tag:hughfox.com,2005:/blogs/hugh-s-blog?p=2Hugh's Blog2017-02-04T23:05:02-08:00Hugh Fox * Cellistfalsetag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/39400962015-11-29T12:16:02-08:002022-05-21T11:00:11-07:00Blue Rabbit @ Dogwood, Oakland • Sun. Nov. 29, 2015, 8pm<a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/c2f8437716737c9336f8444a8460b8bdc75343b6/medium/hopper-edward-1942-nighthawks-art-inst-of-chicago-1280x698.jpg?1448828049" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></a>(21+, No Cover) The vitality of Uptown, the glow of your favorite libation in your chest, the conviviality of friends true & new—swingin' with Arami Reyes & <a contents="The Lazy Governors" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/lazygovernors/" target="_blank">The Lazy Governors</a> at 8, then rockin' & savorin' the rich harmonic textures of the <a contents="Blue Rabbit" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/bluerabbitmusic/" target="_blank">Blue Rabbit</a> women around 9—all in the timeless, redolent familiarity of <a contents="Bar Dogwood" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bardogwood.com/" target="_blank">Bar Dogwood</a> (<a contents="Yelp" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/dogwood-oakland" target="_blank">Yelp</a>): this is the church we'll rig tonight for the <a contents="nighthawks" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg" target="_blank">nighthawks</a> among you.<br><br>Part of the <a contents="Dogwood Sundays" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/Dogwood-Sundays-343270525859936/" target="_blank">Dogwood Sundays</a> series (<a contents="facebook event" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/events/1193060710707519/" target="_blank">facebook event</a>).Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/39079762015-11-02T11:52:04-08:002017-01-12T19:08:15-08:00Blue Rabbit @ Dogwood, Oakland • Sun. Nov. 8, 2015, 8pm<a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACornus_nuttallii_136-8311.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/1fa342073502895702bef32c2127cb1e4dbe0eae/small/dogwood-fitch-1910-cornus-nuttallii-pacific-dogwood-01.jpg?1446483286" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="Dogwood" /></a>(21+, No Cover) In the Victorian era, suitors would present their crush with a dogwood flower; if she wasn't interested, she'd return it, but if she kept it... huzzah! Here's yours, dear friends, from <a contents="Blue Rabbit" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluerabbitmusic.com/" target="_blank">Blue Rabbit</a>, making a comeback at <a contents="Dogwood" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bardogwood.com/" target="_blank">Dogwood</a> (<a contents="Yelp" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/dogwood-oakland" target="_blank">Yelp</a>, <a contents="gmap" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.google.com/maps/place/Dogwood/@37.8071596,-122.2705814,18.75z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x808f80b23bad2f61:0x8cef5a95612b9468!2s1644+Telegraph+Ave,+Oakland,+CA+94612,+USA!3b1!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x9d4bbd0d4b7569c3" target="_blank">gmap</a>), where they say the cocktails are the bees' knees, as are the grilled cheese sandwiches & charcuterie. Come see for yourself, while we serenade you in Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, also home to 19th Street BART station, <a contents="Cafe Van Kleef" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://cafevankleef.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Van Kleef</a>, the Fox Theater, <a contents="Make Westing" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://makewesting.com/" target="_blank">Make Westing</a>, <a contents="Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.iamrudy.com/" target="_blank">Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe</a>, etc.Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275782012-05-02T01:50:00-07:002017-01-12T19:08:15-08:00The Big Comeback<a target="_new" href="/files/62870/120504%20-%20SWARM.pdf"><img src="//i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/hughfox/website/120504-SWARM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Art Murmur @ Swarm Gallery" height="326" width="150" /></a>I’ve been on medical leave for several months, but am coming back strong, with several projects in the hopper!<br><br>
