Singer/Songwriter/Storyteller Michael Gaither

Blame the old physics rule that says “Opposites attract”. Sometimes like-minded souls just do not get along. Even when they’re a couple of spunky, very cute Labrador/Border Collie mixes.

Three year-old Maggie lives in Sacramento with her “sister by adoption” Bailey and their owner, Sara. Unfortunately, both pups are female, both want to be the alpha in their packette, and neither of them is budging. Sara’s tried her best, but Maggie and Bailey simply won’t gel. (Separately, they’re both wonderful dogs.) Bailey was there first, so Maggie is now at a friend’s house until she can find her new forever home:

Maggie’s in the Sacramento area. She’s a typical Lab/Border Collie mix: She’s affectionate. Loves exercise. Is great with people and is house- and leash-trained. She also prefers a yard with a fair bit of running room. And she really does get along great with all other dogs. Her only caveat is that she probably can’t live with another female.

If you’re interested in learning more about Maggie Mae, contact Sara at 916-213-0951 or by email at saraisbrown@gmail.com.

Sounds effects. Do you add them to your record or not? This is a good dilemma. I think when you’re at the point where you’re slightly agonizing over whether or not to add a few sound effects to songs on your new record, the music itself on that project must be in good shape. I keep saying this, but I couldn’t be happier with how this record sounds.

This last little effort has been a fun combination of research and field work. Explains why I was wandering on Buena Vista Road one foggy night capturing the sounds of “acres of frogs” next to the airport. Or trying to record the “sizzling fajita noises” at a noisy local taqueria. Or scouring the interwebs for public domain recordings of coyotes. (Our *own* coyotes are too unpredictable.)

The real nostalgia trip, though, has been digging up public domain drive-in commericials from the 60s and 70s. (We might lift some of the audio for “Starlite Drive-In Saturday Night,” the title track. See if this one takes you back a bit.

In a few hours, we head back to Bear Creek Studios for our next-to-last day of mixing. (We had to add a couple of days after my last post. These things take time, ya know.) I’m really excited about wrapping this up and turning these 11 little songs out into the world. And there are shows at the ready:

• On Sunday June 10th, I’ll be doing a sparse, storyteller-type show at a house concert in Gilroy. Dayan Kai (who produced this CD) will be accompanying me. For details, send an email to starranchmusic@gmail.com.
• And on Saturday, August 11th, it’ll be a full-band show at the Watsonville Fairgrounds. This will be a benefit in conjunction with the Ag History Project. Details to come on that one later this summer.

Click to hear episode #113 (time = 27:12, size = 37.4 mb)

There’s just enough time to get in one more podcast for 2011, so we might as well learn about my “latest new favorite” band. The Brothers Comatose are a bluegrass outfit out of San Francisco, CA. And while they’re all accomplished musicians, they’re one of the most FUN bands I’ve seen in a long time. Read the rest of this entry »

If you haven’t been out to one of our shows at the Corralitos Cultural Center lately, let’s say the place is looking pretty decent. We have the house PA working. (No more dragging a van full of my own gear). Comfy chairs are back. (Gone are the plastic wobbly ones.) And yesterday, I oh-so-slowly crawled up onto the roof of the place, CAREFULLY leaned over the peak of the roof, and replaced the outside lights. No more stumbling around in the dark. Unless wine is involved, but these are alcohol-free shows, so that should not be a concern.

This Sunday, December 4th, is our last show of the year at the Corralitos Cultural Center, and we’ve got something really special lined up: Houston Jones. Let me say that again: Houston Jones is playing in Corralitos! Read the rest of this entry »

Is a praying mantis really good luck? I’m not sure, but I do know that finding one in your backyard is a rare – or unheard of – event these semi-rural parts of south Santa Cruz county. And it most definitely falls under the category of “way cool”. After our visitor arrived last weekend – and hopped onto both of us, I did a little research: The praying mantis is definitely not native. Its reach extends throughout the central valley and then heads east into Nevada and New Mexico. We’re coastal, so it’s too cold. Cold or not, this little guy (or gal) was pretty active: Read the rest of this entry »