Record Store Day

By now you’ve heard that famous Mark Twain quote: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.”

One could argue, of course, that reports of his death have not been exaggerated since 1910. But you get the idea – his demise was falsely reported while he was still kicking.

Likewise, record store owners think reports that their industry is dead are grossly exaggerated. Sure, record sales are down. And, yeah, downloads are doing quite well. (iTunes is now the biggest music retailer in the country.)

But people still love record stores and CDs, right?

Okay, yeah, it’s annoying when you buy a CD that has one good song and 12 crappy ones. And, sure, CD prices have shot up almost as insanely as gas prices.

Still.

In honor of their continued existence, independent retailers have created their own little holiday, called We’re Not Dead Yet Day. Except they’re actually calling it Record Store Day. (Frankly, I like my name better.)

The “holiday,” celebrated Saturday, was concocted last fall to help struggling record store sales. Lending a hand, groups like Metallica (whom downloaders love, by the way!), Billy Bragg and Panic at the Disco will perform at record stores across the country.

Not to be left out, San Luis Obispo’s Cheap Thrills and Boo Boo Records will be taking part. Both will be offering discounts. And Boo Boo will be offering live music throughout the day.

The Boo Boo lineup includes:

11:00AM The Green Apples
12:00 PM Guy Budd
1:00 PM Inga Swearingen
2:00 PM Fighting Chance
3:00 PM Sparrow’s Gate
4:00 PM Black Shirts
5:00 PM Hot & Cool Orchestra
6:00 PM the Threes & Nines
7:00 PM Port O’Brien

While you’re listening to those local acts, consider buying a CD at these places. Because while reports of the industry’s death may be exaggerated, it ain’t exactly looking healthy these days.

--Pat P.

Hey, John Fogerty -- can we talk?

Did anyone happen to see John Fogerty around town last week?

I’m not exactly sure what he was doing in San Luis Obispo, but he did stop in at Ernie Ball's Music Man to get a couple of guitars fixed.

Fogerty, of course, is the swamp rocker who headed Creedence Clearwater Revival in the 60s and early 70s and went on to have a fairly successful solo career.

When Fogerty appeared at the Mid-State Fair in Paso in 2004, I was excited about the possibility of interviewing him for a preview story. (I had seen him live a few years earlier and thought he was great.) But then, much to my chagrin, his people said Fogerty wasn’t doing interviews for this tour.

A couple of days later, after I read an interview with Fogerty in the LA Times, I contacted his people again, saying, “Hey, I thought you said he wasn’t doing interviews?”

Their response was something like, “He’s not – except for the LA Times.”

So I had to decide whether to be offended. And nearly four years later I’m still mulling it over.

It’s not like we don’t get turned down for interviews. But usually you can assume why.

Sean Lennon: Didn’t want to answer questions about his dad.
Jakob Dylan: Didn’t want to answer questions about his dad.
Willie Nelson: Didn’t want to answer questions about the IRS.
Aerosmith: Didn’t need us. (The show sold out immediately.)
Bob Dylan: Didn’t care.*

For every celeb that doesn't talk to us, we do have another big one -- Morgan Freeman, Toby Keith -- who does. Sometimes it's just hard to predict which ones will talk and which won't.

We'll probably pursue interviews with Crosby, Stills and Nash and Little Richard -- two acts coming to town soon. So stay tuned.

Meanwhile, if you see John Fogerty around town, could you tell him I'd still like to talk to him? I promise I won't even write anything for the paper.**



* And he’s just weird
** Though I'll probably write something in this blog, which may or may not wind up in the paper.


--Pat P.

Blues Maven/Ex-Porn Star Fights Cancer

Local blues fans might remember Candye Kane, the former adult film star-turned blues maven, who performed for the San Luis Obispo Blues Society (and was featured in Ticket) last March.

Just a year after her performance at the SLO Vet’s Hall, the bodacious blues singer is fighting for her life as she prepares for cancer surgery this week.

Not only does the surgery represent a personal battle, but it also illustrates an issue many working musicians face: Lacking an employer, Kane has no insurance to pay for her healthcare. Meanwhile, because she had to cancel tour dates to prepare for her surgery, she’s losing money needed to pay her bills.

Friends and fans have donated money to Kane, and Medi-Cal pays for some of her costs. But she still owes $8,000 – and that number is sure to go up.

Kane, known for her robust frame, has dramatically altered her diet to prepare for her battle against pancreatic cancer. And she remains positive.

