://ajswearingen.com/
http://michaeljweiss.com/fr_splash.cfm
http://www.troprockjunkies.com
http://www.phinsband.com/
http://www.johnfriday.com/ 
http://bobkarwin.com/
http://www.boatsongs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/TheYard-Tampa/100001031214679

http://www.hideawaycafe.biz/

http://palmpavilion.com/

http://www.whiskeyjoestampa.com/whiskeyjoes/

http://skipperssmokehouse.com/

http://www.rapscallions.net/

http://archiesseabreeze.com/

http://www.nav-a-gator.com/

Hana & Satchwell: It's all about Ohana

 "Want to be with my Ohana. Want to ride in my canoe. 

We can all be friends and family...If your heart is true."

Those lines are taken from "Island Daze and Island Nights", one of sixteen tracks on Hana & Satchwell's  "Chillaxin'" cd, winner of the Hawaii Music Awards "Pop Album of The Year" in 2010 (their previous cd, "Love Of The Islands" took home the same honors the year before).

The theme of Ohana - along with the Hawaiian spirit of Aloha -  runs through all of Hana & Satchwell's music. Ohana means family in Hawaiian and, if you have spent any time on the Hawaiian islands, you know that they celebrate two families. There is the nuclear family - brothers, sisters, mother, father. But, there is also an extended family. You can stop and ask a complete stranger for directions and chances are the reply might include being called "cuz" or "brudda", for "cousin" or "brother". That's because Hawaiians have a deep seeded belief that all people are related. Bob Marley's "One Love/One World". Hawaiians are also extremely proud of their islands, the beauty and history. And that's another theme that runs through Hana & Satchwell's music. So, who are these two multi-award winning musicians who bring the traditions of the Hawaiian islands to the 21st century?

Hana is Ricky Hana. He grew up playing piano on California's Catalina Island, but moved to Santa Barbara in his mid teens and picked up the guitar. At the time, the early 70's, he was more into the rock bands of the day - Cream, Santana, Buffalo Springfield. "I got a job working at one of the music venues and got to see bands like Led Zep, Jethro Tull - guitar players like Page and Clapton." Convinced he wanted to make music his career, but still attending school for "something to fall back on", Ricky started playing guitar at local parties, bowling alleys, and bars, eventually joining a local group called DB Cooper, which landed a contract with Warner Brothers Records. "It was cool. We opened for bands like

Tom Petty, Judas Priest, Toto, The Pretenders and many times for the The Beach Boys, were paid weekly salaries, flew from town to town, had roadies. The whole rock and roll lifestyle!" But, eventually, that lifestyle caught up with him and he felt he needed to take a break. "I wanted to get away, raise my Ohana, my family. So, I packed up and moved to Hawaii."

Satchwell is Alan Satchwell. He also grew up near the coast of California - in Palos Verdes, but played the trumpet as a youngster, inspired by Herb Alpert. "I started writing songs on a little four track recorder when I was about 16 or 17." A music degree from UCLA followed, then some studio work as a singer, as well as time spent on the popular nationally televised music shows Solid Gold and Solid Gold Hits. "In the 80's I was in a band called North by Northwest that played the clubs in the L.A area and got a deal with Interscope Records, and I also wrote songs for other artists. Then, in 1993, I went to work for a church in the San Fernando Valley. I helped them build a gospel choir - which came in handy much later when it came time to do the vocal arranging on the Hana & Satchwell cds." Like Ricky, Alan soon got burnt out on the lifestyle, too. But, instead of heading to the Hawaiian islands, Alan sought his solace in Santa Barbara, in the picturesque St. Ynez Valley. "I raised four kids there, had a small vineyard..It was nice."

Two California musicians, with successful careers, moving in different directions. And, each ultimately fried on the business and lifestyle. How did their paths converge? And how did their rock/pop/jazz/new wave/gospel backgrounds evolve into to the island rhythms which ultimately led them to having the Top Pop Album in Hawaii two years running? I'm getting to that...As H&S might say, "Chillax, brudda!"

"We had grown up in the same area of California, actually played in a band together - a Christian band - years earlier. So, we were friends," says Alan. "But, then we lost track of each other for must have been 8-10 years. Ricky had moved to Hawaii and I was in Santa Barbara." 

Ricky picks it up: "I fell in love with Hawaii, the people and the natural beauty. I worked as a tour guide in Maui for a while, spent time with my Ohana. Was there for twenty years. But, eventually, I missed the music. I picked my guitar back up and started writing some new material, which was influenced by what I had been experiencing. In 2008, I released a cd on my own, "My Hawaii."

