Sonoma Country Life

The Florist Over the Butcher's Shop - Catch A Collection of Favorite and Original Songs by the Amy Hogan Trio, at Laginitas Brewery

The Amy Hogan Trio are performing "The Florist Over the Butcher Shop" - a collection of favorite and original songs by Amy Hogan - Vocals and Guitar, Alec Fuhrman - Vocals and Guitar and Ed Hogan - Bass Guitar, at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, next Thursday, late afternoon/early evening November 17th.

If that's not a great excuse for a happy hour escape from the usual twilight hour domestics, I don't know what is! And don't you just love the band's gig poster by Amy and Ed's son, Jack?

Thursday November 17, 2025 at:

Lagunitas Brewing Company
1280 North McDowell Blvd
Petaluma CA
707.769.4495


From 4:20 - 7:30 PM

Tom Wait's New "Bad As Men" Album Puts Petaluma on Front Page of NYT Arts and Leisure Section

There's something about Tom Waits and all his many would-be imitators on the radio these days that nobody else, no matter how great and innovative a musician, can come close to in gravelly greatness. I love waking up to regular, rowdy old Waits tracks, courtesy of DJ Brian Griffith on the Morning KRSH.

Though most everyone else I know has passed Waits in the street at least once or twice or occasionally been seated in his general vacinity at one of our local eateries, here in Southern Sonoma County, I don't know that I'd pick him out from lots of sixty-something, ageless, bowler-hat-wearing guys that look not unlike him around here. That's a good thing for Waits, who most certainly must enjoy being left in peace to enjoy his life in this laid-back part of the country, just as much as the next person. 

Jon Pareles of The New York Times propelled little old Petaluma to the front page (and continued at length on page 18) of the Arts & Leisure section of the newspaper this Sunday, after a visit to the railroad tracks behind Rhinehardt's defunct truck stop for a rare interview with the man himself in a cluttered, black Suburban.

This interview follows the release of Waits' new "Bad as Me" album, his first in seven years. Recently inaugurated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it was time for new material from the much-studied singer songwriter who first emerged in the 70s.

Pareles captures the 'grizzled troubadour' remarkably well in this comprehensive piece that's well worth a read.

 

Bay Area Author Anne Lamott on Stage at Petaluma's Word Up Free Community Learning Fair - 10/30/2011

Don't miss your chance to hear Bay Area's much loved author Anne Lamott speak at 4.15 pm on the main stage of Petaluma's upcoming Word Up Fair at the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds, next Sunday, October 30th, 2011.

This fabulous new festival of finding out is free and will be packed to the hilt with all sorts of exciting ways to learn. Bring the whole family - no one is ever too old and doddery to pick up a new life skill!

 

SoCo's British Ska Band - The Hoovers Bring Skin and Blisters Lyrics to Wetstock 2011

I'll probably take some flack from The Hoovers' Bill Sell for not getting in his face and taking any close ups of the band as they took Wetstock 2011 by storm. Fact was, I was having too much fun.

And talking of storming, it was a good thing we didn't see too many more unseasonal rain clouds over head as  I have a feeling that Sell and this great British Ska band are a bit out of practice for performing to welly-wearing crowds of muddy, Glastonbury-style fans.

What they're not out of practice in, is outstanding delivery of not just one but two excellent sets of ska-beat dance numbers for friends and family and lots of adoring Brits at an only slightly autumnal rural West Petaluma artists enclave, Wetstock 2011.

Think Madness, English Beat, the Squeeze, only better, right? Paul Whiting, William "Bill" Sell, James Manning and Larry Gonzales are The Hoovers. Originally from London, and led by singer Paul Whiting and guitarist Bill Sell, The Hoovers currently describe themselves as a California rock band of mostly English descent, with overtones of British ska, folk music, reggae and punk.

Their critically acclaimed debut album "Skin and Blisters" received rave reviews throughout the U.S. and has become something of a collector's item among hardcore fans of 2tone and ska.

The Hoovers have toured extensively, providing band support for such legends as Madness, The Police, Squeeze, Eric Burdon, Level 42, Mott the Hoople, Bronski Beat, Big Pig, Chris Isaak and Men Without Hats. They stay very busy writing new songs and performing around the Bay Area, though catching them live at Wetstock is about as good as it gets.

A new studio album, Sooty, Jimmy and Carl is available soon.

