The Jeffrey James Show’s Top Ten Shows of the Decade!
10. Hotel Utah Saloon
It was a dream come true to play the Hotel Utah in San Francisco. As Mama Crow said, “This venue is a classic establishment in the city. It’s over 100 years old and is located in the heart of SOMA and though the city has changed, this building stays the same.” It did not disappoint to share the stage with Mama Crow & Louie Lock! Masterlock jumped up on stage and beat-boxed with me. Alyssa Hanson opened up and sang harmonies on a few songs of mine as well. Playing this legendary venue did not disappoint!
9. Between The Waves Madison
It was the first time Mary Hoffmann and I ever performed together. Our late friend Luke Jorgensen pulled some strings last minute as our outdoor stage got rained out. We ended up opening for The People Brothers Band at the High Noon Saloon. Mary was shredding the violin and our joy was exploding on stage. It was the beginning of many, many special concerts with Mary.
8. Bayfront Kava Bar
It was the grand reopening of the Bayfront Kava Bar. The show had been canceled and then miraculously the venue reopened right before I flew out. The legendary Kava Dave called to share the good news. That night Seth Robinson was on percussion, Rob Taylor on guitar, Hawk Devi on violin, and Tiana Malone Jennings sang beautiful harmonies. Unity & Stoneman opened, with our dear friend Y’dine closing the night out. New bonds were made that night, and only time knows how long they will last.
7. Placerville Public House
This sleepy mountain town in the foothills of the Sierras in Northern California became a second home after years of visiting on tour. Harvest time is our favorite time to play, and it felt like the whole town came out to this show. The place was packed and jubilant folks poured onto the street dancing. It was a night of pure magic with Kaptain Slimey on mandolin, Greg on bass, and Danny Smithson on percussion. James Cottriall even guested as he was in town from LA. Honestly, I can’t wait to get back here! Big thanks to our fans over the years in Placerville for coming out to support!
6. Big Island Brewhaus
A frequent stop on our Big Island tours is the Big Island Brewhaus. There was a night in particular where the band, crowd, and staff all created an unforgettable evening. That year Kaahele & I shared a band featuring Christopher McNinch on percussion, Sean Murray on bass, and Maggie Poff on vocals. It was so magical I can still remember the opening song during our second set, where I went to improv and everyone followed perfectly without a cue in. It’s these unexplainable moments that keep us coming back to Hawai’i.
5. Shangri~La Festival
It’s hard to pick an exact set from all the years performing at Harmony Park. It was always a blast having countless friends sit in with us. Talented musicians like the Spare Change Trio, EmiLove, Riconekt, and members of Rootz Within. Big love to everyone who discovered us there and shared those blissful memories under the oaks. A special thanks to Ricardo Romero for sitting in on percussion and his countless hours building the Romerdome Familia.
4. Sommer-Gönnung
My first trip to Austria did not disappoint. I met Valerie Sieberer at one of our shows in Hilo, Hawaii. She invited Kaahele & I to her town outside Vienna. Little did I know we would play a festival for locals, weary travelers, and refugees. The party went until sunrise and we made friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.
3. Kohala ‘Aina Festival
During one of our best tours ever, we played the 7th Annual Kohala ‘Aina Festival. The stage was handmade by our tour manager at the time, Virgil. It was a spectacular experience. Maggie Poff and Kaahele were singing harmonies, Christopher McNinch was on the drums, and Erik Avery was on the bass. I also hopped up on stage with Cosmic Serenity during their island favorite, ‘Shepards of Aloha’.
2. Platea Madrid
Literally my first night ever in Europe, I met Natali Castillo. I was so exhausted. If it weren’t for a new friend at my hostel who dragged me (despite the wind and rain) to the Amsterdam Songwriters Guild, I never would have made it. Natali & I stayed in touch since I mentioned I would be living in Portugal and traveling through where she lives in Spain. Fast forward four months and I was playing the largest stage of my life at Platea Madrid, with a band Natali put together. Muchas Gracias Natali and to Guido Farusi on acoustic bass, and Carlos on percussion!
1. California World Fest
Whew, what can I say. Two days, two sets with a full a band. The best show of the decade was our first set. It was Christopher McNinch on percussion & Erik Avery on bass. All our shows together on the Big Island seemed to culminate in a flawless performance that afternoon. The room was packed and I sold out of CDs after the performance. Big Thanks to KVMR Radio for having us on and to Patricio, our magic bus driver and festival guide.
Thank you so much for all your support on this journey. I couldn’t do it without people like you! If you’d like to check out our music videos from this decade, here is the link! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIUI9ojibxdUUkb8wlMd4Aw. Aloha ~ Jeffrey