A Musical, Magical Evening to Remember
I have, on occasion, while promoting an event been known to commit shameless acts of promotion of my daughter. I squeezed a bit into the story about the San Diego Fair (she was, after all, a participant) and, on occasion, wax eloquent about her cakes. So it should come as no surprise that I would be inclined to do the same for other highly talented family members, this time, of the musical persuasion.
I recently had the privilege of enjoying an amazing concert in the beautiful Dizdar park in Camarillo on a summer evening which epitomizes the Southern California lifestyle. We sat under blue and white striped pavilions beneath age-old trees whose branches swayed in time to the music, nudged by a gentle breeze. I made the trek specifically to finally see the band my cousin Dave and his incredibly talented wife Lynn perform with, along with a plethora of veterans of the Woodstock era music they play. From the first note they played, the stage, and the audience too, came alive.
Focusing on the California musicians who were so influential during that era, California Dreamin’, Music of the Canyons jumped seamlessly from Crosby, Stills and Nash to Janis Joplin and everyone in between. With each song, I was transported back to my teenage years and a world when my generation cared deeply and vociferously about events happening in the world.
Remembering the Icons We’ve Lost…Then and Now
It was a time of protests, of sit-ins, of riots and the Kent State shootings. We all knew someone who was fighting the “police action” in Viet Nam (which more recent Middle Eastern actions brought back to some of us with a strange sense of deja vu).
The often turbulent lives of musical icons Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Croce, Jim Morrison, Cass Elliot and Duane Allman were cut short too soon. But they left us with their music which still resonates today. In a year when we’ve lost so many more of the musicians who indelibly marked our lives, an evening with California Dreamin’ brings back all of the good memories while leaving the teenage angst behind where it belongs.
I can’t say enough about Lynn Fanelli who truly brings the music of Janis Joplin alive. And when Lori, Janis, Lynn and Scott sing Crosby, Stills and Nash, it’s truly mesmerizing.
The life, the music and the energy of this band was well worth the drive and made much better use of a Friday night than sitting at home watching Netflix. I, for one, will be watching their Facebook page for future events. I hope you will too. (And for all of the dancers out there, they played a number of songs which made great two-steps, West Coast Swings, and even a Nightclub Two-step or two).