“I will use the cancer experience as a way to make my memoir even more powerful and meaningful,” she wrote on her web site. “I will really be able to lay claim to the Toughest Girl Alive title now!”

-- Pat P.

We're sorry

Glancing at The Tribune's wonderful Web site, www.sanluisobispo, this morning, we had a startling realization.

We haven't posted anything on SLO Goings in a WEEK. A week!

Now, we have plenty of excuses for why we've been so lax. We've got stories to write. Articles to research. Kiddie pools to fill with rats and raspberry jello.

You know. Feature writer stuff.

Still, as time passes with no posts in sight, we have to face up to the facts. We are lazy, lazy bastards.

No more excuses. We're sorry. We'll try to do better.

-- Sarah L.

"Thirteen Reasons" to read local book

For one local writer, congratulations are in order.

"Thirteen Reasons Why," a young adult novel by Nipomo librarian Jay Asher, has spent a week on The New York Times' best-seller list.

The novel landed on the list at No. 10 on March 30, thanks to hot sales earlier that month. It debuted in October 2007.

Here's the blurb printed in the Times: "A girl’s last act before committing suicide is to send explanatory audiotapes to 13 people she holds responsible."

Recommended for ages 14 and up, "Thirteen Reasons Why" is available in local bookstores for $17. It's published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group.

To learn more, check out the book's Web site and visit author Jay Asher's MySpace profile.

You can also scope out the blog Asher shares with fellow writers Robin Mellom and Eve Porinchak, The Disco Mermaids.

-- Sarah L.

Big eBay giveaway organized by SLO Firm

Want to meet "Desperate Housewives" bombshell Eva Longoria? Have dinner with Damon Wayans? Visit the set of "Scrubs"?

All those opportunities are currently up for grabs on online auctionhouse eBay, thanks to a San Luis Obispo firm.

Founded by Jenny Kompolt more than five years ago, Kompolt Online Auction Agency organizes big-ticket auctions for charities and celebrity sellers. This time they're working with Los Angeles "hairdresser to the stars" Ken Paves, to raise money for the EB Medical Research Foundation.

(EB stands for "Epidermolysis Bullosa," a group of diseases characterized by painful blisters and sores. Visit the research foundation's Web site, but be forewarned, these photos of EB's youngest sufferers are disturbing.)

To help the charity, Paves is offering everything from Juicy Couture gift certificates and t-shirts signed by Jessica Simpson to a stay at New York's super-luxe Soho House.

To win tickets to Celine Dion's "Taking Chances" tour -- and rub elbows with the Canadian songbird -- you'll have to plunk down more than $3,550. A meet-and-greet with "Scrubs" star Donald Faison will cost more than $2,800.

An autographed headshot of Christina Aguilera? A mere $105.

The "Big Give" auction ends Monday. For more information, check out Ken Paves' eBay store.

-- Sarah L.

Yes hits the road again

Arroyo Grande’s Jon Anderson is hitting the road with his old band again -- but don’t expect them to do another gig at the Fremont.

In a testament to the band’s continued popularity, prog rockers Yes will be performing in amphitheaters and arenas this summer. The 26-date tour, titled the “Close to the Edge and Back Tour,” begins in Quebec City July 12 and ends in Los Angeles Aug. 22.

When we interviewed Anderson a year ago this month, he said there were plans to get together with Yes for another tour. In between, he’s been busy with multiple projects, including several performances with kids from the Paul Green School of Rock in Pennsylvania. Here's a good story about that project, which had kids performing Yes songs in several cities.

Locals will remember that Yes actually played three sold-out shows at the Fremont in San Luis Obispo back in 1995. (Anderson has lived in the county for more than a decade.) The performances were recorded, leading to the live album “Keys to Ascension.”

Since the band formed in 1968, Yes has sold over 30 million albums. Some of their more well-known songs include “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “Roundabout,” and “I’ve Seen All Good People.”

The closest dates on this tour -- the band's first North American tour in five years -- will be in Mountain View (Aug. 19), Anaheim (Aug. 20) and Universal City (Aug. 22).

Meanwhile, VH1 Classic and Yes are looking for aspiring rockers to join the band on stage. Candidates will upload videos of themselves performing an original rock song or piece of music on Vh1classic.com. A panel of judges – including Anderson – will select three finalists. Then VH1 Classic readers will select the winner, who will perform “Give Love Each Day” on stage with Yes. More details on that contest are forthcoming.

--Pat P.


Tribune photo: Jayson Mellom