Bay Station - "Trickster Moon" (Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse)

ay Station Love the Bay Full Moon Sail -January 2019. Filmed on the Alameda-Oakland estuary during the Super Full Moon Lunar Eclipse 1/20/19

J.C. Hyke's Songwriter Serenade: Live Music Showcase in Arcadia

 I love the The Songwriter Serenade in Arcadia! And I'm happy to play another round, Tuesday, June 5, with yet another great group of artists curated by JC Hyke.  If you're in the greater LA area next week, come on out!

Bay Station's Other Desert Cities Record Releases Today

A new record with Bay Station

While I'm more a periodic than routine co-writer, I love collaborating and making something that simply wouldn't exist otherwise. While we started co-writing as part of a challenge, Kwame Copeland and I have since made it an annual undertaking, resulting in a bunch of songs and the Americana band Bay Station. For the past several years, we've spent a lot of time in Joshua Tree writing together, and two years ago, we ended our cross-country tour there...and began a new batch of tunes. When it was time to record the keepers, we decided to record the songs near their source, took the band to Gatos Trail Studio outside of Joshua Tree and recorded the basics (We also played a gig and took a sound bath at The Integratron while we were at it!). Over the next months, we completed the 10 tracks at Lost Monkey Studio in Hayward. We’re pleased with how all those good vibrations added up, and, almost exactly a year after starting the record, we're excited to release Other Deserts Cities this coming Sunday, April 29 at The Starry Plough in Berkeley. It’s a double record-release show with our Bay Station bandmate Steve Waters. If you're in the Bay Area this weekend, please join us!

Wiggle!

Alameda House Concert with Bay Station, Nate Jones Sloe Sippers, Joan Wilson Rueter & Yours Truly, Michele

Spring forward this Sunday March 11 for this fun house concert/mini-local-music fest featuring Alameda Island acts:
* Bay Station
* Nate Jones & The Sloe Sippers
* Yours Truly, Michele
* Joan Wilson Rueter

March 11, 2018 in Alameda
4-7pm $10 tickets in advance via TICKETLEAP
$15-20 at door
RSVP to baystationband @ gmail for more information

Deborah Crooks "Record of a Day" (Pint of Soul Video)

"Record of a Day" by Deborah Crooks

Back in  January, I spent an afternoon shooting a couple videos with  Pint of Soul at Amado's in San Francisco. This live version of"Record of a Day" (from the Beauty Everywhere CD)  features Art Khu on piano, Kwame Copeland on guitar, and Kim Xuan Nguyen on bass. Enjoy!

Hot Water Sessions/ #FolkFightsBack Benefit for Women in San Francisc May 18

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 18, The Hot Water Sessions 2017 travel to San Francisco, for a Hot Water/#FolkFightsBack for Women benefit performance at The Lost Church at 8pm (doors 7:30pm).
Today is the last day to get adv. ticket prices - only $10. Jump in!
Tickets at http://ticketf.ly/2ncnT8L
 

What are the Hot Water Sessions? 

 It's a luxurious soak in the sultry sounds of Americana brought to you by the combined forces of songwriters and sirens Aireene Espiritu, Deborah Crooks, and Yours Truly, Michele and features mighty man friend Kwame Copeland. 

Aireene Espiritu

"Folk singer-songwriter Aireene Espiritu works in the elemental substance of vernacular American music with an uncanny ease. Whether blues, hillbilly, soul, folk or R&B...[she] demonstrates masterly command of each."- Jonny Whiteside, Los Angeles Times 

Deborah Crooks

"California songwriter Deborah Crooks’ is simply too original to be a singer who will be known as someone who sings like…like no one. She changes gears seamlessly and in regards to Lucinda [Williams], Deborah may have a wider pallet of styles than even Lucinda." - John Apice, No Depression 

Yours Truly, Michele 

"She’s a celebration. No matter your mood, you’ll walk away with a smile. It’s cheaper than therapy." Tony DuShane, San Francisco Chronicle With a sound infused with 60s pop, shadowy torch songs, and touched by by Americana Roots-Rock, it is truly Michele Kappel’s own brand of music. 

Seating at The Lost Church is first come, first served. We recommend you buy in advance to ensure being a part of the event (parlor shows often sell out), but you can also try purchasing at the door on the night of the show.

Online sales are active until 9:30pm the night of show (unless sold out). You can purchase tickets right at the door using a card via your phone and the above Ticketfly.com link. That old-fashioned cash is also accepted, of course.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 Folk Fights Back is a musician led organization that seeks to raise money and awareness for critical issues during the Trump presidency.