Alan: "I came across Ricky's new stuff on the internet, was really impressed with the songs he was writing - they had this great island feel to them. I had been to Hawaii during this time too, on a second honeymoon with my wife. I got to spend some time with the locals. You look into their eyes, see the depth of their spirituality and your blood pressure drops. Hawaii ministered to me. I really got a sense of Aloha. I started writing some new material and sent it to Ricky in Hawaii. That was it. We decided we needed to work together."   

Ricky: "Once we decided to work together, our first cd, "Love Of The Islands", came together really quickly. It was recorded and out in three months. A month later we won the Hawaii Music Award!"

So, you knew each other, had even worked together, but it was Hawaii that really was the common bond?

Alan: "Southern California and Hawaii have always had this relationship, there's alot of synergy between the two. When things get too crazy in California, people go to Hawaii to recharge. Musicians like Jack Johnson and Mick Fleetwood have homes in both places. Hawaii is like 'California West."

Ricky: "I love to come back to California, still keep a place in Santa Barbara. I come to see Alan, to play, and to work on new music. But, I still consider Hawaii home. The music scene there is great; open and refreshing. They respect their older musicians, but welcome new energy."

How did you write and record the second cd, "Chillaxin'?

Ricky: "Pretty much the same way as the first. We each came with our ideas. We'd trade files over the internet, I would carry a portable studio with me for whenever I came up with a new idea. And, when I came to California, we'd get together at Alan's studio."

Alan: "We played what we felt, that spirit of Aloha. It's hard to explain. It's not something you can force, it's more of a concept, like the term 'Trop Rock'. It's what's in your heart. I mean, Brian Wilson wrote about waves and cars, couldn't surf and didn't even have a driver's license!" The process was very fluid. Almost every sound on the cd is unedited, exactly as we played it the first time."

So what is next?

Ricky: "We're constantly writing. As soon as we finish one album, we start working on the next. We want to get out and play around California. And we have been discovering - starting to be embraced by - the Trop Rock community. We're looking to do more of the 'Parrot Head' type events around the country. Now that DJ Jeff Allen lives near us in California, we hope to be on BeachFront Radio soon."

Alan: "And we want to say 'Mahalo' to you for all your help in letting people know about us, spreading the Aloha."

I also asked Ricky and Alan about some of their favorite places to hang out when they're not working, in Hawaii and SoCal:

Ricky: I spend alot of time in Waikiki. There are a lot of great local spots but, believe it or not, I like the Cheesecake Factory (on Kalakaua - Fred)! Great food and great prices. When I want to get out of the city, there is a little surfing town called Hale'iwa on the North Shore (be sure to grab a shave ice at Matsumoto's - Fred). If you're in Kaua‘i, Bar Acuda in Hanalei has great food and great service.

Alan: In Santa Barbara, Brophy Brothers has some tasty food. It's right on the harbor. In Long Beach, Shoreline Village has lots of shops and restaurants - places like The Yard House, which has around 1000 different beers - and always has great entertainment.

http: //www.hanasatchwell.com

http://www.facebook.com/Hana.Satchwell

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/
http://haleiwatownhawaii.com/

http://www.gonorthshore.org/

http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

http://restaurantbaracuda.com/ 

http://brophybros.com/

http://shorelinevillage.com/

http://www.yardhouse.com/CA/Long_Beach/

Trop Rockin: Steven Youngblood gets Trop Rock on the air in PCB, John Friday escapes, Homemade Wine wins awards, & Robert Daniels sells some cereal.

