A trio of noteworthy albums by musicians with local connections have recently been released.
Frank Demme, Craig Caffall, and Chris Hanlin have all bared their souls and are counting on the music loving public to snap up copies of their work.
Demme lives outside Sonoma Valley now, but for many years, he graced local stages with a few different bands. He played in the Frisco Kids, a band that played at Winterland and even opened for John Denver at the Cow Palace. Later, Demme joined RockRose.
His new release, “Somewhere in the Middle,” is a laudable effort and one worth checking out. It can be found on all the usual platforms, and a physical copy can be ordered from his website, frankdemmemusic.com.
Caffall is a regular player at the El Verano Inn events on Sunday nights. He plays a mean guitar and guides the band with clear musical leadership.
Local music lovers also saw him playing guitar behind Maria Muldaur at Grinstead last spring. This is not to forget his gig behind Muldaur at the recent Hardly Strictly weekend.
His strong new album, “Serious Look,” features 12 original songs and bass playing by fellow EVI musician Tom Miller and horn parts by local Scott Van Wagner.
Caffall’s CD can be ordered from his website at craigcaffall.com.
Hanlin should be no stranger to musicians and music lovers in the Valley of the Tunes. He is an outstanding luthier, the go-to guy for players who need their instruments improved to perfection.
He also performs his original music regularly at HopMonk Sonoma. And, as a member of The Seasaws, Hanlin impressed the crowd at the Sonoma Tuesday Night Market last season.
An excellent guitarist, mandolin, and slide guitar player, Hanlin sings, writes, and performs songs that are – I hate to call it this- Americana in nature. Not rock. Not blues. Not folk. Just a sweet musical blend of all those things.
The band has a new album out that is beyond satisfying. Called simply “The Seasaws,” it is an impressive collection of original songs.
And I do mean album; the release was custom pressed in Nashville onto a marbled green vinyl. And like The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Bob Dylan’s “Blonde on Blonde,” the disc is enclosed in a very handsome and artistic gatefold format, with a poster slipped into one of the sleeves.
Mentioning The Beatles and Dylan is also appropriate here because both could be considered influences on the music of The Seasaws.
Excellent writing and lush vocals with layers of harmonies are everywhere on this record, which is rising on the “Hot Adult Contemporary” charts.
Of the record, Hanlin said, “We worked very hard on it for several years and didn’t stop until we were completely satisfied. I feel it’s the best project I have ever worked on.”
Hanlin added, “The songs are all original, some of them were written on my back porch here in Sonoma. The intent was to write very happy, short little pop tunes. We like material that swings and has positive energy. We tried to create music that would make little kids want to bounce up and down.”
The backstory of the recording process is interesting. Produced and recorded at MouseHouse Studios in Altadena, California, it almost met a very unfortunate fate.
The studio was destroyed in the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, but its owner was able to save his computer and a few choice vintage microphones before the structure was lost.
To be fair, Hanlin is but one member of The Seasaws. The other players and their primary instruments are Matt Jacovides, bass; Jackie Jacovides, percussion; Hanlin, guitars and John Arvizu, guitars. All members of The Seasaws sing. They were aided on the record by Joel Connell, John Mader and Mark Romans on drums.
Copies of the soon to be collector’s item “The Seasaws” can be obtained by visiting Rain Dog Records in Petaluma. Listening to the music of Hanlin’s band is possible on Spotify.