Ho, Ho, Ho...Santa brought Mike 2 new gigs!

Okay… It wasn’t REALLY Santa? How do I know? Well, I had to slash this year’s marketing budget and unfortunately Santa hadn’t been dishing out the gigs over the last few years, so we let him go some time ago. But… Through hard work, perseverance (this means incessant hounding) Mark and I secured gigs at both It’s Italia in Half Moon Bay and La Costanera in Montara. We are very happy to be playing at these two fine establishments who believe in serving quality food while providing opportunities to local musicians:

So here is our upcoming schedule (pronounced she-duel for Neil , Cecily and Andy):

Friday, December 18^th – It’s Italia, Half Moon Bay, 6:30-9:30

Tuesday, December 22^nd – La Costanera, Montara, Ca 6:00 – 8ish

We hope you come out to both venues and support us, but the La Costanera gig is turning into a pretty decent size party and probably the last chance we’ll get to see all of you until after the holidays. La Costanera is extending Happy Hour just for this occasion, so please come out and celebrate with us!

What’s your favorite holiday show or movie? Mine is still “Charlie Brown Christmas”. It doesn’t get any better…

Lastly.. Mark and I enlisted Kevin Stokes (www.montarabeach.com) to do some "glam" shots of Mark and I. We think this one came out pretty good! Thanks, Kevin!

Happy Holidays!

We're Moving to Guerneville

Okay, actually that's a lie. But we should. Charlotte, Monty and I. I have performed at 3 weddings in Guerneville this year, played at two wineries in Santa Rosa and have yet another Guerneville wedding this weekend. What do you do in Guerneville? Well, if like to eat, drink and enjoy nature there are few places better than the Sonoma Coastline.

After playing at www.thedawnranch.com we had a beer at a great German Restaurant and had a very nice dinner at the Village Inn, both in Monte Rio, along the Russian River. On Sunday, we hung out in the beautiful riverside/seaside (it's where the Russian River meets the Ocean) town of Jenner. We stayed at the Jenner Inn, where you can relax in your little shack, eat and drink at the Inn's main house. Ah.......Okay, here is a picture of Charlotte and Monty on the beach.



Hint..don't say "beach" in front of Monty or he will flip out. Also, a picture of huge waves hitting the rocks. All in all, a great weekend that will be repeated in about 4 days...

Tarabella Winery Gig - Santa Rosa

Off of River Road in Santa Rosa (very close to Guerneville,) is a great are full of small wineries. I was fortunate enough to play at one named Tarabella Winery. The owners (Tara and Rich) were celebrating their 10-year anniversary making great cabernets.

I was fortunate enough to play for a great crowd of people, eat some incredible food and drink some wonderful wine. The winery is open by appointment. Please call them if you are in the area. I have three bottles from my gig, but you can not have any.

As you can see from the picture, I make a lot of ridiculous faces when I play. I'm working on it, but it's definitely still a work in progress.

Mike

When will the nail fall?

Okay.. .It's been about 6 weeks since I whacked my index finger on my picking hand (arguably the most important digit to a guitar player) and it's starting to look a bit like... well, I just won't go there. Needless to say, it's on its way to where good nails go after they, uh, get damaged, turn black and start to fall apart.

The question is when? I've already started modifying my playing to accommodate several weeks without a fingernail, but it would be nice to have the old nail say "adios". Maybe I should help it along, or have a doctor help it along?

Sam's Chowder House - Played there with Mark Kostrzewa and had a wonderful time. Sam's is having music every Tuesday night and we'll be back there Friday the 6th of Nov and Tuesday the 17th of November. Met Bruce Jenkins, a great sports writer for the Chronicle whose columns I have read for many years.

talk to you soon, Mike.

Playing guitar in 105 degree heat

I played at a wedding in Calistoga this weekend and learned two thnings:

1. My fingers are about as nimble as two uncooked hotdogs at 105 degrees.
2. If you have to trust someone to give you an accurate weather forecast, trust the
server at Ruth McCowans click here for review vs the national weather service.

We stayed at the English Tea Garden , a nice place in the Sonoma Wine Country. Unfortunately, the town's Octoberfest was at the same time as my wedding performance. So much for good timing.



Charlotte I both thought the town of Calistoga was a bit on the lame side. Definitely not much to do there. We did have a great time at the Raymond Burr Winery where they had a nice little Portugese party. Raymond Burr's partner of many years is still alive and was there. I told them that instead of serving Portugese Food they should serve Hamilton Burgers. (Hint: if you didn't watch Perry Mason, you missed that one.



Until next time....

Mike

What to do when playing a wedding in Guerneville

Had a great time playing at a wedding at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. Congrats, Tim and Laurie! Of course, I had some time to kill so I thought I would chronicle my "adventures".



Saturday, 11 a.m. - Arrive at beautiful campground, snag best spot:
http//www.schoolhousecanyon.com/



Saturday, 1 p.m. Visit local brewpub:

http://www.stumptown.com/


Saturday, 4 p.m. - Play at wedding for Tim and Laurie
http://www.dawnranch.com/

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. - Wind down with sausage platter and Spaten Oktoberfest on Tap!


http://www.highlanddell.com/

Sunday morning - Return home, beautiful scene on the GG Bridge!

All and all, a pretty cool 24 hours!

Regards,
Mike

Mike Plays Deerfield Ranch

Just performed at a corporate party at Deerfield Ranch in Sonoma County. A really beautiful winery with exceptional organic wines. I really enjoyed one of their cuvees and the food (Brought in by their caterer) was incredible!

www.deerfieldranch.com



Check it out if you're in the area. Great wine, great people. Their cave is actually designed to look like a wine glass.

Luckily, my travels to the winery took me past Moylan's Brewery in Novato. Yes, I had to stop for a pint...One of the last great breweries. Big beers with many in the 9-10 percent range.

click here to visit their website

Mike McCall Plays Crab Landing!

I played with Mark Kostrzewa last Friday at Crab Landing.. We had a blast. Pretty neat concept.. You get to do what you love, you get some cash for doing it and oh... You also get a couple of drinks and you get fed! I also had a couple who have already hired me for their wedding as well as a couple who are considering hiring me for their wedding. What pressure!

Seriously.. .The music sounded good, but the acoustics were a little tricky as the area is like a huge can going up about a hundred feet. We're looking forward to playing at Sam's on the 19th.

Spanish Guitar for Weddings and Events

Well... The gigs are starting to come in pretty regularly now. What a fun time in my life! Actually getting paid to play guitar? What a concept....I think people just seem to like spanish guitar as it is a little more lively than having a classical guitarist play at your event. September is going to be a bit busy with 4 weddings, two performances at local restaurants (Sams in Half Moon Bay and Crab Landing in Half Moon Bay) along with a performance at Byington, a fantastic winery in Los Gatos. That is all for now.

Mike