Wooden – But not like Richard Burton
The Wooden Ball returns to Plush with a compilation CD
By Jamie Manser
n his tenth year of stripping down local bands, musician and Wooden Ball organizer Chris Holiman is marking the occasion by releasing the compendium “Ten Years Wood,” comprised of songs from the last decade of balls.
Holiman – who went through 80 different DAT tapes for the album – said he could have put out two 70 minute CDs but “whittled it down to people who influenced me the most, or the seminal people in town.
“For compilations, people give allowances for them. But this one stands alone.”
The third Ball compilation is strong throughout - opening with Calexico performing “Sonic Wind” at the 2002 Plush show and ending with Billy Sed and Rainer covering The Faces song “Ooh La La” at Club Congress in 1996.
The nine-track release also includes Chris Cacavas, Howe Gelb, Dan Stuart, Al Perry and Greyhound Soul.
“Greyhound Soul has played every year at Congress and Plush except for the first year we had the show,” he said, and are slated to play again this year.
Holiman explained organizing the event as “a real art.”
“First, I get people who can translate acoustically. Second, I get a good mix with established singer/songwriters with some new bands. Third, I look for original music – taking rock and turning it acoustic. I look for a change in arrangement.
“What’s special is that people are playing acoustically and 200 people are paying attention. You can play acoustically at coffee houses but people aren’t really paying attention.”
The first official Wooden Ball was in 1994 at Congress, with roots dating back to a 1988 show at defunct Nino’s Steakhouse on north First Avenue – now the home of Sanchez Burrito Co.
Holiman said that a few bands wanted “to play together and decided to do it acoustically. Paula Jean Brown did this set that was so beautiful and then Howe played and Rainer played.
“We keep on doing it because it works and it sounds good.”
Gaining in popularity, the first show at Plush in 2002 saw a line of people wrapped around the club waiting to get in.
Scheduled again at Plush this month, Holiman said he changed venues because “I wanted to go to a smaller place. Plush is an intimate place to play acoustically.
“It was more about size than anything. We could fill it (Congress), but 400 people clanking glasses takes away from the sound.”
This year’s line up is strong, with 20-minute sets being played by Topless Opry, Chris Holiman & The Downtown Saints, Fourkiller Flats, Maggie Golston, Nick Luca Trio, Truck, Al Perry, Camp Courageous, and Greyhound Soul with more to be announced.
The Master of Ceremonies this year is local drummer, lounge singer and known farceur Bruce Halper. 
The Wooden Ball commences on Saturday, January 24 at 340 E. 6th St.. The doors open at 8:00pm with a $6 cover charge. “Ten Years Wood” will be available for $8. You can call the club at 798-1298 or log on to Chris Holiman’s website at www.Holiman.org for more information.
NOTES
By Jamie Manser
Road to Recovery
A heartfelt and healing big hug and kiss to two of Tucson’s nicest, coolest musicians who recently had serious accidents while on two wheels.
Chango Malo bassist Justin Lillie fell off of his bike in November while swerving to miss being hit by a motorized vehicle and broke his jaw in three places. His jaw had to be wired shut for a month, but Lillie was back to playing gigs in December.
Matt Shannon, drummer for The Hillwilliams, was hit and dragged by a truck last month while on his motorcycle and had to have surgery to put the skin back on his foot after it had been filleted. The band had to cancel a few gigs, but singer Scott Lema promises Shannon will be back on stage for their Friday, January 9 Congress show.
“He’ll be the one in the wheelchair with the drums strapped to it!” Lema said.
KXCI
Last month in a five hour broadcast, KXCI celebrated its second annual holiday show with fifteen local musicians playing live sets, interspersed with recorded holiday tracks from a conglomeration of artists.
Of the stellar line-up, Namoli Brennet’s gorgeous rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear” actually brought tears to my eyes, Naim Amor did a cool cover of “Christmas Time Is Here,” Joey Burns played an original called “Gift Exchange,” Jesse Stanley did a groovy “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” Nowhere Man played a Tony Rosano original “Another Whiskey Christmas,” and Annie Hawkins showed her holiday spirit by giving up her spot to we-moved-to-Massachusetts-but-lived-in-and-are-visiting-Tucson band Hector on Stilts.
This month, the community radio station will begin broadcasting from its new upstairs studio. For the last year, work has been done by donated labor to change what was a big storage room into a master control studio. The room has been equipped with an elevated floor with acoustic panels, will improve the on-air sound and replaces the downstairs room that proved to be too small.
On Saturday, January 3 Calexico and Friends will perform a benefit concert for KXCI and Solar Culture at The Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. The bill includes Neko Case, Salvador Duran, Tom Walbank, and Nick Luca.
During the station’s holiday broadcast, Calexico singer Joey Burns said that he hopes “other friends will come down and play.” Burns also said that Calexico has an EP coming out this spring.
General admission is $15. Tickets available by calling the station at 623-1000 x13, or at Hear’s Music (2508 N Campbell Ave.), Antigone Books, and online at www.KXCI.org.
In other news, KXCI appointed landscape architect Phred Bartholomew to its Board of Directors, and Larry Bruce is set to take the General Manager’s position on January 5.
In The Studio
Cathy Rivers is currently recording the basic tracks for her second release with Teddy Morgan. Rivers said on KXCI that the CD would come out in February if it is an EP and it will be out in March if it is a full-length.
Co-Greyhound Soul keyboardist conspirator with Bobby Hepworth, Glen Corey, is finishing up recording an 11-song release with Vikas Pawa of I Like Red Recordings. Corey and Pawa had played together as I Like Red, but “split off the I Like Red project because Vikas is focusing on Nowhere Man,” Corey said.
Corey is continuing with the effort and the self-titled album will be an 11-song release of his songs that he hopes to have out by February.
Venue Updates
Starting Sunday, January 11, Plush will be closed for four days as it begins the first phase of renovations for the club. The venue will reopen the lounge with The Fashionistas on Thursday, January 15. Log on at www.PlushTucson.com for information.
The Mariah Carey show at the Tucson Convention Center Arena last month, filled 5,800 of the arena’s 7,500 concert seats. Carey’s performance marks the beginning of a string of “big ticket” shows to hit the TCC Arena. Look for John Mayer on February 24 and Metallica with special quests Godsmack on March 3. More details are available at www.TucsonConventionCenter.org or by calling 791-4101.
