For the Space Cowboy, the holidays always mean lots of musical mirth and merriment and last month was no exception.

Vinyl's CD release party on "Black Wednesday," Nov. 25, at the Independent in S.F. (a new annual tradition?) featured guest appearances by Les Claypool (Primus), vocalist Marcus Scott, the Rondo Brothers (who remixed the album) and a three-hour jam with funky friends Monophonics. Then on Saturday the two bands took the hijinks north, as Vinyl played Peri's Bar while Monophonics performed down the street at 19 Broadway. At the stroke of midnight the bands pulled off Fairfax's first musical fire drill (that I am aware of) by simultaneously starting the same song and swapping band members one at a time until they had switched clubs completely...then switched back again to the delight of packed crowds at each spot. What can you say, but "only in Fairfax!" FYI: Vinyl keyboardist Jonathan Korty will now join guitarist and fellow Chrome Johnson/Honeydust band mate Danny Uzilevsky at 19 Broadway every Tuesday night (9pm-1am) as they host an invitational jam with lots of special guests.

Korty has also begun hosting the new, all ages open mic at Maria Maria, 651 E. Blithedale in Mill Valley, every Monday night from 8 to 11pm.
It's December and that means the wild and wacky Christmas Jug Band is back! The new live album, On the Holiday Highway, features the usual cast of Austin de Lone, Tim Eschliman, Jim Rothermel, Blake Richardson and Paul Rogers, plus special guests Country Joe McDonald, Mike Duke, the late Norton Buffalo and Dan Hicks and the Lickettes. They will play a special family-friendly matinee show at 142 Throckmorton Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 13, and will be appearing at Mill Valley's Masonic Hall Monday, Dec. 21 and 22, and at Petaluma's Mystic Theatre Dec. 19 with special guest Bonnie Hayes.

142 Throckmorton Theatre has two must-see events coming up this month. First, the Seva benefit show on Saturday, Dec. 12--hosted by Wavy Gravy and featuring the Rowan Brothers, Moonalice (with Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna) and G.E. Smith (SNL Band), plus the David Nelson Band and some very special surprise guests (wink, wink). Then on Saturday, Dec. 19, drummer and Grammy Award-winning producer Narada Michael Walden will host his annual foundation benefit jam featuring Lydia Pense (Cold Blood), members of Santana, Tevin Campbell and many others. Both these shows start at 8pm and have two-tier ticket prices. Visit www.142throckmortontheatre.org to find out how to get tickets soon as both shows will sell out.

Singer/songwriter Noelle Hampton returns from Austin, Texas, to celebrate the release of her new CD, Thin Line, at the Mill Valley Masonic Hall Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8pm. The Mill Valley native and California Music Award nominee has opened for Bob Dylan, Chris Isaak and Richard Thompson, to name a few, and can count none other than former Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres as a fan. Welcome back, Noelle! The Bolinas-based band This Old Earthquake, featuring Ethan Okamura on guitar and vocals, Mike Burton on bass and Steve Trivelpiece on vocals and guitar, will celebrate the release of their new CD, Portuguese Murder Ballads, with a very special show at Bolinas Community Center on Friday, Dec. 4. They describe their unique vocal harmony-based sound as "sunny with a chance of sleet."

The Beat would like to wish Ramblin' Jack Elliott a speedy recovery from his recent bypass surgery. KPIG will host Steve Kimock on the Ham Jam Saturday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 3pm.

If you don't have New Year's Eve plans yet, here are some reasons to get out and do the North Bay boogie. In Fairfax, the Hold Outs, Diamond Ortiz and Lansdale Station will share a smokin' bill at 19 Broadway, while Honeydust rocks the socks off of Peri's Bar and the Tom Finch Band lights up The Sleeping Lady. Two great annual traditions continue as the Zydeco Flames burn up Rancho Nicasio and the Tommy Castro Band once again paints the Mystic Theatre blue.

In West Marin, the Jenny Kerr Band sails into Smiley's Saloon in Bolinas, Duke and the Boyz reign over Pt. Reyes Station's Old Western Saloon and the Sky Blue Band shines on the Papermill Creek Saloon.

Lastly, in Sausalito, Vinyl (with special guests) gets 'em spinning at Chris Holbrook's Studio 333 on Caledonia Street.

December LIVE: Petty Theft (featuring Monroe Grisman) steals away to Peri's Bar on Friday, Dec. 4; then the legendary Jonathan Richman has a modern love-in at 142 Throckmorton on Dec. 5; while surf-rock pioneer Dick Dale rides into 19 Broadway for a Dec. 6 show. Next week, Todd Snider snipes at the Mystic Theater on Dec. 9; Bonnie Hayes wakes 'em up at The Sleeping Lady on Dec. 12; Hot Buttered Rum and Poor Man's Whiskey will be pouring at the Mystic Theater, Dec. 11 and 12; and Chrome Johnson rides again at 19 Broadway on Dec. 19.

Got a hot tip for the Beat? E-mail me at marinbeat@gmail.com. Rawk on!

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