I snuck in another class with improvisation guru and neighbor <a target="_new" href="http://www.nightbirdmusic.com/">Jim Grantham</a>, and finally brought my vision for JS Bach’s Prelude to Cello Suite No. 1 before the public at a benefit in Berkeley, along with free improvisations with <a target="_new" href="http://ronheglin.com/">Ron Heglin</a> and my cello sensei, <a target="_new" href="http://www.gaelalcock.com/">Gael Alcock</a>. And I’m working on a cello part for a recording by South Bay rock band Souljourn44, with heavy R&B influence and gorgeous female vocals.<br><br>
And for <a target="_new" href="http://oaklandartmurmur.org/">Oakland Art Murmur</a> “First Friday” this week I’ll be rocking out at <a target="_new" href="http://swarmgalleryblog.com/post/21950173489/oakland-art-murmur-may-4-at-swarm-gallery">Swarm Gallery</a>, a contemporary art gallery located in the Ironworks district near Jack London Square. While you enjoy exhibits by <a target="_new" href="http://www.terryfurry.com/">Terry Furry</a>, <a target="_new" href="http://jordanessoe.blogspot.com/">Jordan Essoe</a>, <a target="_new" href="http://www.cleovilett.com/">Cleo Vilett</a>, <a target="_new" href="http://www.masakomasako.com/">Masako Miyazaki</a>, etc., I’ll be joined by longtime collaborator Matt Boston, who will lay down a driving bassline and sing while I improvise cello accompaniment for tunes by the likes of Tom Waits, The Doors, and The Police, etc. We may be joined by a special bonus vocalist, and will also perform one or two free improvisations – far-out!<br><br>
We're planning to start around 6:45pm, and go for about an hour (followed by Jordan Essoe's performance art). Please join us!<br>Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275762011-01-16T13:08:55-08:002017-01-12T19:08:14-08:00Blue Rabbit @ Red Devil Lounge, Jan. 20, 2011, 8pm<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=133753653354019" target="_new"><img src="//i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/hughfox/website/red_devil_lounge_02c_500x500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Red Devil Lounge" height="150" width="150" /></a>(21+, $6 Cover) Happy new year! Startin' it off right with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bluerabbitmusic" target="_new">Blue Rabbit</a>, rockin' the <a href="http://www.reddevillounge.com/" target="_new">Red Devil Lounge</a> (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-devil-lounge-san-francisco" target="_new">Yelp</a>) again. (Does that make purple nurples?!) Anyway, what a kickin' Nob Hill venue this is - I highly recommend you turn out for an evening of devilry in eager anticipation of the Year of the Rabbit!<br><br>
Doors at 8pm, then we're opening at 9pm, followed by two great bands I'm super-excited to experience live: deliciously lush <a href="http://www.audiafauna.com/" target="_new">audiafauna</a>, and headliners, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/siouxcitykidmusic" target="_new">Sioux City Kid</a> - I totally dig their rootsy sound, obviously influenced by Tom Waits.<br>Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275772010-09-23T08:50:00-07:002017-01-12T19:08:14-08:0016th Street Station<a href="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/hughfox/website/zach_heffnerhughfox_16thStStn_06sm.jpg" target="_new"><img src="//i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/hughfox/website/zach_heffnerhughfox_16thStStn_06sm.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="16th St Station" height="248" width="165" /></a>After a bit of a summer lull, things are picking up again in Rocktober, so be sure to check out <a target="_new" href="./gigs.cfm">my gigs page</a> - I'll be playing with the Darkades ("whirled" music jam band) at a music festival way down at a ranch in the eastern foothills of the Sierras on Saturday, October 2, and with Blue Rabbit (indie/alternative rock) at Red Devil Lounge back in San Francisco on Thursday, October 7.<br><br>
Meanwhile, Zach Heffner of <a target="_new" href="http://www.verdictphotography.com">Verdict Photography</a> is building his portfolio and business, and I agreed to suit up and improvise for a while at Oakland's old <a target="_new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Street_Station,_Oakland,_California">16th Street Station</a> for a sunset photo shoot earlier this month - a budding modeling career? ;-)<br><br>
Mr. Heffner and his team were easy, professional, and a lot of fun to work with. (Hehe, I've always hoped I'd be able to say that!) Apparently, a number of hip-hop music videos have been shot out there, but Zach's idea was to contrast the urban decay with the more traditional, "uptown" look of a cellist in a tux. Check out some the excellent results on <a target="_new" href="./photos.cfm">my photos page</a> and on his site under the artists portfolio.<br><br>
