Editor's Note
North Bay entertainment really strikes a chord
By Jason Walsh, editor
I ’ ve seen the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” performed live twice. The first time was many years ago by the legendary band itself; I was in college and the Who was in Oakland amid one of its many farewell tours. The second was years later, when my 13-year-old son Sam played the song live with his band at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, strapping on his guitar and taking the stage with his friends in a venue famous for hosting such names as Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana, Sammy Hagar, Van Morrison, Etta James and members of the Grateful Dead. Guess which moment made the more lasting impression on me. Sam is no virtuoso on Strat, but he was
local music scenes with the next generation of talent. Of course, the North Bay isn’t just about middle school students playing the “Seven Nation Army” riff ad nauseum. Major acts pass through these parts from time to time as well. The Country Summer Music Festival, celebrating its 10th incarnation this June, is hosting such names as Sam Hunt, Kane Brown and Dustin Lynch. Writer Bo Kearns looks behind the scenes at the annual festival bringing the growing renaissance of country music to life at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Turning from music to movies, writer Jean Saylor Doppenberg’s story on the state of local movie theaters is a “must see,” to borrow a phrase from hack movie critics, as local venue operators are enjoying their second straight year of increased ticket sales. Whether it’s an uptick in Hollywood product, upgrades
Above, Jack Black in School of Rock ; at right, Sam Walsh at Sweetwater in Mill Valley.
perfectly adept at the three power chords it takes to bang out the classic rock staple (it’s the one with “teenage wasteland!” in the final chorus) before a packed audience of proud parents. He was enrolled in a music program called Band Works, which pulled together individual kids to form a “rock band,” led by an adult music teacher who’d assign them roles (vocals, bass,
in comfortable seating and boozy concessions, or the consolidation of venues following a run of post-pandemic closures (or all of the above), the curtains are a far way from closing on the ol’ Big Screen. Finally, out of the blue last month, Kiss bassist Gene Simmons gave NBb a call (well, his people did) for a lengthy talk with the musician- entrepreneur about his various business pursuits (and anything else on his mind) in anticipation of his Gene Simmons Band performing at Graton this month. A day later the show was canceled—but the interview lives on, bringing our Entertainment Issue to a close, or a resounding “Kiss-off,” if you prefer. The North Bay is filled with a lot more talent and entertainment options than one would expect from a sometimes-sleepy suburb—get out and enjoy it, folks. Despite what Kiss once declared, God didn’t give rock and roll to you. Talented musicians, hard-working venue operators and passionate entertainment entrepreneurs did. So show your support, and bring a little something for the tip jar. n
drums, guitar, keys, etc.) and teach them a handful of popular rock songs. Each program session lasted about three months, with practicing at home, weekly rehearsals at a studio, culminating in a live performance at a professional venue. It was definitely a step up from my childhood musical training, which largely consisted of 30 fourth graders getting handed a recorder and playing “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” in an elementary school multi-purpose room. Music education has evolved—the emphasis is less on learning scales, and more on playing as a team and having fun. Scales can wait—developing a lifelong love of music is now the goal. Just a couple of years later and these types of rock-band programs are everywhere. While some public and private schools offer similar instruction, it’s typically businesses like the School of Rock franchises that lead the way. In this month’s Entertainment Issue, writer Janet Perry talks with several local rock-band programs about their inspiration for starting their schools of rock (note: the Jack Black movie was inspired by a Philadelphia School of Rock, not the other way around) and their dreams of supplying the
April 2025
NorthBaybiz 11
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