Music. Alcohol. Oysters. Books.

The first show in the 2025 Cookout Concert Series sold out well in advance. KC Turner has scheduled 43 concerts in HopMonk's beergarden this year, he is a real GOAT!

Ana Egge opened the late afternoon program, kicking off the set with a catchy tune Girls Girls Girls. She sounded great, her ringing acoustic guitar filling the air, and I really liked the songs performed. Rock Me (Divine Mother) was another strong example of her craft. It turned out that the late great Steve James had been Ana's longtime friend and mentor. He happens to be one of my all-time favorite contemporary acoustic blues pickers, and I have six of his albums in my collection! Ana paid tribute by performing Steve's Talco Girl. Later, before covering a Ted Hawkins song, she asked if anyone remembered him. Not only do I remember this great guy, but I also have five of his CDs. Ana and I are definitely living on some common musical waves!

Ana returned as part of Iris DeMent's band, playing guitar and mandolin, while Liz Draper handled the bass duties. Iris delivered a wonderful set, moving between guitar and piano. Her vocals sounded fresh and full of life, everything was strong instrumentally, and the songs were absolutely terrific. I really enjoyed her version of the great Russian poet Anna Akhmatova's Listening to Singing, and it was inspiring to hear a song dedicated to the memory of Alexey Navalny. The banter between songs was a lot of fun. I learned that Iris once drove her now-retired husband, musician Greg Brown, to the wrong HopMonk location for a gig. Wow!

The audience was mostly older people. Younger folks, you missed it, you would have really enjoyed this show.

What a fantastic way to kick off the Cookout season!

Set list (Ana Egge, 4:32 PM — 5:08 PM): Girls Girls Girls, Cocaine Cowboys, Talco Girl, Rock Me (Divine Mother), I Am Illegal, Sorry You're Sick, Dance Around the Room with Me

Set list (Iris DeMent, 5:32 PM — 7:08 PM): The Way I Should, ? ("...feeling you get driving in the rain"), Listening to Singing, Mornin' Glory (Iris on piano), Workin' on a World (Iris on piano), Say a Good Word (Iris on piano), Calling for You, Nothin' for the Dead, The Sacred Now, This Love's Gonna Last, Easy's Gettin' Harder Every Day, Warriors of Love (Iris on piano), My Life (Iris on piano), Let The Mystery Be (encore), Our Town (encore)

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George Clinton does not want to retire so his circus is touring again, making a stop at the recently reopened Calvin Simmons Theater near Lake Merritt in Oakland. The band opened with (Not Just) Knee Deep, unfortunately the sound close to the stage turned out flat, muddy, and even somewhat cacophonic. Hopefully it was better further back. I don't think the venue was a good fit for P-Funk. I would love to see them in a small club, like at the Independent in 2017 and 2018, though that is not very realistic these days, so I would have preferred an outdoor space like last year in Napa.

The band's energy, though, was great. They delivered a set of more than two hours, similar to the Napa show, though this time the collection of songs felt less enjoyable because of the sound issues. There were highlights, including solid versions of Pole Power and Get Low, a fantastic Maggot Brain with a great guitar solo by Michael Hampton, the electrifying anthem Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker), and Atomic Dog.

It was fun overall. And the freaks did not disappoint either. Though honestly, I feel like I could have skipped this show.

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Edradour 12YO OB 70cl 46% ABV
Dougie MacLean's Caledonia selection
Matured in Bourbon casks with an Oloroso finish of 4-5 years
Time code L24/258 06.09.24

Color: dark brown. Natural, as reported on the label.
Nose: chocolate, plenty of cherries, eraser, fragrant herbs, cocoa, shoe polish, lacquer, vanilla, pine sap, raisins, cinnamon, dates, figs, charcoal, leather, caramel, soy sauce, a touch of sulphur.
Taste: cherries, nuts, dark chocolate, cherry cola, blackcurrants, raspberries, barberry tartness, tea, mint, pepper, salt. Impressive, but a bit watery.
Finish: cherries, chocolate, sweet tea, lemons, pepper, cola, mint, oak, a hint of salt.
Score: 8 ½. Good. +2+1+1.

Conclusion: a sherry monster with an impressive color and wonderfully pervasive cherry notes. Surprisingly pleasant and not overly sweet, though it leans heavily on the sherry influence. I'm quite satisfied with the taste, not just the aroma. This is the kind of malt you could keep in your bar on a permanent basis. 86/100. My fifth Edradour overall, they are fun.

The traditional 4/20 Gathering of the Tribe. Last year, I didn't make it to a single Moonalice concert, quite a contrast to 2023 when I caught as many as five of their live shows and yet not once managed to see all ten members together on stage. Someone was always out, sick, pregnant, or otherwise unavailable. This time, everyone was present, including Jason Crosby on keys, all three T Sisters, and both Chambers, father and son. By the way, Lester just turned 85! There was an even older person in the audience, as Wavy Gravy came to see the band.

