This month we take a look at the upcoming San Diego Music Awards, with nominees Daniel Nielsen and Dave Preston, and Quotables with fascinating interview outtakes from Don Brewer (Grand Funk), Kimmi Bitter, Eric Sage, and Ashley Norton, variously detailing early performances and influences, celebrity encounters, and more.
The 34th Annual San Diego Music Awards, April 29
The 35th Annual San Diego Music Awards take place at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on April 29. Trophies will be handed out in 28 categories, plus a Lifetime Award, which this year goes to legendary bassist and former Crawford High student Nathan East, who has recorded and performed with a long list of music icons including Micheal Jackson, Barbara Streisand, and Bonnie Raitt. Indeed, none other than Ringo Starr considers East “his second favorite” bass player. Meanwhile, performers at this year’s ceremonies include the Euphoria Brass Band, MohaviSoul, the Tourmaliners, Matthew Phillips, Almost Monday, and miniaturized.
The SDMA’s are easily the biggest event on San Diego’s performers’ annual calendar, important not only for the accolades received by both nominees and winners, but also for the incredible networking opportunities and, perhaps most important, the opportunity to catch up with so many friends and fellow musicians in person.
“I’m honored to be included with all these great creative artists who comprise our vibrant local scene,” said saxophonist Daniel Nielsen (Best Blues Album for Deep Finish). “I’ve been walking on air and thrilled that our work was considered and has a further opportunity for people to hear the collaboration between genius producer and bluesman extraordinaire Nathan James and myself!”
Nielsen considers the SDMAs to be “incredibly important not only for the work of raising money for music programs in schools but also for us local artists to meet, acknowledge, and support and appreciate each other,” he said. “We all work so hard and it’s lovely to feel the love from other local artists who know what it means to perform and create. It’s not always a glorious fan bath. There are amazing, magical moments, but not all the time. The SDMAs carry weight to feel that beautiful positive energy from others who know.”
Singer-songwriter Dave Preston (Best Country or Americana Album for Way Out West) agrees with Neilsen’s sentiment on the nomination. “After all the hard work and collaboration that it takes to put music out there, it feels wonderful to be included and in such honored company,” he said. “It’s validation I suppose and is always inspiring to keep on creating and playing original music.” What does he feel is the most important aspect of the SDMAs? “Well, first and foremost it has to be that it supports our schools, keeping music programs alive and thriving,” he said. “The foundation of kids learning to play music together in a group is instrumental in their ability to learn to work together, get along, and contribute to their community and the world at large.”
What is Preston looking forward to the most on event night? “Just being in the company of my peers and fellow musicians,” he said. “It’s a real night to share and celebrate the art we all create and are a part of. In a word, community.”
www.sandiegomusicawards.com
Quotable
When piecing together an article, on occasion bits of an interview are cut for space or continuity. Here are a few interesting quotes that didn’t make it into the finished articles.
Don Brewer of Grand Funk
Brewer’s earliest musical influences came via family. “My dad was a former swing band drummer,” he recalled. “So, I was listening to Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa and all of those guys. When I told my dad I wanted to learn to play drums, he got a trap kit, and we went down in the basement, and he showed me how to sit behind a trap kit and play. However, my first big inspiration was Dino Danelli of the Young Rascals, whom I saw on the Ed Sullivan Show and I was just blown away.”
On the band’s current touring status: “We’re not a band that likes to get on a bus and do a hundred shows. We go home every week and just do weekends really. It keeps the family life better and keeps us better because we’re not living on top of each other all the time. It just works out well that way.”
Eric Sage of the YouTube series Tennis Like a Rockstar
How long have you been playing tennis? How did you become a teacher to so many celebs? “I started playing tennis when I was five years old. When I was about eight, I started to train very seriously. On average I would train about four hours a day on court and then a couple more hours each day of cardio and weight training. I played until (I was involved in a) car accident when I was 23. When I was living in Los Angeles, I was teaching private lessons and clinics. I became friends with different rock stars who loved tennis. They started to take lessons, which would lead to other celebrities who wanted lessons. One day at a clinic George Clooney showed up and really enjoyed the workout and instruction. I guess in certain circles people start to talk and ask who some of the top teaching pros are. As the word starts to spread among different celebrities you start to become more popular and eventually “teacher to the stars.”
Sage’s most famous role was as a guitar store patron in the film classic Wayne’s World.
How much help has your previous TV and film experience been in creating Tennis Like a Rockstar? “It has helped quite a bit. I was a child actor and grew up doing commercials. I was also the voice of the “Little Green Sprout” in the Jolly Green Giant commercials. When you do something at such a young age, it becomes very comfortable. Also, working with great directors and actors opens up your vision of what is possible when filming. I also think that doing a lot of music videos contributed to Tennis Like a Rockstar. We came at it from the angle of not just another tennis shoot, but rather a high-impact, fast-paced experience. We wanted a tennis show with rock and roll energy!
What are some of the previous groups you have been in? “I was in the Bay City Rollers, featuring Ian Mitchell. This was a great experience as their fans are amazing. To perform songs that were #1 hits worldwide with an original player was a lot of fun.”
Kimmi Bitter
On her first time on stage: “My very first performance was the 5th grade talent show with my best friend Dana Martinez. We sang Selena’s “Dreaming of You” together. We were obsessed with Selena. We knew all her songs in Spanish but had no idea what we were saying or if we even were saying it right.”
Ashley E. Norton
What is it about Ramona that has made it so popular with musicians? “Community! I noticed immediately when I moved here three years ago that the musicians were coming out to each other’s gigs to support. I’ve always been one to invite musicians in the audience on stage at my gigs and then it just kinda became a thing. Audiences loved it because you never knew who was going to make an appearance, so they started coming out. And we noticed. So, we made it official, starting up multiple series in town where we could all collaborate together. Then, more musicians moved to town to participate or came up to see what was going on, and we welcomed them too. Anyone who wants to be part of this vortex and aid in the growth and work together toward a better Ramona music scene becomes noticed. We’re successful because we work together. Most of us share the goal of seeing Ramona become a real music destination with packed bars up and down Main Street full of musicians and audiences dancing and singing and having a good time. We have a long way to go, but we all feel it…we’re on our way.”
