Natural Incense

Performing at a club near you.

http://www.myspace.com/naturalincense

Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Natural Incense, a local act with great talent and sound, as well as a large fan base throughout the west coast. When I had the chance to speak with Eric Singer, the frontman of this three-piece reggae rock band, I was instantly impressed with the atmosphere he provided through his philosophies and character. These musicians seem to lead interesting and positive lives touring and sharing moments with people all over California and beyond, and are quite delighted to do so. “This is how we exist, happily,” Singer said.

This band has honest lyrics and amazing music. A little bit of rock, reggae and psychedelic sound all come together to make what is Natural Incense. Evan Davies’ bass lines simply compel the body to move, Brent Wetli’s drums keep a great swaying beat, and Singer’s guitar has a multitude of qualities; ambient at times, driving at others. The vocals, also provided by Singer, seem to seep integrity and experience. It’s hard to believe there might be a soul out there who couldn’t be touched by their style.

Singer stated that the band has been around since 2006, yet it wasn’t until the last half of 2007 that it truly came together with Davies and Wetli. Based out of Isla Vista, Natural Incense has a plethora of live experience, playing 16 or more performances a month at times. In a way, the road has acted more as their home than their own houses for the last few years. While such a schedule can be grueling at times, it’s the music and the performances that make it worth their while. “You’re always coming back and you’re always preparing to leave. [Yet] it’s therapy; music soothes the savage beast in me.”

Part of the reason Natural Incense has had such success is the chemistry within the band itself. People gravitate toward things that feel good, and that goes beyond the music and delves into the very relationships in and surrounding the ensemble that creates the music. “Bands need a history together to be successful; they have to love each other like friends love each other. You’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t; it’s a lot of work,” said Singer.

Good work ethic isn’t the only good thing they have going for them. The message they like to spread is do no harm and appreciate life. “We’re just trying to live our lives and give back, because we’ve already been given so much.”

Natural Incense can be heard througout the central coast. See their scheudule and learn more at facebook.com/naturalincense.

Celebrating All Tribes

Bring out your zills, doumbeks, and best zagreet, it’s time for the 6th Annual Tribal Fusion Faire. Gathering under the theme of Celebrating All Tribes, the faire will take place on Saturday December 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Sunday, December 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Arroyo Grande South County Regional Center. The center is located at 800 Branch Street

Since its first event in 2003, the Tribal Fusion Faire has become an anticipated annual event for San Luis Obispo County residents who enjoy Middle Eastern dance. It always features a full line of stellar performances by top dancers and troupes from around the world and in our own backyard. Open dance intervals allow everyone to get up and shake what yer mama gave ya!

Aligning with the theme, Celebrating All Tribes, participants and attendees will be welcomed into the tribal encampment ambiance, complete with tents, canopies, Bedouin costuming and regalia. Vendors will be on hand to haggle prices for that beaded Choli top, hip scarf, tabla, or authentic tribal jewelry. Shop till ya drop, or at least until your significant other’s arms give out! Excellent ethnic cuisine and drinks will be available for purchase. Music performances include Ras Danny and DJ Katchafiya.

For dancers, world class workshops from some of the top and hottest names in the Bellydance and Tribal Bellydance communities will be offered. Teachers include Amy Sigil of Unmata, Karma, Anaar of Tombo Studios, Rose Harden of Ultra Gypsy, Elizabeth Mahina, Zoe Jakes, and many more. Get your bids in early for these workshops, as they do sell out quickly. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the novice, as well as the professional performer, to work with and hone their skills. Workshop details and sign ups are available on the website: www.meddevi.com/tribalfusionfaire.

Tickets are $10.00 at the door, $8 in advance at Bali Isle at their new location, 672 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo. For information, call 544-7662. Sponsored by: Bali Isle, Dance Obispo, Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce, Information Press, and New Times.

Cuesta’s New Performing Arts Center: Cooler than Yours

Grand opening - CPAC November 20th
Cuesta Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Choirs
and Voce to perform - 7:30 p.m. 