The concert opened with Moonalice's early hit It's 4:20 Somewhere, keeping the vibe going with Let's Go Get Stoned, and circling back later with Am I High?, which flowed into a fantastic version of Eight Miles High. Great first set! And the second one turned out to be even better, starting with Allen Toussaint's Yes We Can Can. Erika played guitar and sang lead vocals on a new solid tune Me and My Family, followed by Lester’s powerful rendition of the Chambers Brothers classic Love, Peace & Happiness. Later in the set, a stretch of highlights began with the very emotional Blink of an Eye, followed by Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind. Tell Me It's Okay featured some fantastic jamming by Barry and Pete before transitioning into Turn On Your Love Light. The encore brought another Chambers Brothers hit, Time Has Come Today. Truly an awesome concert!

The band had announced before the concert that every attendee would receive a bundle of 19 posters. Turned out to be 23, and three more were available for purchase during the show.

Set 1 (4:18 PM — 5:11 PM): It's 4:20 Somewhere, Let's Go Get Stoned, American Dream Rag, Arms Reach Out, Love Turns Into Silver Then to Gold, It's Been a Change, Am I High?, Eight Miles High, Can You Feel It?, You're All I Need to Get By

Set 2 (5:48 PM — 7:15 PM): Yes We Can Can, Me and My Family, Love Peace & Happiness, What's So Funny 'Bout Love Peace & Understanding, Toys in the Attic, Blink of an Eye, Blowin' in the Wind, Happy Here Now, Old & Proud, Tell Me It's Okay, Turn On Your Love Light

Encore (7:16 PM — 7:25 PM): Time Has Come Today

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The Senegalese kora master Ablaye Cissoko and the French diatonic accordionist Cyrille Brotto in concert at the Freight. They played quite a lot of tunes, some instrumental and others featuring Ablaye's vocals. I had listened to one of the duo's albums and was somewhat puzzled by the constantly shifting moods and the overall experimental feel of the recording, but the live show turned out to be very different. The kora and accordion blended impressively, creating a beautiful melodic tapestry. Most of the pieces were slow, calm, and meditative, and a couple fiery ones made it into the mix as well. A charming concert! That said, speaking about the kora, I was more impressed by its weaving with guitar, delivered in the performance by Ballaké Sissoko and Derek Gripper at the Freight back in January, though I still thoroughly enjoyed Ablaye and Cyrille's show. They played for about an hour and a half.

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Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength OB 70cl 57.8% ABV
2024 Edition
Matured predominantly in Oloroso sherry casks
Bottle code SCS 20/08/24 24/97


Color: brown.
Nose: peat, tires, dill, iodine, lacquer, chocolate, smoke, nuts, bacon, tar, soy sauce, champignons, baked apples, cocoa, electrical tape, glossy magazine, yellow mustard, tobacco. A lot of familiar notes!
Taste: smoky and oily, with peat, dark chocolate, redcurrants, Lugol's solution, plums, tobacco, black tea, green olives, pepper, and lemons. Not too spicy, with great notes of berries, and really easy to drink.
Finish: peat, smoke, chocolate, blackcurrants, plums, pepper, salt, chokeberries, lemon zest. This is where it starts to feel a bit too young and a bit too sweet.
Score: 8 ¾. Better than good. +2+2+1.

Conclusion: made using the same cask recipe as their regular Sanaig release, this undiluted version feels significantly better and more intense thanks to the higher ABV. But it is not just the strength. Once again, the Oloroso sherry casks have done a remarkable job of elevating an already strong base. A very good and enjoyable Kilchoman. 88/100.

Pulteney 13YO Signatory Vintage 75cl 56.2% ABV
Cask Strength Collection
Distilled May 27, 2008; bottled March 17, 2022
Initially matured in refill bourbon barrels, finished in a fresh Sherry butt for 44 months
Cask no: 22
Bottle 102 / 635 (different number on the stock photo)

Color: dark amber. Beautiful.
Nose: red apples, paint thinner, eraser, bread, marzipan, roasted nuts, nectarines, sea breeze, freshly ground black pepper, tea, clove, buckwheat, meadow herbs, dates, resin, ash, persimmons, milk chocolate, strawberries, lemons. Quite complex and impressive, maybe even a bit too much going on here. With water: apricots, raspberries, hints of tar.
Taste: red apples, redcurrants, lemons, apricots, chocolate cake, a hint of iodine, peaches, salt, pepper, resin, oak. Not overly sweet, drinks very well. With water: raspberries, more sweetness and oak.
Finish: iodine, red apples, apricots, salt, more noticeable pepper, lemons, chocolate cake, creamy notes, oak. A bit hot, water does not help much.
Score: 8 ¾. Better than good. +2+2+1.

Conclusion: a surprisingly pleasant malt with plenty of fruity and berry notes, much better than Pulteney's official diluted expressions tasted. Nearly four years in a sherry cask have clearly made an impact, but the spicy and maritime base remains noticeable as well. The whisky becomes a bit more berry-forward with water, though whether it improves the dram is debatable. Either way, I'm quite satisfied with this Pulteney. 87/100. A fine way to close the series of three Signatory's decanter bottles I bought earlier this year.

