The Jonah Kit w/Powell St. John and the Aliens!!! December 14, 2008

200pockets

Well folks,
We've reached the last Jonah Kit show of the year, in the month of the same vintage. The musical theatre nerd in me desperately wants to break into "The Last Midnight" from Sondheim's Into The Woods, but I'm holding him firmly at bay. Why, you might ask, would I do such a thing to the poor lad? Certainly, he's fallen to seed through all these years without a break, without even a chance to throw his feet in a community theatre production, his memories of the high school stage worn too bare to be fulfilling any longer. What harsh indignity to now even deny him a jaunt through the refrain!

But, neglect him I must, for another dork, born during those same teenage years, lurks in my psyche: the record collector with a taste for psychedelia, who spent countless weeks hunting down the recordings of a band called the 13th Floor Elevators, in a time before they'd been properly reissued.

Once said albums had been attained, and countless more hours were spent listening, and examining every square inch of their packaging, a new mystery emerged. Sure, I expected songwriting credits for Roky Erickson and the rest of the group, but who was this Powell St. John, several of whose songs appear on the Elevators first two full-lengths? Very little information could be attained, though I did learn that he'd written songs for Janis Joplin and Mother Earth as well, and even played harmonica on some Mance Lipscomb recordings. Also, senior year, I found out that my good friend Andrew's father had actually played in a band with Powell back in the late '60's, and they'd even shared the stage with the Elevators a number of times!

But, after this revelation, a few more lean years passed until the greatest visitation of all descended upon me as I was perusing a local weekly and saw, of all things, a listing for a show at the Ivy Room with Powell St. John and the Aliens. Not only was Powell living in the Bay Area, but he'd begun playing live again, and with original members of Roky Erickson's band the Aliens no less!

Now, after attending a few more shows since that Ivy Room gig, and a few conversations with Powell, we're playing a show together at the Hotel Utah Saloon in San Francisco this coming Sunday, December 14th! I'm really excited to share the stage with them, not only on account of Powell's excellence, but because of the presence of the great original Alien Duane Aslaksen on guitar, and the absolutely amazing electric autoharp stylings (yes, ELECTRIC AUTOHARP!!!) of Billy Miller, whose own late '60's hard psych band Cold Sun's recording were recently issued on CD.

Plus, to top it all off, my friend Trinity, from ye olde Teen Musical Theatre Company days, is going to be performing on Sunday as well, with her band Out Damned Spot, purveyors of mighty fine thick, stripped down hard rock.

The Jonah Kit will be play in the middle slot at 9:30. Powell St. John and the Aliens (http://www. myspace. com/powellstjohn) will open at 8:30. Out Damned Spot (http://www. myspace. com/outdamnedspot) will headline at 10:30.

Here are the details, broken down in my usual patented, easy-to-read fashion. Come on out if you can, and do bring a friend!...

Who:
The Jonah Kit
http://www. myspace. com/thejonahkit

When: Sunday, December 14th

Time: 8:30pm

Admission: $7

Where:
Hotel Utah Saloon
500 4th Street at Bryant
San Francisco, California

Hope to see you there...Best, Jonah