Chi McClean

Music, Food, Beer, Wine & America... 'nuff said.

Man, I have never been here before, but I got here WAY early today (never can tell how bad traffic will be on a Friday before a holiday weekend around the San Francisco Bay Area) and I’ve been soaking in the vibe, writing some e-mails, listening to some music, and enjoying a sweet soy chai latte (which is awesome!). In any case, it’s a cool vibe over here at High Street Station. It kind of reminds me of my favorite venue down in San Diego, CA by the name of Lestat’s – cool, spacious, good sound, and in it for all the right reasons: good music, good food, delicious drinks, and good people.

It all happens right here, tonight, in Alameda, CA at High Street Station.

In any case, I’m picking up a cancellation as a favor to a friend of mine, but I think she’s done me the favor – this place looks awesome! I go on from 7:30pm until 9:30pm and will be playing a solo acoustic session this evening featuring my original music as well as a few select covers. It’s warm, sunny, and incredibly pleasant over here. I think you should be here, too! For additional details and directions, click on over to my event page here, then come on over and say “hey!” See ya soon?

Wine, gourmet food, no driving, and rock and roll: it's all happening at Landmark Vineyards this coming July 9th!

I have had so, so much fun performing up at Landmark Vineyards over the last several months. Whether it’s inside their tasting room or out in their sunny, airy courtyard, the acoustics are awesome, the ambience is peaceful and serene, and the wine (of course) is always outstanding. (I’m a big fan of the 2006 Grand Detour Pinot Noir, myself.) In any case, I’ll be performing at Landmark Vineyards again this July 9th, 2011 from 1:00pm until 4:00pm. This time, however, they’re doing something really special…

For all you San Francisco area folks, Landmark Vineyards has put together a killer package that includes a luxury bus ride from San Francisco right to their tasting room, a glass of wine, a gourmet box lunch, three hours of music from yours truly, and a safe, comfortable, return voyage home to San Francisco via the “Wine (Party) Bus”. The bus is scheduled to depart at 11:00am from San Francisco and will return by 5:30pm in San Francisco. No worrying about the hassle of driving, no stressing of over enjoying a few glasses of wine along the way, and no worrying about taking a nap en route or on the way back home! What a novel idea! And, you know what? It’s all just $55.00. Pretty sweet deal, right?

If you’re interested in signing up, please contact Nick Benz at Landmark Vineyards to RSVP at (707) 833-0226 or nick@landmarkvineyards.com and lock it down. Landmark Vineyards would prefer that you reserve your spot by Tuesday, July 5th, but I’m sure they can squeeze you in if you’re late to the game a little later in the week. Just don’t wait too long as this bus will sell out, for sure.

So, get it together, call Nick up at Landmark Vineyards, purchase your tickets, and let’s rock, enjoy some wine, soak in some sunny weather, play some bocce ball, and take it from there. See ya soon?

A mess of cables, a guitar, a mic stand, and a stool. That's what I'm after tonight at Rockit Room.

Getting excited to play over at Rockit Room this evening from 9:30pm until 10:00pm. Super short set, but it will be a fun night. If you’re in town, be sure to swing on by! It’s free and it’ll be an interesting and diverse night of music with a number of local artists playing a song or two in an open mic style format before and after. I’ll be playing a solo acoustic power half hour feature set amidst the fun, so come on by early, grab a seat at the bar, let’s do this. For more information, click on over to Rockit Room’s website or just come on down to 406 Clement, San Francisco, CA at 9:30pm tonight. See ya there!

Just returned from the proverbial “road” yesterday in time to play a set at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, CA as part of the Bread & Roses concert series. Bread & Roses is a cool organization that effectively operates on the premise that hope and healing can happen through music. I’d have to agree, which is why I participate in their concert program from time to time.

Yesterday was really special. Laguna Honda Hospital (at least, the wing I played in) provides medical support to those who otherwise might not be able to afford it on their own. There are a variety of patients fighting different battles, both mental and physical, but when the room filled up, it didn’t really matter what they were going through – we all had a good time. Just about everyone that could got to some clapping at one point or another during a song or two, I had a guest back-up singer and whistler, of all things, sitting right there in the front row, and a host of enthusiastic staff supporting the show every step of the way. I got a ton of good laughs out of my interaction with these folks and, to be honest, it pretty much made my week when this one gentleman stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs, “You’re #1!” It’s the little things, right?

In any case, if you have a chance, check out this wonderful organization here and, if you’re a musician in the San Francisco Bay Area, consider contacting them about doing a show. If you’re a music fan, think about volunteering, supporting the Bread & Roses benefit events, or making a donation here.

