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July 2009

BATS IN THE BELFRY: THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF BRANTLEY KEARNS

On Monday night the Hawks played a city gig in Central Park in Whittier. Whittier, my friends. The birthplace of Richard Nixon and, ironically perhaps, the center of Quaker activity on the west coast. Whittier. It was a great night, the weather was cooler than expected and the community was out for the gig. It was classic American living. A park in the middle of the city, kids on play gear, a gazebo, and the American flag. The show began with the Pledge of Allegiance. Even PL took off his hat, although he muttered “for some” at the end of the Pledge. It was that kind of gig.

hawks whittier.jpg
It was the Big Hawks Experience. In addition to the four usual Hawks we were joined by Victoria Jacobs on tambourine and lead vocals, Rick Shea on steel, and the original man himself, Brantley Kearns on fiddle. It was great to have them all with us and the aggressive (nay, competent!) sound man made the band sound huge for the Whittier residents and their guests.

We did two sets with a raffle in between. Fresh baked pies were the prize. They were testing blood sugar in a trailer next to the pie raffle. Two for one? The songs were sounding good in the summer evening air. After a respectfully gentle and patriotic first set, we stretched out in the second, sensing the crowd wanted to rock, inverting the set list and opening with Humboldt. Victoria came up and sang lead on her song Open Door. A little later we did Papa Stopped the Wagon reggae-style at Brantley’s request. Bats circled the gazebo along with big jets in the LAX flight path. It was a grand affair!Here’s a little nugget from the past. It’s not reggae but man it’s got a vibe–an MP3 of Papa Stopped the Wagon recorded in the basement of Cole’s back in April of 2005. Enjoy!
Papa Stopped the Wagon MP3 Download file

RE: Americana Music Festival

Dear Deedee,

Thank you for allowing us to apply to the 2009 Annual Americana Music Festival. We made over 800 submissions to festivals around the world for approximately 80 performance dates for which we are available. The listening sessions and decision making process of I See Hawks In L.A. have taken months to complete.I wish we had time for all the fine festivals out there, and although I regret that we are not able to offer Americana Music Festival our showcase presence, we want you to know how much we appreciate your interest in the I See Hawks In L.A. and our participating in the festival.

If you or your fellow Americana Music Festival staff had been thinking of attending an I See Hawks In L.A. performance, I would like to personally offer each of you our original early-bird $250 registration rate, which is no longer available to the general public or even our members. You get access to all I See Hawks In L.A. shows, a ticket to the 8th Annual I See Hawks In L.A. salvia divinorum death march, admission to our trade show, invitations to all sanctioned parties and events, admission to all showcase performances, recycled Trader Joe plastic bag, and much more.If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, which is good until August 31, 2009, please email or contact us at the website below anytime, as this is an unpublished rate.

Thank you again for your interest in I See Hawks In L.A., and we look forward to continuing our association with you.Kindest regards,

Paul LacquesDirector of Operations
I See Hawks In L.A.

www.kissmyass.org