Late 2009/early 2010 was a tumultuous time for Panama City, Florida singer/songwriter Steven Youngblood.  “Born with one foot in the water”, as he says in the title track to his “Guitars & Fishing Poles” cd, Youngblood was raised around sail boats and fishing. He picked up his first guitar at the age of eight and never looked back.  With the sand and sea of his coastal home as a back drop and musical inspiration from the likes of Jimmy Buffett and Eric Stone, Steven eventually found himself writing about subjects that were naturally near and dear to his heart - from laid back tracks like “Island Time” and “Cross On The Reef” to more upbeat tunes like “Picture Perfect Sunset” and the tongue-in-cheek “Hope My Ship Comes In”, all found on his debut disc. As he was wrapping up and getting ready to release that album in late 2009, doctors discovered a problem that would require some surgery. "I thought my voice was just getting kind of raspy from all the bar gigs I was playing." he says, "Turned out I had a lump in my throat that was pushing on my vocal cords!" The hospital stay took him off the road and it was several months before he could perform a full show again. At almost the same time, Youngblood, a radio engineer by trade, approached a floundering local AM station about the idea of putting Trop Rock on the air there. The owner agreed and Trop Rock 1290 was born (http://www.troprock1290.com/troprock%20home.html). Jimmy Buffett is a staple of the station, but most of the playlist is made up of Independent Trop Rock artists from across the country, mixed in with a variety of Island music and even North Carolina Shag tunes. The perfect accompaniment to a day at the Panama City Beaches. He continues to add new songs to the station all the time and plans to have an FM signal this Summer.  On the recording front, Steven has a new single he's working on called "Tan Lines", written by his good friend, Charlie Black, a Nashville songwriter with dozens of Number Ones to his credit. He hopes to follow that with another full cd some time next year. In the meanwhile, you can catch Steven (often with his wife Sandra on Steel Drums) playing watering holes all along the Redneck Riviera, from Joey's Oyster Bar, and Margaritaville in PCB to Fuddpuckers in Destin.  He's also a regular fixture at events for both the Panama City and Emerald City Parrot Head Clubs. www.stevenyoungblood.com or more info and upcoming dates (artists can also submit songs for Trop Rock 1290 there)

John Friday is a self–described "Tropical Balladeer and Displaced Pirate" who originally hails from Maryland.  The singer/songwriter's eclectic background includes a stint as a crabber on the Chesapeake Bay, as well as assorted attempts at college, studying subjects from biology to business.  After an injury ended his thirteen year Army career, Friday settled in the Naples area of Florida and started writing songs and performing in the local bars.  In 2009, he released his first full length cd, "Coastal Dreamin'", which included the rollicking ditties “Ain’t Missing a Thing” and “Rita’s Going Wild”, as well as a cover of the Little Feat classic, “Willin’”… "The last two to three years have been kind of a blur", says Friday - referring to all the increased activity in his busy schedule. In 2010, he was part of the talent line up for the "Puerto Los Somewhere" cruise to Cozumel - one of the first of what is now a plethora of Trop Rock cruises, and played a number of Parrot Head friendly festivals - including the Six String Music Songwriters Invitational in New Orleans (http://sixstringmusicnola.com/) and the patriotic Red, White & Tunes Festival in Southwest Florida (http://redwhiteandtunes.com/). He also made a trip to Hawaii to play for the Pau Hana Parrot Head Club and finished fourth (out of over 400) in the Landshark Lager Battle of the Bands in Nashville. Friday finished the year by releasing another full length cd, "Tropicalized".  In addition to the title track, which can be heard on Trop Rock music outlets like BeachFront Radio, the disc includes "Tennessee Whiskey/Jamaican Rum", co-written by well known Parrot Head songwriter, William Melton . He plans to expand his activities even further in 2011 with more House Concerts and festival gigs, both solo and with his band The Caribbean Connection. Asked where he thinks Trop Rock is going, John says "I want to honor the roots, which is Jimmy Buffett, but there's also more to it", adding, "I write about escapism - whether it's about escaping the snow or a bad relationship". He'll be heading up to New Jersey for the third annual Spring Fling (http://www.springphling.com/) in May, with stops along the way - including a House Concert for the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance. http://www.johnfriday.com/

Formed around brothers Tod and Ryan Sheley, Homemade Wine began booking gigs as an acoustic act around their hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, back in 2008.  Older brother and percussionist Tod has a serious Trop Rock pedigree, as a founding member of  St. Somewhere (www.myspace.com/stsforever), as well as having played with well known Tennessee Trop Rock acts Tall Paul (http://www.tallpaul.com/) and Jake & The Half Conched Band (http://www.lifeonthegulf.com/ ).  Three years later, they are an award winning band with six members, a cd, and a touring van they spend ALOT of time in. "It's been a blast! We just got back from 27 days on the road", said the younger Sheley sibling at the time of this writing. "Mostly around North Florida and the Georgia/SC coast. We played for about 12,000 people at the Taste of Charleston and headlined St. Patty's in Savannah. But we also did some great gigs in places like Greensboro NC and Columbia, SC." The cd in question is "Music For A Salty Soul", which came out in the Summer of 2010 and includes some songs that had been floating around the Trop Rock universe in demo form (including my Ipod) for some time - the catchy country/caribbean "Take Me Down To The Tropics", New Orleans flavored "Sweet Adele", and the melancholy "Seeking Harbor". The cd also included "Her Kiss", the Number One Trop Rock Song of 2010 on BeachFront Radio's Top 40 (the cd also won "Album of the Year", Ryan won "Best New Male Trocker", and the group took home "Top New Trop Rock Band"). After a stop at the New Jersey Spring Phling the end of this month, Homemade Wine will head to Washington, DC to begin recording their second cd, which they hope to have finished by the end of Summer "I want to be done and home in time for football season!" says Sheley. http://www.homemadewinemusic.com/