Hey, now! Great times at Room 5 Lounge in Los Angeles, CA last night joining an amazing lineup of artists from the area and beyond (shoot, one dude even flew in from London, England for this). In any case, lots of fun… big thanks to Joel for putting on a fun night upstairs.

This Wednesday, as I make my way back up the coast to San Francisco, I’ll be making a pit stop in Santa Barbara, CA to play my new favorite venue: Reds Wine Bar. This place is so cozy, ya just wanna melt into one of their comfy lounge chairs and drift away into a wine induced nirvana. Ok, maybe that’s a little much, but it’s pretty cool!

I go on from 7:00pm until 9:00pm and will be playing a solo acoustic set. Lots of fresh air, great acoustics, and a mellow vibe is waiting for you at Reds. Come on down, say “hey”, and let’s have some fun! This show is totally free, but it’s 21+ only. (Sorry kiddies!) See ya soon, Santa Barbara?

Room 5 Lounge: Yes, it's upstairs. Yes, it's freakin' awesome!

Heyo! Hooray for last minute performances! Got a text this morning from a buddy about filling in for some or all of a cancellation he got at Room 5 Lounge this evening and I said, “Heck, Yeah!” So, I’m here in Malibu, CA posting some info and hustlin’ folks to come on out and see some cool acoustic music this evening at this great sounding listening room. If you’re down, you can check out details at the Room 5 Lounge website or just come on down when the music kicks off at 8:00pm tonight to 143 North La Brea in Los Angeles, CA. The cover is just $8.00 for a full night’s worth of music and it will be a fun evening including Joel Eckels, John Elliott, Jon Green, and more on the bill in, mostly, an in-the-round format. So, drop what you’re doing RIGHT NOW and get your rear end over there, ok? Ok!

Man, wasn’t I just down the coast on a little tour? What the?! So, here I am, chillin’ at Starbucks near the Trancas Market in Malibu, CA en route to Room 5 Lounge in Los Angeles after playing Zoey’s Café in Ventura last night, San Gregorio General Store in San Gregorio on Saturday afternoon, then Cava Wine Bar later Saturday night in Capitola, then my new favorite venue, The Old Princeton Landing, in Half Moon Bay (all in California) on Friday night. Hoping to make my way farther down south to San Diego after tonight to pay a visit to the folks at Taylor Guitars (there is a new addition to the family coming soon) and maybe pick up another gig in the OC or elsewhere. (Hey, if you’re in the ‘hood and are bookin’, I’m a lookin’!)

In it for the long haul: Houston Jones rockin' the San G' after my set on Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, that’s the funny thing about this business: I don’t have a home to come back to these days, so the longer I can stick it out on the road playing for my dinner, tips, CD sales, drinks and a hotel room, it’s one less thing I need to stress about back in the Bay Area (in other words, I can postpone the ever-annoying apartment hunt). In any case, I’ve been meeting lots of great folks out here on the road this time including these dudes up above (Houston Jones) who’ve been at it for a LONG time and have been just steadily tearing it up and having fun all over the US and Europe for years. If you don’t know ‘em, you should. Their easy-going folk/americana/roots rock is pretty darned perfect for a lazy morning drive along the coast or chillin’ with some cold ones as the sun goes down.

B Willing James (his brother Josh at left) and Justine Bennett making some sweet sounds on stage at Zoey's Café in Ventura, CA last night.

Last night, LA songwriter and performer Jenni Alpert put together a crazy night of music for about five hours. I was fortunate enough to play a short set along the way and enjoyed performances afterwards from Jenni, Justine Bennett, Shane Alexander, Joel Eckels and more. It was so much fun and a great time at this cool listening room in Ventura.

So, it’s back on the road after I wrap up this Chai here in Malibu, CA. If you’re into checking out some great acoustic music tonight and you’re in Los Angeles, come on by to Room 5 Lounge at 143 North La Brea, Los Angeles, CA. I’d love to see ya out and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed by the music there tonight. Otherwise, I’ll see ya down the road!

Another beautiful evening down the road... see ya 'round the bend!

Just like electric dynamite, it's going to go off tonight at The Old Princeton Landing! Come on out and let's get ya charged up...

So, so excited to be playing the biggest “little” music venue down here in Half Moon Bay, CA this evening. The Old Princeton Landing, in case you didn’t know, is striving to bring a kick ass live music scene BACK to Half Moon Bay. Nestled right next to Maverick’s, the world-class big wave surf break, and adjacent to the scenic and fully functioning harbor, this joint hosts a wide array of acts from all over including a few more “surfy” musicians like Donovan Frankenreiter who performed as recently as last weekend. Lots of great beer on tap, cool surf vibes, a great crew of locals, and a solid stage and live sound system make this place a must see for all of you coast siders. Swing on by and check it out. Tonight’s show is FREE, so what are ya waiting for? Pull up a stool, order up a cold one, grab some food from either of the next door restaurants, and let’s kick off the weekend together. I’ll be performing a couple solo acoustic sets from 9:00pm through midnight. For more information and directions, click over here. See ya soon!

