‘The Devil Wind Blues’ from the ‘Dancing with the Moment’ album

September 25, 2016 in Events, Happenings, Thoughts

devilwindblues

 

Listen to ‘The Devil Wind Blues’ here.

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Santana Winds are howlin’ and the night is closing in.
Santana Winds are howlin’ and the night is closing in.
There is no escaping once these devil winds begin.

Hear those sirens wailing? A smell of smoke is in the air.
Hear those sirens wailing? A smell of smoke is in the air.
Some fool playing with matches while devil winds are on a tear.

These winds keep growing stronger. Black night is falling fast.
These winds keep growing stronger. The black night is falling fast.
While I grow weak and weary trying to get beyond the past.

Don’t it seem like everything keep changing? Seems like nothin’ sticks around.
Everything keep changing. Nothin’ sticks around.
But these old devil winds? They will always make it back to town.

The air so dry and stifling. I would take the damp and cold.
This air so dry and stifling. I would take the damp and cold.
I lie here in this room feeling lost and gettin’ old.

Danny Faragher

Every year without fail, the Santa Anas – the ‘Devil Winds’ –
arrive in Southern California, to blow their hot dry air
through the passes and down to the coast, toppling
trees,  stoking raging fires, and making a person’s skin crawl.santa-ana-winds

In his book ‘Red Wind’ Raymond Chandler, in the voice
of P.I. Phillip Marlowe, writes:

There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was
one of those hot dry Santa Anas
that come down
through the mountain passes and curl your hair and
make your
nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights
like that every booze party ends in a fight.
Meek little
wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their
husbands’ necks.
Anything can happen . You can even
get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.’

I thought the theme of the Devil Winds as an ever occurring presence could make
a good blues. I imagined the singer lying in a room, a world-weary soul filled with
regret and disappointment, as outside the wind howls,  sirens wail, and a smell
of smoke fills the air. All of which  serves to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia
that cannot be escaped. The realization that these winds have probably been coming
for millennia and will always ‘make it back to town’ prompt the singer to confront his
own mortality with a sigh.devil-wind-fire

The players:
Danny Faragher – vocal, harmonica, organ, and trombone
Craig Copeland   – electric guitar, and lap steel guitar.
Simeon Pillich    – bass
Chris Blondal      – drums

Front Album Cover of Dancing with the Moment - Danny Faragher

Front Album Cover of Dancing with the Moment – Danny Faragher

 

 

Concert a Sellout!

July 24, 2015 in Events, Happenings

The July 18th concert at the West Valley Music Center was a blast!  A great vibe in the room, and a sellout crowd in spite of the freaky rainstorm (In July?!). 7-18-Danny blowin harp at W. ValleyFYI – The two previous days of rain this year were on May 15th, my birthday, and on March 1st, the day of my Record Release Party (Perhaps I should schedule more events?)

With the backing of some great musicians – Tim Horrigan on bass, my son, Bryan, on percussion and melodica, Chris Blondal, drums, and Craig Copeland,  guitar,  the show included numbers from the ‘Dancing with the Moment ‘ and  ‘A Blue Little Corner’ albums, plus some new material, and even a tune from the Peppermint Trolley Company LP. We had fun, fun, fun!

I shared the bill with singer/songwriter, Raspin Stuart. He was a gas to work with!

Many thanks to Jeff Gold and the West Valley Music Center.

Looking forward to the next live engagement.

 

 

 

 

 

I shared bill with Raspin Stuwart. It was a good match.

I shared bill with Raspin Stuwart. It was a good match.

7-18-15 Devil Wind Blues

Wailing ‘The Devil Wind Blues’

Danny Faragher in Concert for Music on a Warm Summer Night

June 26, 2015 in Events, Happenings

banner_danny-faragher-concert

 

Danny Faragher, on his promotional tour of his latest Dancing with the Moment album (recently released on iTunes), will be performing at a one night Special Engagement with the Acoustic Music Series on July 18th at 8pm.

TMP-Shoot---Canyon-Hike-PR-065aDanny Faragher will be playing and singing songs from his albums, Dancing with the Moment, and Blue Little Corner, as well as other tunes from his storied career, and will be accompanied by a full band consisting of Tim Horrigan, Craig Copeland, Chris Blondal and Bryan Faragher. Together they will span the musical range from Jazz to Blues to Funk to West Coast Psychedelic.

Sharing the bill is Raspin Stuwart, performing Blues, Jazz, Acoustic Soul and Adult Contemporary.

