Saturday, March 23 Record Preview at The Lost Church

When you have the opportunity to do a show with the same great band you are recording new tunes with, you do it! Tomorrow, I’ll return to The Lost Church to play the songs from my in-progress record backed by a powerhouse group: Danny Allen, Mike Stevens and Kevin T White. Consider it a ‘record preview.’ Plus Danny will be playing a set of his own great material.
And today is the last day to get advance tickets to the show for an easy $10 ($15 day of show online & at door)—
Real live music at one of SF’s coolest (& increasingly rare) listening venues. Come on out! 

Postcard: Bay Station's Love the Bay Day 1

Bay Station spent a long Memorial Day weekend, sailing around the San Francisco Bay, playing music with a bunch of area songwriters. Check out highlights from Day 1 when they say from Alameda to San Francisco and meet up with SF songwriters Nina Jo Smith and Peter Whitehead.

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

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

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. 

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.

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

San Francisco International Arts Festival: Peter Whitehead's Mini Music Marathon

One of my favorite SF artists, musician/composer/songwriter Peter Whitehead is doing something really cool as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival which wraps up this weekend, a mini music marathon! For eight hours, Peter will hold down Gallery 308, now filled with his instruments, and improvise with invited collaborators all afternoon and early evening. 

Musical Mini Marathon with Peter Whitehead

EIGHT HOUR MUSICAL MINI MARATHON  JUNE 4 12 NOON - 8PM

FORT MASON BUILDING A GALLERY 308             TICKETS www.sfiaf.org $20 in advance, $25 at door. One ticket good all day,  re-admission allowed.

 Whitehead will remain on the stage throughout the performance with guests joining him every hour for half hour collaborations.

GUEST SCHEDULE:  

12.30 -1.00  David Samas - Instrument builder,collector - various unusual items & voice

 1.30 - 2.00  Bart Hopkin -  Renowned instrument builder and author - unique invented instruments

 2.30 - 3.00  Daryl Henline - Composer, choir master - Voice, various instruments 

 3.00 - 3.30  David Molina - Multi instrumentalist, composer, builder

  

 3.30 - 4.00  Patti Trimble -  Bay Area Poet and writer.

  

 4.30 - 5.00  Sudhu Tewari - Redesigned electronics, springs, looping, effects, noise.

  

 5.30 - 6.00  Norman Rutherford - Viola da Gamba, bass clarinet, sonar and other instruments

  

 6.30 - 7.00  Sarah Shelton Mann - Legendary SF Choreographer, teacher, performer, writer -     readings, dowsing

  

 7.30 - 8.00  Stephen Kent - Didgeridoo virtuoso, multi instrumentalist and radio host.  

San Francisco Arts Festival: "HERE"

Several friends are featured in the San Francisco International Arts Festival taking place today through June 5. This weekend CALI & Co and Matt El bring there HERE show to Cowell Theater.

CALI & CO dance/
Matt EL
with guest collaborators
Kyoungil Ong and
Sooyeon Lyuh (USA, Korea)

HERE

Friday May 20, 7:00pm
Saturday May 21, 9:30pm
Sunday May 22, 2:30pm
Duration: 80 minutes (both companies)

Shared bill with Dana Lawton Dances

Cowell Theater
Tickets: General Admission
$20 in advance, $25 at door

HERE captures the rapture of existence through a new piece de resistance by CALI & CO dance/Matt EL music with guest collaborators Kyoungil Ong/Ong Dance Company and Sooyeon Lyuh. HERE is a rare, creative amalgamation of identity and culture through traditional Korean dance and music with American modern dance and rock music. Coursing shadow and light through its structure, HERE seeks to highlight the beauty and soften the pain of existence. 

Bazaar Stock #8 December 5 at Bazaar Cafe

 KC Turner Presents: Bazaar Stock #8
December 5, 2015 10am-10pm
Bazaar Cafe
5927 California St
San Francisco, CA 94114
I'm pleased to be a part of Bazaar Stock #8, when KC Turner Present 36 (!) local musicians at SF's venerable and loved songwriter haven, Bazaar Cafe. Free and all ages, a tip jar will be passed with 100% of the proceeds to be donated Music in Schools Today. I play at 3pm and encourage you to come for as much of the event as you can! It's going to be be a great display of original music.

Love the Bay Postcard: Treasure Island

Day 1: Alameda to Treasure Island. Close to home but a world away! The weather turned beautiful, the tide turned our way, and the wind picked up, making for a quick jaunt. We had plenty of time to clean up, load in and set up at TI Bar & Grill to play for a friendly, local crew. Amazing we could fit our gear on board! Amazing sunrise and nice to find a great cafe, Aracely, a twenty-minute walk from the Marina (espresso drinks and fresh kale smoothies). Next stop

Richmond Marina Bay....

KCDC Love the Bay Tour Sept 17-20

Just to keep things interesting, we're going to sail to our next gig! We're often playing instruments while sailing on board our boat Espresso, so we thought we'd make it more formal. September 17-20 we'll be both sailing around the San Francisco Bay, and playing gigs on board and off. Plus we'll be doing Concert Window broadcasts from our various ports.
 More information and schedule via kcdcmusic.tumblr.com and ConcertWindow.com/DeborahCrooks

Saturday: KCDC at The Bazaar Cafe

Saturday, August 8th, 2015 

Bazaar Cafe 

KCDC Acoustic w/Alex Walsh 7pm-9pm 

5927 California St San Francisco, CA 94114

Once upon a time, many years ago ago, I made a weekly visit to The Bazaar Cafe in the Richmond, where songwriters gathered (and still gather) to play their latest songs at the Open Mic. It was a nerve-wracking experience, playing in front of the other songwriters, kind of like an unofficial adult school of songwriting. Plus the Bazaar is unplugged, and acoustic. No PA, no microphone, no nada. I often broke out into cold sweats before and after, but somehow, over time,  I got better at holding it together to play my songs in front of people, and a I met some long-term friends. 