Ledaig 21YO Atom Brands 50cl 47.9% ABV
Darkness range
Finished in Oloroso Sherry octave casks
Sample


Color: amber.
Nose: smoke, distinct notes of roasted nuts, pickles in brine, burnt plastic, peat, orange zest, electrical tape, apples, engine oil, and dried mushrooms.
Taste: smoky and oily, with lemons, salted caramel, smoke, pepper, peat, apples, and mint chocolate. Quite smooth overall.
Finish: lemons, pepper, apples, cocoa, honey, pears, salted caramel, sweet toffee, and lingonberries. Somewhat sweet.
Score: 8 ¾. Better than good. +2+2+1.

Conclusion: a powerful sherried Ledaig. Though it's unclear whether this whisky was bottled at cask strength, it has enough power and character. Darkness is a range of independently bottled single malt Scotch whiskies, part of the Atom Brands group, which also includes Aerolite Lyndsay, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Rumbullion, and Bathtub Gin, as well as the retailer Master of Malt and the group's distribution arm Maverick Drinks. All whiskies in this series spend a few extra months maturing in small octave casks. 88/100.

Raasay NAS OB 70cl 61.3% ABV
Cask Strength series
2024 Edition
Lightly peated (using Highland peat)
Rye Whiskey, Chinkapin Oak & Bordeaux Red Wine casks
Bottle 3,008 of 8,400 (different number on the stock photo); 1,140 bottles for the US
Bottle code L002183


Color: golden.
Nose: rye bread, canola oil, apricots, smoke, peat, cranberries in sugar, ground black pepper, caraway, rosin, ash, tar, maple syrup, blackcurrants, leather, sprats, blueberries, heather. Powerful and intense. With water: varnished wood, chocolate, figs, and the aroma becomes clearer.
Taste: chocolate, blueberries, smoke, peat, olive oil, vanilla-chocolate ice cream, apricots, pepper, mint, salt, rowanberries, a bit of alcohol sharpness. With water: more chocolate, prunes, more sweetness overall.
Finish: smoke, peat, bread, pears, pepper, salt, rowanberries, chocolate, alcohol sharpness. With water: more sweetness.
Score: 8 ½. Good. +2+1+1.

Conclusion: a solid malt from the Isle of Raasay, a bit more interesting after adding a few drops of water. By the way, finally got around to ordering a Glencairn pipette. This whisky is slightly better than their standard diluted version. 86/100.

British singer-songwriter Bridget St. John opened the show solo, performing Michael Chapman's Rabbit Hills. "Or was it my imagination again?" She sounded gorgeous, delivering folk-rock tunes with a dreamy, psychedelic tint. Her vocals, of course, are no longer what they were in the days of yore, but they remain impressive and haunting. Bridget paired Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and the Drum with America the Beautiful into a seamless medley. Kevin Ayers' Jolie Madame was performed in French, with Willie Aron joining on keyboards and sticking around. I especially enjoyed St. John's old tune Ask Me No Questions, as well as another Kevin Ayers gem, The Oyster and the Flying Fish. She wrapped her set with a few songs performed alongside Evie Sands and her band. What a gorgeous first part of the night!

Evie Sands's set began immediately, without a break. I have never closely followed her work, as the songs have too often felt lightweight to me. That said, her set turned out to be very pleasant live, featuring catchy, crafty, hooky pop numbers. I do not think I would listen to such music at home, but this did not matter Sunday night at Sweetwater. Evie performed I Can't Let Go, which was her hit in 1965, a year before it was recorded by The Hollies. Bridget returned to the stage to help sing on two more songs.

It was a long and special concert, consisting of two mismatched halves. The first was introspective and folk-oriented, the second danceable and lively. Around fifty people showed up, and seating had been arranged for them. The chairs did not really suit the energy of Evie Sands's set, but there were a fair number of older people in the audience, so I guess it was the best setup to use anyway.

Set list (Bridget St. John, 8:00 PM — 9:07 PM): Rabbit Hills, The Fiddle and the Drum > America the Beautiful, Find the Cost of Freedom > Look at This Child, Jolie Madame (with Willie Aron), The Hole in Your Heart (with Willie Aron), Feel My Love (with Willie Aron), Ask Me No Questions (with Willie Aron), The Oyster and the Flying Fish (with Willie Aron), Fly High (with Evie Sands's band), Castaway (with Evie Sands and her band), If You've Got Money (with Evie Sands and her band)

Set list (Evie Sands and her band, 9:07 PM — 10:28 PM): A Woman's Work Is Never Done, Scandal Du Jour, I Can't Let Go, While I Look at You, I Love Makin' Love to You, Billy Sunshine, Full Dose of Love, The Truth Is in Disguise, My Darkest Days, Brain Damage, Shine for Me, Keep My Lovelight Burnin', Glad You're Gone, I Wanna Fall in Love Again, Angel of the Morning, It's This I Am (with Bridget St. John), If You Give Up (with Bridget St. John), Get Up
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