The show will take place at the West Valley Music Center, 24424 Vanowen Street, West Hills, CA 91307. Tickets are available for $15 by reservation only. Call 818-992-4142.

Reservations can be made on line here: http://www.westvalleymusiccenter.com/acoustic-music-series.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘Dancing with the Moment’ Release Party Big Success. Thank-you!

March 9, 2015 in Events, Happenings

 

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Blowin’ Up a Storm at Record Release Party. Photo by Taylor Series

Thanks to everyone who braved the rare L.A. rain to come and be a part of the ‘Dancing with the Moment’ Record Release celebration! We had us a party!  Yes, the house was rockin’, and there was delicious food, fine wine, and good vibes galore.  I was truly touched to see such a gathering of friends, family, and colleagues. Connecting once again with familiar faces and meeting new people was a treat , indeed.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank-you one and all! For me the album is a creative milestone. It is the culmination of years of intense focus and hard work.  My son, and creative partner, Bryan Faragher, and I had spent many a night burning the midnight oil, and it was a project that at times appeared to be never ending.  Knowing that we were able to cross that finish line filled me a with a deep sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The occasion called for a soiree and a soiree we had.

Let me give a shout of appreciation to the party guests: Bryan Faragher, Jimmy Faragher, Tommy Faragher, Rosie Bliss, Davey Faragher, Pammy Faragher, Marty M. Faragher, Anita Faragher, Tibo Cuellar,  Jeanne Harriott, Connie Catalan, Emily, Deena McClain, Nick Lane, Dave Armstrong, Alec Echevarria, Shervin Ahdout, Jordan Faragher, Tim Horrigan, Anne Horrigan, Emily Horrigan, Chris Blondal, Craig Copeland, Randy Crenshaw, Denia Bradshaw, Probyn Gregory, Steve Hauser, Michelle Hauser, Michael McClure, Jody Mortara, Ted, Bill New, Phil Elmore, Donna Duessen, Harry McNeil, Kristine Chinn, Chuck Nickerson, Babbet t Goss, Brent, Bryan Davis, Mellie, Adam, Dierdra, Willard Lewis Snow, Irene, Josh Buehler, Lauren Wong, Rick, Linda Hubbard, Annie, Lindsey.

Bryan aptly stepped into the DJ role, playing original music as he projected a visual slide show, and handled the MC duties with aplomb. His sincere introduction touched my heart.

Tibo Cuellar, who was first to air tracks off ‘Dancing with the Moment’ on his ‘Cold Cuts’ show on radio  KCSB made the trek all the way down from Santa Barbara to make his warm and personable presence felt.  Always great to see him!

Some very talented singers and musicians joined me on stage to perform, including siblings: Jimmy – guitar and vocals, Pammy – vocals, Tommy – piano, Davey – bass and vocals, and Marty – percussion,  my son, Bryan – percussion, and friends: Tim Horrigan – bass, Chris Blondal – drums, Denia Bradshaw – flute, Randy Crenshaw – spoken word, and Craig Copeland  – guitar, (Randy and Craig, along with Bill New, who was in the audience, are members of my doo wop singing group, Daddy Cool). We debuted our energetic new video of  the hard groovin’  ‘Too Much Pressure’ , and it received an enthusiastic response from the crowd.  The video was directed by Bryan,  and filmed by Shervin Ahdout, with assistance from Alec Echevaria.

We also premiered  the exciting dance mix of the same song, and the infectious and driving rhythm brought people to the dance floor. Copies of ‘too much pressure – rebel sole pressurized underground mix’  were free to all party guests.

The party couldn’t have  happened without the help of the following people: Anita Faragher, who got the word out; my wife Jeanne, who tirelessly shopped, and personally sewed the table covers from scratch; my daughter Deena, who planned and spent all day Saturday preparing the food platters (a feast for the eyes as well as the palette); Connie Catalan who helped to organize and lend a hand where needed, and, I might add, first came up with the suggestion of throwing a release party; Nick Lane, who helped to serve the food; Alexander, who tended the bar, Alec Echevarria, our roaming photographer, and Shervin Ahdout, who assisted Bryan with the visuals. Thank-you;  Dave Armstrong for videoing the performance, and Taylor Series, and  Michael McClure for photos.  If anyone else  has photos or video, please let us know. We would love to share it.

Love and Harmony,
Danny

'Dancing with the moment, and the moment sets me free.'

‘Dancing with the moment, and the moment sets me free.’