A very large percentage of Bay Area songwriters have come through its unassuming doors to play and listen over the years. It has a living room feel and at this point, it would be very interesting to hear what its walls would say if they could talk. 

We still play there once or twice a year, and this weekend, we're up, offering an all-acoustic set of KCDC songs from our "Your Own Reaction" CD and new material for our next one. Alex Walsh joins us for a set and to play guitar and we'll have Andrew Gibson on bass.  Plus...there's pie!

This Friday! Songs From The Fog Parlor Show at The Lost Church

Friday, June 19th, 2015 at The Lost Church 

Songs From The Fog Parlor Show

65 Capp St San Francisco, CA 

Price: $10 in adv/$15 door

Artists included on the recently released Songs from the Fog CD Compilation continue the party at this private parlor show at The Lost Church. Featuring Jim Bruno, KC Turner, Maurice Tani, Mick Schaffer, Paul Griffiths, Deborah Crooks & Carol Denny.

Most of this talented crew of SF area songwriters, aka the Songs from the Fog CD artists, 

are reconvening this Friday 6/19 @theLostChurch for another fab show. Be there!

Songs From The Fog: 18 Songs Inspired By The Bay Area : A Compilation of Nine Bay Area Songwriters

  I'm very pleased to be included on this compilation of Bay Area songwriters, a project spearheaded by two masters of the songwriting form, Maurice Tani and Jim Bruno. On Wednesday, March 25, most of the participating artists are gathering together for "an old San Francisco-style, underground evening of song" at Doc's Lab in North Beach.

 "What makes San Francisco a mecca for musicians and songwriters? It’s hard to say. Maybe it’s the desire to follow in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady. But since the beginning of the modern musical era, songwriters as diverse as Jerry Garcia, Sly Stone, The Jefferson Airplane, Green Day, John Fogerty have called the Bay Area “home.”

The Golden Gate still inspires songs from the hearts and minds of its talented inhabitants. And we’ve combed the bars, backrooms, coffeehouses and open mics to find an outstanding group of nine new and established Bay Area tunesmiths and bring them directly to you."
SONGS FROM THE FOG: A compilation of 9 Bay Area Singer Songwriters.
Featuring: 
Jim Bruno
Deborah Crooks
Carol Denney
Paul Griffiths
The Keller Sisters
Claudia Russell & Bruce Kaplan
Mick Shaffer
Maurice Tani & 77 El Deora
KC Turner

Happy New Year! Spirit Vibrations Presents Anju’s Pale Blue Eyes, The Silver Threads and Deborah Crooks Band at Bottom of the Hill

Happy 2015! May it be a year that's filled with peace, prosperity, health, joy and wonder for all. Tall order, I know, but I'm putting it out there... along with an invitation to a show on January 7 about which I'm excited, an opening set at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.

BoTH is venerable among SF clubs and I'm pretty pleased to bring a full band to its stage. We kick things off at 9pm sharp, in support of two other interesting projects, The Silver Threads and Anju's Pale Blues Eyes. Expect a night of rootsy rock, indie folk and Americana music. Please join us in musically bringing in 2015.

Wednesday January 7, 2015
Spirit Vibrations Presents
Anju’s Pale Blue Eyes
The Silver Threads
Deborah Crooks Band
 at The Bottom of the Hill 1233 17^th Street SF
Cost: $8
Doors 8:30pm Show 9:00pm
Ages: 21+

Holiday Shows & Music: Mann & Naylor Update the Usual

I went to two very different but equally excellent holiday-themed shows this past weekend: Aimee Mann's rock 'n roll Holiday special at The Fillmore on Friday and Jacqui Naylor's intimate jazz show at Salle Piano's on Sunday. Very different in setting and mood, they were both excellent, featuring stellar accompaniment (key players being songwriter/guitarist Ted Leo for Aimee and pianist Art Khu for Jacqui) great singing and new takes on holiday favorites.

Both Mann and Naylor have above-and-beyond-the-usual holiday albums. Check 'em out.
Jacqui Naylor — Smashed for the Holidays
Aimee Mann —  One More Drifter in the Snow

 In addition to co-leading the show with Leo — they've been performing as 'The Both'  for the past year or two — Mann called in a couple of comedians as well as Bangle member Susanna Hoffs to fill out the evening. Their video, below, albeit not Christmas-related, captures the chops and humor this bunch brought to the stage.

Deborah Slater Dance Theater piece 'Private Life' premieres at ODC Theater, December 11-14, 2014

My words, not music, are providing the text for the bulk of Deborah Slater Dance Theater piece 'Private Life' which premieres at ODC Theater,  December 11-14, 2014.
'Private Life' explores the unique bonds, loyalties and rifts born of the contradictions of the military experience set on a human scale. Private life — military and civilian — implies an intimacy based on the sharing of exclusive knowledge, experience and shared codes of conduct.  How do our private beliefs about morality, honor, etc. lead us to conduct ourselves, and how does this conduct steer us toward or away from one another?
DSDT's 'Private Life' at ODC Theater, 3153 17th Street SF CA 94110
December 11-14, 2014
8 pm shows Thursday - Saturday, 2 pm show on Sunday