So, after a beautiful but frantic drive from a friend’s place in Temecula, CA up the coast to Los Angeles, CA on Sunday night (I played in San Diego, CA the night before… which was SICK! See the post below on that for more info!), I managed to find myself hanging and playing at The Foundry on Melrose. I’d never been here before, but I have a few friends who’ve played here in the past and I was always curious. In fact, it’s a pretty cool spot – part wine bar, part small plate/tapas joint, part restaurant, all cool.

Sometimes, amidst a lot of highway miles, you forget to just look straight ahead and take in a beautiful sunset like this one over Los Angeles, CA. En route to The Foundry.

I arrived just a little after things got going with Kris Gruen and was psyched to walk in to Kris and his producer/friend Charles Newman from Mother West Records playing some sweet, moody stuff that only those two can do. If you haven’t heard Kris before, you’ve got to check him out. It’s great stuff full of rich lyrics, interesting melodies, and pretty cool chordal textures. Find him online and friend him on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. and keep tabs on what this Vermont native is up to next.

Kris Gruen (right) and Charles Newman (left) laying it down at The Foundry on Sunday night for a crowd that hung on their every move.

In between me and Kris, this other dude Tom Shaner, also from Mother West Records, took the stage and got folks goin’. He also did this pretty slick 360 degree spin on his stool after the first song which got some pretty serious attention (and heckling) from folks… in a loving way, of course! Personally? I was envious and wished that I had a stool… pretty cool. In all honesty, I really dug his music and the folks at the club did, too. Interesting stories, great stage presence, and lots of energy and raw emotion. Check this dude out.

Tom Shaner playing and spinning at The Foundry.

So, that was pretty much it! After 12 days on the road, it all ended with a fun, mellow show down in Los Angeles, CA last night with three great musicians. Now, it’s off to San Francisco to get some stuff settled back home, then get back on the road this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Half Moon Bay, CA; San Gregorio, CA; and Ventura, CA. Stay tuned for more posts on those shows, but in the mean time, check out my SHOWS page for times and details and meet me out for some tunage! Take care, everybody, and see ya soon.

Man, I can’t say enough about these two acts that I shared a bill with on Saturday night down in San Diego, CA at Lestat’s. David & Devine are an outstanding duo with the tightest vocal harmonies you’ll ever hear, smart songwriting, and a near-comedy act in between songs. Great performers! Josh Damigo, the host for the night of “Friends with Benefits”, was outstanding and hilarious as usual. This kid (he calls me “grandpa”, so I s’pose I’ll start calling him “kid”) writes a really wide, diverse range of songs and knows how to rally the troops during his shows. Every performer could learn a thing or two from this guy.

The marquis at Lestat's in San Diego, CA. Seeing your name in lights never really gets old.

So, I opened up the evening with about an hour of music. I played through some of my favorite material from my first record and then got busy with all the new stuff I’m excited about. Plus, despite the best of efforts of lack of sleep, couch surfing, and gnarly chemicals in my truck from an auto detailing that was supposed to clear up the air, I ended up with a pretty nice live recording. (E-mail me on my contact page if ya want to hear a copy of it!) Next up, David & Devine took the stage and, quite simply, OWNED it…

Power duo David & Devine with the crowd in the palm of their proverbial hand. Quite. Simply. Awesome.

The thing about LA is that there are so many great songwriters, but what’s cool about these guys is that they stand apart from the pack. If you haven’t heard them yet, please do me a favor and go check them out. You will be psyched ya did!

Josh Damigo working the mic for all it's worth.

Next up, host, ring leader, singer, songwriter, guitarist and (who knew?!) sometimes piano player Josh Damigo climbed up on stage for a mix of solo performances and duo performances with his buddy and cellist, Erudice (‘Who absolutely wails… during sound check, he was ROCKING a cello version of Dio’s “Holy Diver”. I mean, seriously?! Awesome.). Josh kicked the crowd up, tore ‘em down, made ‘em laugh,  made ‘em cry, and ended the night with a very slick, completely unplugged song to wrap things up. Nice work, buddy!

All in all, if you missed this show, well… you REALLY missed it. Rumor has it we’ll all be playing again together soon, so keep your eyes peeled, friend David & Devine and Josh Damigo on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. and keep your ears to the ground for more great music from these two acts.