The THUGZ (tribal hippie underground zone)

Last night was our first gathering at the Blue on the first Thursday of the month. Our wonderful fans are used to the third Thursday, so I wondered if anyone would be there. No problem. The bar was soon packed with an energetic, noisy crowd - ready for an evening of Thugz style chaos. This time we had Mike, Chris, Stephanie, myself, and Andre too! Mike and Stephanie play music together a lot as the famous "Thug and Jug" unit, so their vocals and good chemistry really uplift our scene. Andre's tasty guitar…

Saturday night in Cotati is a big deal - even bigger when the moon is full and the Thugz tribe invades the Redwood Cafe. It was supposed to be a "CD Release" party, but we still have to wait 10 more days for delivery - so it became a pre-party with veteran Thugz fans and new converts alike. Our wonderful friend, James Foster of Free Peoples fame, came to drum with us, and he pushed us along with his strong style from the moment we played our first note. With James behind him, Mike got to demonstrate all…

So many years ago, "so many roads" ago, I met Mike at the Blue while I was pounding away at an old upright piano in the bar's far corner. I was playing "I Shall Be Released" with my former musical partner, Doug Bowes, when Mike Campbell popped in with his trusty trumpet and "blew" me away with his gorgeous spontaneous solo. Eventually, Mike and I started playing at the Blue. It was a strange team - with his Grateful Dead background and my country/rock style. His music was totally new to me, and I had no…

2015 held us in its clutches until the bitter end. It was such a challenging year for all of us - even though it was the year for several stupendous events - such as the birth of Maris and Drew's beautiful Amrina. 2015's list of negatives is vast, and we all arrived at the New Year's gig with a sense that things just had to get better. Our venue, Rio Nido Roadhouse, is notoriously a cold spot, and last night was a doozy. But before we could let the cold dampen our spirits, the warmth of the Roadhouse staff…

The storm cycle stopped for a night. Stars came out and so did the tribe - totally celebratory! We gathered last night in the hills above Sebastopol. It was a private party, but somehow "everybody" was there -  beautiful people, beautiful food offerings, lovely decorations, and the Thugz. We took over the living room and proceeded to do our thing - no holding back. The folks loved it - no comments about "it's too loud," or "don't play THAT song." We played lots of Dead tunes and all the up-tempo party…

Saturday night at the Roadhouse - what a scene. We had all the elements necessary for a perfect Thugz Holiday Bash. We arrived early to set up in the enclosed patio area where it was cold and damp, but the Roadhouse staff was eager to please, always upbeat and positive. I did my best to ignore the ice machine behind me that put out a strong F# tone and occasionally spit out a mini glacier. Once we began playing, that F# faded into the background - no problem. Drew was there, helping to set up and offering…

It's the happenin' spot in Penngrove - good old Twin Oaks Tavern. But the times they are a changin'. Soon the Twin Oaks will be run by the Hopmonk folks, so we'll see how things evolve. I must say the Hopmonk people have brought lots of great talent (yes, Thugz too!) to Sebastopol and Novato. We hope the home-town, home-grown atmosphere at Twin Oaks carries on. Last night, we were so happy to have a rockin' bunch of folks show up to the Tavern on a rainy Thursday night. We had old friends and new Thugz…

Saturday night at Timber Cove Inn was full of surprises. Mike, Chris, and I were playing as a trio, and the moment we arrived, we got our first surprise. There was our faithful fan, Gary, sitting at the bar, ready to party. Not long after that, Richard arrived - quite a surprise. We set about doing our thing, keeping it nice and quiet for the diners and guests. They politely clapped, and we carried on. After folks came into the lounge from the dining area, it was obvious people were ready to cut loose a…

"The Zone" in Tribal Hippie Underground Zone was located at the Blue Heron last night. That's the place tried and true faithful Thugz fans gather on the 3rd Thursday each month. It never fails to amaze me how many wonderful familiar faces I see and how enthusiastic the tribe is when we play at the Blue. More than once, I've had folks ask me, "Why can't you play here more often?" - followed by the revealing comment, "You give us a chance to all be together." Our fans feel comfortable at the Blue, and it's…

The Thugz bravely played for two wedding events last weekend. Contrasts between them on all levels were stunning. Wedding event #1 was for a young couple from San Francisco with family ties to the Sea Ranch. When the bride introduced herself, she looked stylish, radiant, and so energetic. I knew right away we had a solemn duty to rock out and help make her party very special. Many phones took pictures, and the champagne flowed. We played background music most of the evening, but I know we contributed…