Last but not least, what do commercial jingles, TV voiceovers, and Trop Rock have in common? Robert Daniels! Daniels is a professional songwriter (member of the Nashville Songwriters Association), and voice-over talent who splits his time between New York City and the sleepy southern coastal town of Murrells Inlet, SC.  When he’s not pimping breakfast cereal or taking you to the next commercial break, he and his acoustic guitar can be found performing Country, Blues, and Rock covers in cafes and nightclubs around the Big Apple. Two of his original compositions, "You Don't Have To Be In Mexico" and "Gotta Love a Girl Like That", have received airplay on numerous Trop Rock radio stations.   www.myspace.com/robertdanielsmusic

DJ Jeff Allen: Trop Rock Tastemaker

According to Mapquest, it’s approximately 2700 miles from Western Pennsylvania to the coast of California. So, how did a one-time restaurant manager turned dj make the trip and wind up one of the most respected  voices in Trop Rock - and one half of the most successful Trop Rock internet radio network in the world? I posed that question and more to Jeff Allen, aka “DJ Jeff”, over the course of a couple of bi-coastal phone calls.

As a fellow dj, I know how I got into it - I wanted to be the guy throwing the party (and it paid pretty well). How did you get into dj’ing?

“I was living in York, Pennsylvania  in the early 80’s – had been working in the restaurant business since high school. I figured that’s what I was going to do for the rest of my life. On my nights off, I’d go to watch a buddy spin records at a local dance club. Whenever my friend would go off to talk to women – which, lucky for me, was pretty often – he’d let me step in and take over the turntables. I really liked it, became a student. I started out going to other clubs to listen and learn from other dj’s. Before long, I was spinning at clubs around the area. Pretty soon I also had a mobile dj business going, playing weddings and other events down as far as Maryland. It wound up being an almost thirty year career”

When did you first hearing Trop Rock?

“In 1998 I helped start the Amish Parrot Head Club in Pennsylvania. So, I was very familiar with Jimmy Buffett, and Dennis McCaughey and Tropical Soul were in the area (and still are). Before long, I started hearing from club members about these other artists, people I had never heard of before.  I’d be dj’ing at a club party and they would request songs … One of the first “Trop Rock” artists I remember hearing was Jim Morris, when a guy gave me some cds for a wedding. The first person I remember seeing live was Scott Kirby – when he came to play an event in our area, then, later, John Frinzi and Peter Mayer.”

How did the Amish Beach Party come about?

“I was always interested in radio, learned a lot from listening to the dj’s but  –  although I did some radio sales – I had never been on the air. Then, around 2000, Radio Margaritaville’s Program Director Steve Huntington started inviting listeners to submit their own home made shows to run each week on the station. Back then, the technology wasn’t there for me to do it live from my house, so I would record these one hour CDs and send them to Steve. I needed a name, so I took part of our name from the Parrot Head Club and came up with the Amish Beach Party. That lasted about three years, until Radio Margaritaville started airing on Sirius and they put a stop to guest dj’s. About that same time, I had some health issues that forced me out of the restaurant business. So, I was looking for something else to do. I got serious about the Amish Beach Party – which, thanks to improved technology, I could now do as a live show - found a home at Radio Jimmy Dreamz on the Live 365 Network. I was there for almost 5 years.”

How did you get from Amish Beach Party on Live 365, to starting your own network and hosting shows yourself?

“I learned a lot doing my show on Radio Jimmydreamz, and the technology had gotten better and better. So, I started thinking I could ‘go bigger’, start my own internet radio network for Parrot Heads. I had a passion for it and felt there was a niche for a professionally run, well marketed radio station focused on Trop Rock. In March of 2009, I was approached by Bill and Trace from Meet The Phlockers about working with them to put something together. I really owe them a lot, because they helped me – gave me the platform - to step out. The result of that partnership was Sandbar Radio, with me as the Program Director and Amish Beach Party as one of the anchor shows. The next logical step for me, then, was to start my very own network, which I did in early 2010.  I put together a business plan, found some investors and, that’s how we got to where we are now, BeachFront Radio (http://www.beachfrontradio.com/home.cfm). And it really just came out of trying to create a job for myself seven years earlier ”

That’s not EXACTLY where you are now, because BeachFront Radio – like the Amish Beach Party - began its life in Pennsylvania. But, you’re now broadcasting from the Channel Islands in California. That’s not just another exit down I-81. How did you get from the right coast to the left?

