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"A
Musical Journey Through The Golden State"
As bandleader, Cris
Snyder says during the opening strains of “Monterey” – “Our
journey begins during the Summer Of Love (June, 1967) at the
Monterey Pop Festival.”
From that
point, CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ steers its musical hot rod up and down
the highways and byway of “the Golden State” riding a uniquely
themed, colorfully costumed, choreographed, multi-media
presentation of LIVE music all about California. The journey
covers many places in song (Lodi, Dock Of The Bay, L.A. Woman, If
You're Going To San Francisco, California Sun, etc.). It also
looks at life-styles (Life In The Fast Lane, Hollywood Nights),
the myths, the legends and more.
Dreamin’
includes artists who were so much a part of California's popular
musical land-scope (Doobie Brothers, Doors, Grateful Dead) that
they just HAD to be included in the show. California Dreamin’
looks at some historical events (The Beatles final U.S. concert at
Candlestick Park, 1966) and the beginning of the "protest" era in
Hollywood on the Sunset Strip (For What It's Worth by Buffalo
Springfield).
Ultimately, the one-year-old show is a fast rising star on the
horizon of the California Coast. It is a memory-filled, nostalgic
look at California, revealed in the lyrics of popular songs that
everyone knows and love.
See a few
of those "legends" appear "live" in California Dreamin's live
show. Jim Morrison, Johnny Cash, John & Paul of The Beatles, Jerry
Garcia and Janis Joplin come back to life for one more,
unforgettable encore!
Love It or
Hate It, California is a legendary, mythical place in the minds of
the general public. No other place conjures up so many images and
feelings. California Dreamin’ examines all of that, while bringing
back memories, historical context and the nostalgia of previous
decades, as no other show on Earth has ever done!
Catch CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ LIVE, soon!
Click on link
BELOW for quick view video of Live action:
www.myspace.com/californiadreamin2007

Below is a letter written by
an "anonymous" reviewer who was obviously smitten by the band,
California Dreamin'...
Recently, I had the opportunity to see CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
. . . A Musical Journey Through The Golden State. as they
headlined the Fourth Annual ZIN FEST at Lodi Lake Regional Park
(in Lodi).
It was a hot day,
temperatures in the area soared to over 100 degrees. But as the
beautiful park setting began to become shaded in front of the
stage as the sun began its Western decline, CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
took the stage at 5:40 P.M., closing the well attended, festive
day of food, wine, music and crafts with a 75 minute "tour of
California" on the Main Stage.
During
their first few months of existence, the show's "intro"
has been re-worked and fine tuned, with a pre-recorded voiceover
(and an interesting assortment of spatial, sonic noises)
alerting the audience that something different was about to
happen. What happened was a group of seven musicians, seen only
moments before in tee shirts, shorts and short hair, doing the
requisite "line check" walked on in "full bloom" in their 60's
era, colorful "retro" costumes that set the tone for a "love
fest" between this upstart band and a fully engaged, ready to
party, audience.
And what a party it was!
Hundreds of people immediately jumped up to the opening strains
of "Down In Monterey," the Eric Burdon & The Animals hit from
1967 that recounted the events of "Monterey Pop," -- truly the
first real "rock festival" held at the Monterey County
Fairgrounds in June of 1967. California Dreamin' wove in and out
of that classic rock anthem, performing bits and pieces of songs
by artists who played the festival and and mentioned by name in
Burdon's original hit.
When the band sang "The
Byrds & The Airplane did FLY," -- they broke into several bars
of "Somebody To Love" by Jefferson Airplane. When the lyrics "Jimi
Hendrix, believe ME, set the world ON FIRE," the highly
recognizable guitar riff to Hendrix's own "Fire" broke away from
"Monterey" and seared the crowd. And so it went. As the opening
song ended, the familiar strains of another Hendrix classic,
"All Along The Watchtower" blared from the P.A. And just when
you thought you were going to settle in to that familiar
classic rock tune, IT was drowned out by seven vocalists singing
"All The Leaves Are Brown . . ." -- the opening line to The
Mamas & The Papas classic hit (from which California Dreamin'
has adopted their name)!
By then, the area in
front of the stage was strewn with a wide ranging assortment of
"dancin' fools" who, by all indications really understood that
what they were seeing and hearing, was, indeed, "A Musical
Journey Through The Golden State." And I don't need to tell you
that when front man, Colby Pollard begged patience from the
audience while the band tuned a couple of guitars, saying "We've
GOT to get this one right, it is a song about LODI,"
the entire audience erupted in delight. The band broke into
C.C.R.'s anthem recounting the bad luck of a touring musician
who, for one reason or another got "Stuck In Lodi." Nobody cared
that the small Central Valley community was basically panned in
the John Fogerty-penned tune, because, as band leader, Cris
Snyder shouted to the audience "Before this song, few knew about
Lodi, after this song, the WHOLE WORLD knew about YOUR home
town." Needless to say, the band had the audience in the palm of
their hands for the rest of show.
A blistering version of
"Hotel California," somehow reigned in and restrained with only
one electric and TWO acoustic guitars, just made the audience
even more appreciative, while Seger's "Hollywood Nights" and
Cheap Trick's "California Man" served notice that THIS BAND
could ROCK and solidified the band's standing as something truly
special.
We were surprised by the
number of dancers! This show was never supposed to be about
dancing, but was to be SEEN and HEARD. Well, it was THAT, but it
also created a "vibe" that just made people want to be a part
of "the scene" and made them want to MOVE. So dance, they did!
We could not ask for
more! CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' has become the hottest new band in
many years and they have not only lived up to the advance
billing and our hopes for a great show; they have exceeded
their wildest expectations.
www.tabletop-pro.com
Copyright 2009 by
Tabletop Productions. All Rights Reserved
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