These summer noon-time concerts at the Oakland City Center are great. I love Oakland, it’s like the younger, not-as-beautiful sister of hottie San Francisco. They have to try harder. The concerts are free, the area is surrounded by food and drink shops. Good vibes.
I’ve been following Tom Rigney for years. He plays a blazing electric violin. His website says: “Flambeau specializes in blazing Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, funky New Orleans grooves, Boogie Woogie piano, and heartbreakingly beautiful ballads and waltzes. Most of the repertoire is composed by Rigney, but they also mix in a few classics from the Cajun/zydeco/New Orleans songbook.…” Caroline Dahl, the boogie-woogie keyboardist, rocks.
Above, Tom with a group of music students after the concert
I play the violin a bit, and when I get the urge, I play along with some of the slow tracks on his CDs. I do this in secret (with nobody listening) and pretend I’m playing with the band. Shhh!