After the adventure, I woke up in the middle of the night and wrote this renga (<a target="_new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renga">ancestor of haiku</a>):<br><br>
the drone of traffic<br>
on the overpass, joined now<br>
by an ice cream truck<br>
playing 'turkey in the straw'<br>
in a sunset serenade<br>
for the ghost below:<br>
a train station abandoned<br>
after the last quake,<br>
lovelier now than ever<br>
with the ravages of time.<br><br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275752010-04-16T09:35:00-07:002017-02-01T11:21:51-08:00April Adventures<a href="http://content.bandzoogle.com/users/hughfox/images/content/hugh_jackman_03b.jpg?0" target="_new"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/56f53e4ca86045fae24787836c094f861fc92d1e/original/hugh_jackman_03b.jpg?1380131140" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Hugh Jackman as Wolverine" height="231" width="165" /></a>I've got several fun gigs coming up in April - check 'em out on <a target="_new" href="./gigs.cfm">my gigs page</a>:<br><br>
* a Sunday afternoon gig with Blue Rabbit in Burlingame - an uncommonly convenient one for families with small children,<br><br>
* a multi-media extravaganza ushering in Earth Day with AmesEla at Crocker Galleria in SF, and<br><br>
* another with Blue Rabbit at a battle of the bands at a high school in Vallejo!<br><br>
Recently I was mis-billed at a gig as "Hugh Jackson" - hehe. I wonder if the person responsible might've secretly been hoping Hugh Jackman would show up and start playing the cello? I guess cello playing isn't the first career path that comes to mind when I examine those adamantium-infused claws, but far be it from me to discourage anyone's dreams.<br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275722009-12-01T01:05:00-08:002017-02-01T11:21:50-08:00Happy Holidays!<a href="http://content.bandzoogle.com/users/hughfox/images/content/hughfox-yaxha_leaflitter_2204c.jpg?2" target="_new"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/07599eb67d49fc0bbcb011eaf7d58a6e3cdde096/original/hughfox-yaxha_leaflitter_2204c.jpg?1380131140" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Yaxhá Leaflitter by Hugh Fox" height="200" width="200" /></a>Just had a couple very fun, rockin' gigs with Blue Rabbit at Café du Nord, then the Make-Out Room. I've got a couple <a href="./gigs.cfm">gigs</a> coming up in December: my first solo performance in a while, for the "Oakland Under $100: Local Affordable Art" show at Temescal Arts Center, and then another Blue Rabbit gig, this time at Bottom of the Hill - and since we're opening this time, it's a good opportunity to see us a little earlier in the evening than usual.<br><br>
As far as that solo show goes, I'm still not sure just what's gonna come out. I've been writing down some ideas I had recently that sound like accompaniment to a circus tightrope act, and I may try to play some of that - mwahaha-haha-haaa! But most of it will be completely and freely improvisational, which tends to be fairly brooding, autumnal ambient music with a lot of Irish influence - probably nothing danceable, no <i>Brick House</i>, sorry. I'm gonna try to incorporate this loop sequencer I've been learning to use lately - we'll see how that goes. Hopefully I can get one or two decent recordings and post them to the site next week.<br><br>
When not listening to my brooding, autumnal cello music, I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, safe holiday season!<br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275742009-11-03T07:30:00-08:002021-02-22T22:39:10-08:00Pirate Cat Radio on a Lee Shore<a href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/1d5bd865086285e1a531018afd1e3bcae48b48a3/original/pirate_cat_logo_01.jpg?1380131138" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="100" width="100" /></a>Bummer: San Francisco's <a target="_new" href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/">Pirate Cat Radio</a> is in trouble with the FCC. Check out station manager <a href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/wordpress/?p=14816" target="_new">Monkey's press release</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/offtherecord/detail?&entry_id=50736" target="_new">Tony DuShane's "Off the Record" editorial</a> on SF Gate. Let's support Pirate Cat Radio! I started by <a href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/donations.php" target="_new">buying a t-shirt online</a> - which I've wanted for a while anyway.<br><br>