#Repost @thelostchurch (@get_repost) ・・・ Happy #MothersDay - we're raising funds for @urbanuniversityoakland and their programs that support Single Moms on THUR 5/18 w/ The Hot Water Sessions featuring @aireenee @deborahrcrooks & @yourstrulymichele It's presented by the good people of @folkfightsback for #Women TIX: http://ow.ly/ywdf30bELv2 #HotStuff #RootsMusic #Empowerment #NonProfit #acousticbridge

A post shared by Deborah Crooks (@deborahrcrooks) on May 14, 2017 at 1:36pm PDT

A post shared by Michele Kappel (@yourstrulymichele) on May 17, 2017 at 9:23am PDT

Hot Water Tour 2017: Soak in the Sounds of Sultry Americana withAireene Espiritu, Deborah Crooks and "Yours Truly, Michele"

Poster design by "Nemo"

Excited about the "Hot Water Sessions" I'm doing with Aireene Espiritu and Yours Truly, Michele in May! Join us in some great venues in Niles, San Francisco, Suisun City and/or Alameda:

Wednesday, May 17th @

Hot Water Sessions 2017 Kick-Off Party at

The Mudpuddle Shop

37433 Niles Boulevard

NILES, CA

7-10pm

Donations welcomed. Limited seating, RSVP https://www.facebook.com/events/1860826930831504/

Thursday, May 18th

Hot Water Sessions @

The Lost Church

65 Capp St

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 

7:30-10:30pm

$10 advance/ $15 day of show. A #FolkFightsBack Benefit event! Advance tickets recommended: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1459109

Friday, May 19th 

Hot Water Sessions @

Barkissimo: A Floating Oasis

600 Solano St.

SUISUN CITY, CA

7-10pm

$20  RSVP to boatysattva @gmail.com

Barkissimo is located in the heart of downtown Suisun City, across the grand plaza from Main Street. Bring a home made dish to share with the community.

Saturday, May 20th 

Hot Water Sessions @

Hopmonk Tavern

224 Vintage Way

NOVATO, CA

1-4pm

Donations welcomed. In the beer garden.

Sunday, May 21st 

Hot Water Sessions @

A Private House Concert 

ALAMEDA, CA

6-9pm

$20. Limited seating,  RSVP to baystationband@gmail.com

More about the artists: 

Aireene Espiritu 

http://www.aireeneespiritu.com/

"Folk singer-songwriter Aireene Espiritu works in the elemental substance of vernacular American music with an uncanny ease. Whether blues, hillbilly, soul, folk or R&B...[she] demonstrates masterly command of each."- Jonny Whiteside, Los Angeles Times

Deborah Crooks

http://deborahcrooks.com/

"California songwriter Deborah Crooks’ is simply too original to be a singer who will be known as someone who sings like…like no one. She changes gears seamlessly and in regards to Lucinda [Williams], Deborah may have a wider pallet of styles than even Lucinda." - John Apice, No Depression 

Yours Truly, Michele http://michelekappelstone.com/

"She’s a celebration. No matter your mood, you’ll walk away with a smile. It’s cheaper than therapy." Tony DuShane, San Francisco Chronicle

With a sound infused with 60s pop, shadowy torch songs, and touched by by Americana Roots-Rock, it is truly Michele Kappel’s own brand of music.

New Music from The Welcome Matt: "More Empire Days"

San Francisco's The Welcome Matt is releasing a new album! Check out the video for the first single, the title track "More Empire Days":


Then go get yourself a ticket for his album-release show at Doc's Lab on May 13. 
KC Turner Presents
The Welcome Matt
Special Guests- Guinevere Q / Seth & Erma
Saturday, May 13 - 8pm
at Doc's Lab San Francisco
$15 ADV / All Ages

Osprey Nest Cam Awesomeness from Golden Gate Audubon

Whether you're an avid birder or just in need of some faith renewal, the new Osprey nest cam installed by Golden Gate Audubon last week offers a quick fix. Not only do you get a veritable birds-eye view, you get a great gander at the beautiful bay and city skyline.

GGA installed two high-definition cameras focused on a nest on a 75-foot-high inactive WW2 maritime crane on the Richmond shoreline. The cameras have infrared ability so the next can be viewed at night without disturbing the birds. There is a chat room on the web site, as well as educational materials on Ospreys and how to help them thrive, and even lesson plans for teachers of grades 7-12.

We've taken to leaving it on full-screen at random when we're home to view the beautiful birds in repose as well as feeding, preparing the nest, and mating (!). This weekend, the female laid its first egg so the action's just starting: Check it out at: http://sfbayospreys.org

Golden Gate Audubon is a founding member of the Bay Area Osprey Coalition, which includes organizations committed to helping this amazing raptor thrive!  Other members of the coalition include the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (a project of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy) and Mare Island Preserve, which hosts our signature S.F. Bay Ospreys Days festival each June.

