Last Minute Gift Suggestions

Haven't posted here lately. For someone who doesn't give a damn about the holidays, I sure seem extra busy during this time of year. Parties, dinners, cards, letters, gifts, etc.. Anyway, I was going through some CDs the other day and ran across this jewel, one of my all time favorite recordings.


This live material was captured on an old reel to reel at the blue collar 23 Club in Brisbane, just south of San Francisco, in the early 60's. Mostly instrumental, it's a combo of jazz, country, western swing and just plain fun ("music starts at nine, the fights start at 10"). The playing is exceptional, Jimmie Rivers an obscure but very competent guitarist. The audio has been cleaned up well, resulting in a very listenable CD. I love this performance, and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys older music instead of the crap foisted upon us by today's music industry (majors and independents). Do a Google search and you'll come up with sites to hear and buy the music.

More Northern California music... Jim Thomas of the Mermen has released an "acoustic" album of his Mermen tunes, with a mellower, ambient intent.


Haven't heard it yet, but I'm confident it will be quite enjoyable instrumental music. I ordered it today.

Finally, for all you Occupy Wall Street supporters out there, a book: Debt: The First 5000 years, an anthropological analysis of debt throughout human history.


It's getting a lot of attention, and is considered somewhat of a bible of the OWS movement. My New Years, Palm Springs read.

Anyway, hopefully everyone will have a wonderful holiday season, and best wishes for the new year.