A Night of Magical Music by Coyote Blue at The Garage
At last, after months of expectation since I was first invited to come hear a Coyote Blue performance at Mission Pizza by my friends in Camble, last night the music moved me at The Garage! What a wonderful world we live in thanks to music! Coyote Blue is now officially on my list along with Mumbo Gumbo, the Davis-based group we have enjoyed for so many years thanks to the Webster’s and Sadderfield’s. Plus, the Naglee Park Garage, better known simply as “The Garage”, is a super experience in and of itself much like The Barn in Oakland. Thanks to Tom, the evening came together splendidly.
As they state on their site, Coyote Blue uses acoustic instruments and voices to create a unique musical blend of jazz, bluegrass, classical, ballad, rock, and just about every other style any of the four Coyotes has assimilated in our lifetime of acoustic adventures.” This last point couldn’t be more true. Frank Buffum, Topher Gayle, Pete Chen and Chris Finn draw upon their diverse experiences visiting and living in places as quaint as thermopolis Wyoming and metropolitan as the Silicon Valley. The best part truly is the character the Coyote Blue musicians each add to the mix. Topher adds a spice of humor that will keep you grinning and giggling all night long. Hearing their classic slow swing reminded me so much of the scenes and melodies from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? And yet the mix of mandolin, mandola, guitar, ukulele, hand drums, fiddle and bass played at high tempo make your feet want to do a little jig.
The Garage made the acoustics all the more vibrant with its brick walls and open pavilion. As the name implies, the Naglee Park Garage is an old style garage, better known today as a gas station. The remnants of the old-style station are well maintained for historical posterity in amongst an otherwise very modern downtown. Today, their main attraction is the diner serving delicious delights all week long with live music Tuesdays and Thursdays. In honor of Octobre Fest, for the month of October the diner features a traditional German spread, with everything from Sauerkraut and Wiener schnitzel to spaetzle and apple strudel. Dining on such dishes on the picnic benches under the pavilion brought me right back to Germany.
Before closing, for everyone else who has yet to experience the cool setting and dining at The Garage or hear the melodies of Coyote Blue, I am including for reference their particulars here. The Garage is literally at the entrance to San Jose State. So for anyone familiar with the San Jose college scene, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding The Naglee Park Garage. The rest of us can fall back to the wonders of GPS and online driving directions to get there easiest.
Coyote Blue
www.coyotebluemusic.com/ –
The Naglee Park Garage
505 East San Carlos Street.
San Jose, CA 95112
http://www.nagleeparkgarage.com/