Doesn't seem like a very auspicious time to be going after pirate radio, what with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131729/" target="_new">Richard Curtis' movie</a> coming out 'n all. I guess the Feds are trying to discourage the inevitable spike, but perhaps reverse psychology'd be more effective?<br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275732009-10-06T06:40:00-07:002017-02-01T11:21:50-08:00Have You Ever Seen a One Trick Pony?<a target="_new" href="http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1620312601/"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/b68f5be4d58b336f83249726792696a438f9e900/original/wrestler_01.jpg?1380131138" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="156" width="200" /></a>Alrighty then, I'm back from the best wedding and honeymoon EVER, and I'm stagediving straight back into the fray. I just loved that movie, <a target="_new" href="http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1620312601/"><i>The Wrestler</i></a>, and since I'm feeling a bit haggard myself these days after all the excitement (culminating in the celebration of the start of my fifth decade of existence last week!) I now presumptuously fancy myself a Randy 'The Ram' Robinson of the cello world. A potential halloween costume? Jody, you wanna be Cassidy?<br><br>
Anyway, 'the fray' mostly involves subbing in on cello for some Blue Rabbit <a href="./gigs.cfm">gigs</a>, starting out with a video recording of a studio performance at Ex'pression College for Digital Arts tonight at 11:30pm (contact me if you'd like to attend this private event - sorry about the late notice, I just found out myself last night!), followed by a gig at Kimo's in Nob Hill on Sunday night. Hope to see you there!<br><br>
"With a little luck, this could be my ticket back on top!" ;-}<br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275712009-08-26T04:25:00-07:002009-08-26T04:25:00-07:00Early Fall, 2009A very early Fall! I've got a couple <a href="./gigs.cfm">gigs</a> coming up with Blue Rabbit, the first at Barrel House in SoMa, Thu. 8/27, and another at Kimo's in Nob Hill, Sun. 10/11. In between I'm getting married on 9/12, then will be on my honeymoon in central Spain for a couple weeks - ¡hasta la vista!<br>Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275702009-05-08T06:57:47-07:002009-05-08T06:57:47-07:00Blue Rabbit @ El Rio, Sat., May 8, 2009, 6:30pmI've got a <a href="./gigs.cfm">gig</a> coming up Saturday with Blue Rabbit at El Rio in Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. It's a quickie in the early evening, so come on out, have some barbeque, rock out, and support the fundraiser, and still have time to enjoy some other activity later in the evening.<br><br>
I also added <a href="./photos.cfm">photos</a> from Osphiera's interview on KOWS radio in Occidental, CA (in the form of a badge-type link to my Flickr site).<br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275692009-04-16T19:05:00-07:002017-02-01T11:21:50-08:00Osphiera @ Pirate Cat Radio 87.9FM, Fri. Apr. 17, 2009, 3:45-4:30pm<a href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/playlist.php?dj=dd" target="_new"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/54817/124c7d17cffb4debd9ba69736d5302cd6da525cf/original/pirate_cat_playya.jpg?1380131138" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="100" width="132" /></a>Added my gig with Osphiera on Diamond Dave's show on Pirate Cat Radio to <a href="./gigs.cfm">the gigs page</a>. Come see it live at the cafe-studio, or listen <a href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/listen.php" target="_new">on the web</a> or 87.9FM (San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles Basin), or <a href="http://www.piratecatradio.com/playlist.php?dj=dd" target="_new">download the podcast</a> if you miss it! (Also added two more imminent Osphiera gigs: another radio gig for Sunday at <a target="_new" href="http://kowsradio.com/">KOWS 107.3FM</a> in Sonoma County, and a "regular old pub gig" at <a target="_new" href="http://www.elrinconsf.com/">El Rincón</a> on Tuesday.)<br>Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275682009-03-19T07:35:00-07:002009-03-19T07:35:00-07:00Blue Rabbit @ Café du Nord, San Francisco, Sat. Mar. 21, 2009, 9:00pm, 21+, $10Added my Café du Nord gig with Blue Rabbit to the, uh, <a href="./gigs.cfm">gigs page</a>. Sounds pretty kinky, you better check it out!<br>Hugh Fox * Cellisttag:hughfox.com,2005:Post/275672009-02-01T23:54:59-08:002009-02-01T23:54:59-08:00Getting StartedJust created the site today. No gigs in the immediate future, but I posted a bunch of past gigs from the end of last year, so the place won't look too bare. I've got lots of projects in the hopper, so join my mailing list, and come back soon, y'hear?!<br type="_moz">Hugh Fox * Cellist