Thirst for craft beer drives expansion at Sonoma

                    Photo By Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat

In a Press Democrat article today, it appears there is plenty of demand for craft beer in Sonoma County.  Being local we often take for granted of how plentiful craft beer is our area and with so many excellent choices it’s like Christmas all year round.  So no wonder we are driving expansion – we have become craft beer snobs. We have Lagunitas Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, Hen House, Petaluma Hills, 101 North, Bear Republic just to name a few.

This article interviews Tony Magee, founder and owner of Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Petaluma, and he shares how he intends to play a leading role in this expansion. More great craft beers in Sonoma? You had me at hello.

via Thirst for craft beer drives expansion at Sonoma | The Press Democrat.

What The Heck Is An 0+ Festival? Get In The Know Because It’s Comin’ To #Petaluma

O+ Festival is a three day festival where participating artists and musicians receive free medical and wellness care in a pop-up clinic in exchange for their work and performances. Wristband buyers are supporting the delivery of these services and are strengthening the fabric of their community.

O+ Festival Petaluma is where our community comes together as a cooperative on November 7-9, 2014 at the historic downtown Odd Fellows Hall building 111 Petaluma Boulevard North.

It’s success is completely dependent on volunteers, sponsors,

and art-music loving health care professionals

Historic IOOF Lode #30 Building

ANOTHER IMPORTANT DATE AND FUN WAY TO PARTICIPATE

Lagunitas Brewing Company will be hosting a fundraiser to support our 0+ Festival.  Here are the details:

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VIDEO: Tony Magee Tells Story How #Petaluma’s Lagunitas IPA was born

Tony Magee appears in this live interview by Spudnik on Cuz’s Corner video by Jam In the Van at Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Randy Gremp (Center)
Randy Gremp (Center)

The Scottish Magee tells the story how he was exhausted making beers and was frustrated with the results.  So he called on Randy Gremp Brewmaster of The Calistoga Brewing Company who unselfishly shared his brewing secret that helped Tony to change his recipe to create the Lagunitas IPA. Gremp now a brewmaster for Third Street Ale Works (shown in this picture with other brewmasters) has a reputation in Sonoma County brewing circles that is legendary.  Magee writes about him in his book speaking of the origins of his famous IPA.

“I wrote the recipe, but it was directly inspired by the very best brewer in the North Bay, who brewed the most sophisticated and subtle beers in the very tiniest and most compact brewery I’d ever seen: Randy Gremp…”

In this interview we find not only did Magee learn a lot about making beer from the British but he can also play guitar and sing.  He also announced that they just signed a contract that will put Lagunitas beer in over 900 bars in London in the near future.

Video: KRON 4 News #Petaluma a Culinary Destination

River View From Taps: Photo By Wayne Dunbar
River View From Taps: Photo By Wayne Dunbar

Last night was a beautiful evening in Petaluma.  We had the pleasure of dining at Rosso Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar.  The service is amazing and the food is excellent. Also there is no corkage fee when you bring your own wine.  We took advantage of this and brought our favorite bottle of Rombauer Chardonnay.  We enjoyed the salad and the Margherita pizza which is made with local ingredients including McEvoy Ranch extra virgin olive oil.  The theater district was bustling full of participants from the days 2014 Great Petaluma Treasure Hunt. We also enjoyed stops at Seared Restaurant and finished the evening out at Petaluma Taps with the incredible view of the river while enjoying a cold Petaluma Hills IPA.

I guess it was fitting to find a report this morning from KRON 4 News weekend anchor Marty Gonzalez who states that Petaluma has grown from a small quiet town to a culinary destination. Yelps north bay community manager Kevin Blum starts off talking about Rosso Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar.  He goes on to tell about our other fantastic venues including Lagunitas Brewing Company, Lombardi’s Gourmet Deli, Central Market, and Powell’s Sweet Shoppe.  But Kevin says if you want to dive deep into the Petaluma culinary experience he recommends the Taste of Petaluma which is the best venue to journey through the Petaluma culinary experience on Saturday August 23, 2014 from 11:30AM to 4:00PM. 

Here is the video from this recently released report.