Foxes in the Hen House Play Hop Monk Tavern

Petaluma's Beautiful 'Odd Bird' Record Release Show - Saturday, Sept 3, 2025

If you are viewing this on your smart phone, click the heading and it should redirect you to the full post so that you are able to view this smashing first music video from one of our favorite local singer songwriter's Ashley Allred and her band, Odd Bird. The Petaluma-based folk band can be heard at a record release show this Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 - 8pm at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth Street, Santa Rosa. Tickets are $8 to $10.

Devil Makes Three - Foot Stomping Finale at Petaluma's Fourth Annual Music Festival

Being a people watcher, I was in my element in the crowd on the concrete dance floor at main stage for Saturday's Petaluma Music Festival's fourth annual finale - Santa Cruz-based American blues band, Devil Makes Three.

Thousands of festival-goers had spent the best part of a beautifully sunny day camped out with colorful rugs, blankets and low-profile lawn chairs on the grass by main stage at the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds, in the center of town.

Hundreds of state and country-wide followers of the summer music circuit and of the 16 bands performing at this year's Petaluma Music Festival were in from out of town, with an eclectic festival-fashion style as captivating to me as what was going on on-stage.

Homespun summer frocks, babies in gingham bonnets, tattoos, trilby hats (lots of), bare feet, a bounty of fascinating folk from all walks of life.

From what it looked light from a main stage audience perspective, Petaluma Music Festival's fab production team most likely pulled in a good profit from this year's packed event for funding the future of music programs in Petaluma schools. A win-win for music lovers, young musicians and the maestros themselves. Marvelous.

Petaluma Music Festival - Next Up for Summertime Entertainment (& Keeps Music in Schools)

Sixteen great bands, headlined by The (excellent) folksy, bluegrass Devil Makes Three are set to take to stages at Saturday's Fourth Annual Petaluma Music Festival (August 6th, 2011) at the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds in central Petaluma. Pack a blanket or low backed lawn chairs and head out for an outstanding afternoon and evening close to home. Best of all, monies raised help to preserve the magic of music being made in our Petaluma schools. See you there!

Reporting for Pop Tart Duty at the Pie Hole, Rivertown Revival's Best Bet for the Sweet Toothed!

"Think early to mid-century (1900s), sailor girl, a nod to the waterway with dixie cup hats and stripes," instructed my bold and creative pal Mel in an email message to her crew of rowdy sailor-girls-at-the-ready for some seriously fun slinging of delicious hand pies, pop tarts, whoopie pies and fruit crisp at the bodacious baker's inuagural Pie Hole booth at this Saturday's upcoming Rivertown Revival.

Best of a number of reasons to stop by the Pie Hole for a slice of life and a sweet is that Courtway Catering & Events' luscious loot is all entirely local! And you can take that to mean whatever you choose in this case.

Mom-of-two, food and fearless family-life writer, cook, caterer, urban farmer and first home remodeler, Pie Hole Proprietress Mel would be tickled pink to sell out of pies on Saturday.

I'm on board for the first shift, bright and early in the Revival, so do stop by and say hello from 11 am to 1.15. Right about lunch time!

Meeting Mr. Avett

There's nothing like meeting the family at a performance of a favorite band! And that's what happened to me last night at the Fox Theater in Oakland. We'd found ourselves a good spot in the standing room only floor up by the balcony at the back, by the bar. Great view, not too crowded. The Avett Brothers were energetically strutting their fabulously original folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop stuff, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Have you seen this band before?" asked a white-haired guy in a blue denim shirt. "Yes," I replied. "I have, have you?"

"Oh yes, my dear," he said. "I'm their Dad."

We had a lovely 10 minute chat in which his pride was clearly fit to burst, despite being clearly accustomed to the huge and now well established successes of his prolific songwriter, musician sons. 

Retired from the navy, welding and social work, Jim Avett's now in his 60s, with a mellow country music career of his own on the back burner at the farm in North Carolina.

Jim Avett showed me photos from his wallet of the family as kids. He gave me sage advice for my own musician son.

Not surprisingly, Jim own father Clegg had been a Methodist Minister - music and song being the soul of generations of Avett men.

The show was superb. As we'd expected it to be. But meeting Mr. Avett was the highlight. "If fame comes your way, you have to be ready for it," he'd said. "Right then, or it passes by."

I aksed him if he'd taught them all they knew. "I did," he said. "Until they knew more than me, then I sent them to a friend."