“That would be Captain Cali! Carol, aka Captain Cali, is the other half of Beachfront Radio. She was my friend and business partner first. But, before long, it became more than just a working relationship. Anybody who has ever tried a long distance romance knows how difficult THAT can be. Imagine trying to do it – and trying to run a business at the same time – from completely opposite ends of the country!  So, in January of this year I decided to move out to be with Carol. The nice thing about internet radio is that, as long as you have computer, you can do it anywhere! So, now the ‘Amish’ Beach Party comes to you from California.”

You were telling me a funny story about how the BeachFront Radio “Dance Party” show came out of your move to California…

“Yeah! I had just moved out there with Captain Cali and we were working in one room, turning it into a studio for BeachFront Radio. We were broadcasting, but it was pretty late on a Friday night, so we figured there were probably not as many people listening as there would be during the week. I started throwing in some different songs – some dance tunes - really just for ‘music to hang pictures by’. It didn’t take long before we started seeing a response and people seemed to love it!”

When you said you “saw a response” what do you mean?

“You’re a long time radio dj, so you know that – before Facebook and Twitter - when you would play music over the air you didn’t get to SEE people responding, unlike in a dance club or a mobile gig, where people get out on the dance floor (or don’t). But, technology has changed all that. Now we can get an almost immediate response - It has become very interactive. People can request things and tell us when they hear something they like. We have a VERY active audience that is constantly giving us feedback. That night, we were blown away by the number of posts saying they were really enjoying what we were playing. Our focus will always be on Trop Rock but, because of that night we’re going to keep it up – doing a ‘Friday night dance party’ at least once a month!”

In addition to being a well known dj and world wide radio show host, you’re also one of the most vocal and well respected supporters of Trop Rock music. Where do you see the genre going?

I’m amazed at what is going on in Trop Rock. When I first got involved  - outside of Jimmy, there weren’t that many artists doing that type of material. Now there are HUNDREDS of acts. On one end you have people like Kenny Chesney and Jack Johnson reaching a huge audience. Right under them is a long list of artists, people that we play on BeachFront Radio but that just haven’t had that big radio hit to cross them over. The quality is improving and there’s more and more good material. You have guys who have been around a while, who are writing hits for the groups of tomorrow and you have a younger generation that’s just starting out that has some real commercial potential. It’s ever evolving. I’m very excited about the future. But, it would never have happened without Parrot Head Clubs.”

Here’s a question that always seems to stir up debate: Jimmy is obviously the king. But, eventually, he’s going to stop touring (or ticket prices are going to get so high that most people won’t be able to afford to go). Who do you see as stepping into his shoes when that happens?

”I don’t know. There are some great live acts out there, like Howard Livingston & Mile Marker 24. Look at the Grateful Dead when they stopped touring. The fans didn’t go away, they just went to see bands like Phish. When Jimmy stops touring, someone will step up – I’m not sure who it is yet…”

One of the great things about BeachFront Radio is that it travels – people can see you live. You and Captain Cali are on the road a lot, broadcasting from events all over the country.

“I love that. BeachFront on the road…we’re out at least once a month. First and foremost, it’s great catching up with the Beach Bums, as we call our regular listeners to BeachFront radio. And, secondly, getting to work with all the great Trop Rock artists out there.”

What are some of your favorite events to attend?

That’s hard, there are so many great events and so many great host clubs. The Parrothead Rendezvous in Panama City, FL is a favorite for personal reasons – that’s where I first met Captain Cali. Meeting of the Minds because of its history. We did a Halloween party in Ft. Meyers before MOTM that was a blast – people have asked us to do it again his year. … And this will be my first time going to Fins To The West. I’m very excited about that.”

What’s next for Beachfront Radio?

“We’re having a blast with our two shows – The Amish Beach Party and Pyrates Behaving Badly on Tuesday night, hosted by Cheeto Gyrl and Capt Cali. We’ve got some new shows in development to launch in 2011 – can’t give away too much info! We also want to keep growing the audience and finding new converts to Trop Rock. In person or in your head, Trop Rock puts you in a good mood. It’s just happy music.”  

http://www.beachfrontradio.com/home.cfm