 

March 15, 2017: Original Songwriter Showcase at The Octopus Literary Salon, featuring Bob Hillman, Maggie Forti & Peter Whitehead

I'm hosting another run of songwriter shows at The Oakland Octopus Literary Salon this year, kicking off what will be a quarterly event, Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at 7pm.  March features three great artists: Bob Hillman, Peter Whitehead and Maggie Forti. Don't miss it! The entry ($5-10 suggested) is a steal, plus the Octopus is cozy, has delicious and nutritious food and drink. 

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SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE

March 15, 2017 7pm

Octopus Literary Salon

2101 Webster Street
Oakland, CA 94501

all ages, $5-10 suggested

[NBC] Peter Whitehead: Anything You Want to Do Is Going to Work Eventually from Oresti Tsonopoulos on Vimeo.

Songwriters at Play Tribute to Lucinda Williams- Tues, March 7th, 2017

Lucinda Williams is the daughter of a Southern poet, a prolific recording artist, and a relentlessly touring performer. She's also a writer covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter (Passionate Kisses), Tom Petty (Change the Locks) and Emmylou Harris (Sweet Old World). We'll cover her hits, bluesy rockers and ballads in this night of joyous, righteous Americana. The all-star lineup includes L.A.'s Mick Rhodes, Deborah Crooks from the Bay Area, and local favorites Girls & Boys, Kristen Black, Noach Tangeras, John Sandoval, Amie Richie, Holly Ann Lewis, and Lauren Riffle. Your host Steve Key kicks it off at 6:30pm.

This special event runs 6:30-9pm at Morro Bay Wine Seller, 601 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, (805) 772-8388. No cover charge, but we pass the tip bucket, shared by all of the performers. 21 & Over Only. Come early for a good seat (OK to bring your own food, but the venue does have sandwiches and snacks).

Morro Bay Wine Seller

A Morro Bay Tribute to Lucinda Williams - 6:30-9:00pm

601 Embarcadero
Morro Bay, CA 93442

Price: Free!

Watch: Deborah Crooks | Brand New Video for "Wishing Tree" - Pint of Soul

Announcing the release of the video for one of my newest songs,"Wishing Tree!" I wrote "Wishing Tree" after coming upon several such trees in the Bay Area (like this one in Port Costa, left). 

"A wish tree is an individual tree, usually distinguished by species, position or appearance, which is used as an object of wishes and offerings. Such trees are identified as possessing a special religious or spiritual value. By tradition, believers make votive offerings in order to gain from that nature spirit, saint or goddess fulfillment of a wish."

"Wishing Tree" is part autobiography and part wish for everyone to breakthrough oppression, be happy and free.
 Shot by Pint of Soul at Amado's in San Francisco in January, the song features Art Khu on piano, Kwame Copeland on dobro, and Kim Xuan Nguyen on bass. Let me know what you think, and please share!




 

Songwriters Deborah Crooks and Michael McNevin at The Lost Church Friday, February 17, 2017 7:30pm

A bright spot on the calendar this Friday, February 17, 2017, when I'll be doing a show at The Lost Church in San Francisco, with my friend, the imitable, and great, songwriter Michael McNevin. The show is also a celebration of our respective February birthdays, so we'll be playing songs covering the spectrum of our songwriting lives. We'll even have cake or pie (or both!) to celebrate that much more, and I'll be playing with a full band (yay!). Finally, we LOVE The Lost Church, one of San Francisco's best, intimate listening venues, and we LOVE YOU. Please join us (and save $5) by picking up tickets in advance! Your presence completes the evening. 

Tickets for $15 via tickefly HERE/$20 at the door. 

* I'll have a limited number of these awesome Nemo-designed posters, available for $5, as well. 

Heartened: Women's March Bay Area

I feel so heartened today, a day after the Women's March on...Everywhere. I participated in Oakland, along with 60-80,000 other people interested in peace, love, social justice, equal rights, black lives matter, the environment, acceptance, community, democracy and resisting the mandate of the new president. Wow! We lined up...and couldn't move for more than an hour, by that time, joining a re-routed bunch of marchers in downtown Oakland. Multi-cultural, men, women, children, peaceful, it was a day of renewed hope in humanity. And then coming home and watching the news reports of the millions of women all over the world participating andresisting. Wow! There's so much love! Wow, people DO have the power. Wow! Women are going to lead this. Let's go!