 

One-Man-Band Matt Bolton jams at #Petaluma’s Lagunitas Taproom

As a former musician I had to watch closely to how Matt Bolton performs.   After processing all that he does to create his music I was very impressed.  I have to admit my first impression was – this guy has recorded tracks for his background music – WRONG! I am usually very impressed with artists like Geddy Lee of Rush who sings, plays bass, organ bass foot pedals, and keyboards at the same time.  That would be too simple for Matt. Geddy would have to get rid of Neal Peart and play the acoustics as well to keep up with him.

Matt has toured with bands like Todd Rundgren and Jesse Colin Young band (that I actually had the opportunity to play a few songs with at the Inn of the Beginning in Cotati many moons ago). Rundgren recently said “I knew Matt was a player – that’s why I hired him.  But, it wasn’t until I a saw him do his own thing that I realized what an entertainer he is.” according to the Kauai Music Scene.

This solo artist from the Island of Kauai tours nationally and plays several genres of music using guitars, bass guitars, drums, keyboards, piano, saxophone, violin, mandolin, slide guitar, ukelele, banjo, percussion, dobro and yes, he does the singing too.  Matt was kind enough to dedicate this song to Positively Petaluma in this video we produced.

 

Music Video Filmed in #Petaluma’s Lagunitas Tap Room Loft

If you have ever been in the loft at the Lagunitas Brewing Company, its hard not to recognize the signature paneling backdrop for this video.  Karl Denson films his music video in what seem like the perfect venue for this notable artist. Denson played saxaphone in Grammy Winner Lenny Kravitz band. According to Wikipedia Kravitz met saxophonist Denson and invited him to play on the song, “Let Love Rule.” Kravitz was so impressed with his playing that Denson played on much of the album. Denson toured with Kravitz for the next five years.

According to Denson’s website this song is part of the lineup in Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe: Denson: Vocals, Sax & Flute; Chris Littlefield: Trumpet; Max MacVeety: Drums; Chris Stillwell: Bass; David Veith: Keyboards; DJ Williams: Guitar.  This video also features local singer Nicki Bluhm who plays in Brokedown in Bakersfield which is a feature band for the upcoming Petaluma Music Festival

The Gravel Spreaders at #Petaluma’s Lagunitas – Hee Haw Metal???

The Gravel Spreaders, a Bay Area band, made an appearance at the Lagunitas Tap Room (and that’s stating it mildy). The genre of their music, Hee Haw Metal!  What?  It was so different it draws you in and the crowd was getting into it. You had to pay attention because you had no idea what they were going to play next.

Gravel Spreaders with Editor of Petaluma Magazine: Photo By Naomi Carlson
Gravel Spreaders with Editor of Petaluma Magazine: Photo By Naomi Carlson

The band is made of four members Bud Hole on bandit bass and lead vocals, Buzzy Do-Well on banjo, Dr. Buck Knife playing lead on mandolin and jaw harp, and Uncle Mungar on acoustic and slide guitars. Barefoot, overalls, cowboy and trucker hats you’re thinking country, but then they’re jammin’ tunes like Ozzie Osborne, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, ACDC. Most shocking to us was a punk song from the Ramones. They fill their songs with comedic innuendos of clever lyrics, blowing raspberries or letting out chicken calls.

Lagunitas Tap room has excellent bands on a regular basis, but we have to say that this band had an entertainment factor not seen before and not to soon forgotten.  We hope that  they make a return appearance in the future.

Here is a video of one of their performance of Ozzie Osborns Crazy Train.

For more information about this band, click here to go to their website.

Wolfman Jack meets Louis Armstrong at Lagunitas Tap Room

First of all, Happy Father’s Day to all fathers out there.

Lawrence “Lipbone” Redding is songwriter, singer, guitarist, composer and performance artist according to his wikipedia page. He has an unusual talent to mimic the sound of brass instruments with his mouth and incorporate them into his live musical performance.  Hence his name is a contraction of Lip and Trombone – “Lipbone”.   His southern upbringing gives him a background for one of the oldest forms of music found in a variety of cultures today.

In this performance at the Lagunitas Brewing Company Tap Room, at the beginning and end he gives credence to Positively Petaluma.  Thanks Lipbone!

Click here for more Positively Petaluma videos.