Great news this month! Another music venue is opening up on the Central Coast. It is the Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, or CPAC, located at the San Luis Obispo campus on Highway 1. I recently had the chance to speak with Ron McCarley, director of jazz studies at Cuesta College, and he let me in on some of the juicier details.

This facility is going to blow your mind. It’s almost absurd how neat it is. First of all, there are two theatres within the building. The main stage is larger, seating 450 people, and the other seats 150 people, and is referred to as the experimental theatre. The main stage will have a hydraulic lift, and according to the necessities of each performance, can either be lowered to allow for an unseen orchestra pit, leveled for extra seating in the audience, or raised for extra room on the stage. “It’s almost an embarrassment of riches, because it’s so awesome,” McCarley said. The room has been built for optimal sound quality, and contains noise baffling built into the concrete walls, allowing for such sound dispersal that it kills all echo and reverberation. Aside from the two main speakers, over 85 speakers are distributed throughout the entire room. Because of that, it can simulate the sound of any hall. The room is so “dead” that there are different settings as to what sort of overall sound one can choose to cater to different performances. There are also close to 100 microphones to catch the performance’s sound and send it through the speakers accordingly. No worries about the two theatres clashing over volume, there is a vacuum seal that blocks sound. An on-site machine shop in the back was installed to construct stage props. Hallelujah!

When asked about the CPAC being used for events other than school-related functions, McCarley expressed a mixture of optimism and concern. “That has been our intention. It’s a community college, so all the funds came from either state money or local money, and that would be our thank you to the community, to have it available for traveling acts. But the situation now is that the state of California has severe problems with the budget, and that’s hitting us; our budget here has been drastically reduced. Until it can be proved that this could be a positive cash flow, the administration wants to be cautious about that.” 
For more information, see the Cuesta Performing Arts website at http://academic.cuesta.edu/performingarts/.
Darien Lohof plays in Depths of Chaos, and enjoys it when amazing new venues open up in the area. Send your idea for a music article to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Celebrate the holiday season with San Luis Obispo Blues Society

The Kirk Fletcher Band featuring Kirk Fletcher, guitarist for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, and the Hollywood Blue Flames, will light up stage at the holiday SLO Blues Show on Saturday, December 5. The dance concert will take place at the SLO Vets Hall, 801 Grand Avenue at 8:00 p.m. Free dance lessons are offered from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the sound of Kirk Fletcher’s guitar is the epitome of the contemporary L.A. blues scene. At 34, Fletcher has toured and recorded with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, and the Hollywood Blue Flames. In addition, he has recorded with Janiva Magness, Lynwood Slim, 2000 Lbs of Blues, and others; has released two solo albums, and has appeared with a score of other well known Blues performers. Since 2005, he has been nominated six times in the Blues Music Award categories of best instrumentalist and, with the Mannish Boys, band of the year and album of the year.
Born in 1975 in southern California, Fletcher’s first gig was playing guitar at the Macedonian Church of Christ, where his father was the minister. By the time he left high school, he was listening to B.B. King and playing guitar in bands that ran the gamut from gospel to rock. Early friendships with Robben Ford, Al Blake, and Junior Watson fueled his interest in the blues. By the time he was 25, he was playing for the Kim Wilson Blues Review, with whom he recorded the Grammy nominated album Smoking Joint, followed by a stint with the Charlie Musselwhite Band. In 2002, Fletcher joined the Hollywood Blue Flames; by 2005 he was also playing with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the Mannish Boys. Most recently, Kirk has been performing all over Europe as a headliner and occasionally touring in the U.S. with Doyle Bramhall and Michelle Branch. Fletcher is currently working on his third solo album, My Turn.
All SLO Blues Society tickets are sold at the door; 21 and over, please. Tickets for Blues Society members are $17; general public $20. A group discount of 25% is available with the purchase of 10 or more tickets in advance. For more information, contact Dan at 805/541-1837.
For more information or to volunteer, call 805/541-7930 or visit our website (www.sloblues.org).

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