10 Actions for the First 100 Days

Daily Action

Obama Foundation 

ACLU

Today I mourn, tomorrow I march: "Another Test"

Sad day, this inauguration day. I woke up at 4am to a large thunderclap, a low cloud going over our house crackling lightning and thunder, and then a downpour. It felt ominous, and it's taken half a day for me to snap out of a dark mood. In the meantime, the music has gone on. Bay Station has played a couple of fun shows in the past week, and we just shared a song we wrote in response to Black Lives Matter more than a year ago. Today "Another Test" just feels that much more timely. Today I mourn, tomorrow I march.

Songwriters in the Round at The Octopus Salon Dec. 21 w/Alex Walsh, Briget Boyle, Steve Waters & Deborah Crooks

Now, more than ever, I'm feeling its that much more important to gather to listen and to share. If we artists are doing our job right, our work will tap into, reflect and express all that it means to be human. Hopefully we'll build a bit more connection and understanding between all, and transcend some of our differences. Toward that lofty goal, I'm hosting another round of songwriters at the Octopus Literary Salon in Oakland this month. I'll hope you'll join me, along with Alex Walsh, Briget Boyle and Steve Waters, for an evening of song sharing. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016, 7pm

Songwriters in the Round at The Octopus Literary Salon
2101 Webster Street
Oakland, CA The Octopus is close to 19th St BART. $5-10 suggested, all ages. 

Songwriters in the Round at The Oakland Octopus October 19 7pm

Songwriters in the Round at Oakland Octopus

Wed Oct 19 7:00PM $5-10 suggested

This month includes: Valerie Jay, Wendy Beckerman, Austin Willacy and your host Deborah Crooks.
Austin Willacy  “…an edgy adult contemporary sound that goes down easily and speaks to the heart.” — San Franciso Examiner 
Wendy Beckerman 
 A great singer/songwriter with a wonderful, unaffected voice. Amazing arrangements of acoustic guitar, vocals and strings. Gorgeous melodic songs with perfect harmonies. Her songs seem to aim not to impress, but to express. Very creative.”— Derek Sivers 
Valerie Jay 
“Valerie Jay has one of the best country voices I have ever had the pleasure to record, the way she phrases the lyrics makes you believe that every word is coming straight from her heart” – Tom Tyson, Producer, Music Farm “Valerie is singing great, it’s always a pleasure to hear her lovely voice” – Albert Lee England’s Calling 
Deborah Crooks
"Deborah Crooks’ is simply too original to be a singer who will be known as someone who sings like…like no one. She changes gears seamlessly and in regards to Lucinda [Williams], Deborah may have a wider pallet of styles than even Lucinda." — John Apice, No Depression

Beauty Everywhere Record Release Show at The Back Room in Berkeley

I'm very excited to write that the release show for Beauty Everywhere is only two weeks away! Please don't miss this show! I'm playing with a superb band — Art Khu on piano, Mike Stevens on drums, Ben Bernstein on bass and Kwame Copeland on acoustic guitar/backing vocals. I'm sharing the bill with a fabulous songwriter and guitarist, Melissa Phillips and James DePrato;  and we're playing new music near and dear to my heart. Plus The Back Room is a cool, cozy all-ages venue (it has a grand piano and couches). Tickets are $15 and are available at the door. If you haven't done so already, please mark your calendars for October 14, and reserve your seat in advance by clicking HERE. I'll look forward to seeing you there. It's going to be a great night.

Love and gratitude, Deborah

September Songwriter Shows in San Carlos and San Francisco

Two fun songwriter series' to check out in September, at Clock Tower Music and the Bazaar Cafe:

SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 
Jamie Purnell's 2016 Clock Tower Music Series
Clock Tower Music
676 Laurel St
San Carlos, CA 94070
8PM  $10

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 

Paul Griffiths Songwriter Residency
Bazaar Cafe
5927 California St
San Francisco, CA 94114
7PM  with Paul, Deborah, and Micheal McNevin

Summer Sailstice is This Weekend June 18-19

Ahoy! Bay Station is playing 2pm -3:30pm 'poolside' at the Encinal Yacht Club as part of this weekend's Sailstice in San Francisco (Sailstice is a national happening!). 

It's a free event with all sorts of boat stuff happening. Be there, there being Alameda, CA, this Saturday, June 18 11am-6pm

Encinal Yacht Club
1251 Pacific Marina
Alameda, CA 94501

Boat Building Contest I New EYC Lifejacket Pool Plunge l Visit Historic Schooner 'Alma' I Historic Classic Sailing Vessels I Plein Aire Paint Out l  Small Boat Racing l Exhbitors l Entertainment All Day l Sailboat Rides l Seminars l