Back again............

Wow, I better blow off some of this dust and get the swiffer out for these spider webs. I need to update you all! Thanks for waiting so long. I owe you several appoligees. So, I just got back from a 14 day trip to England, where I visited my Daughter who has been studying abroad and going to Bristol, University. We went to Wales and Amsterdam too on this very cool trip!. So, all that said, I set a historical record for myself by not going to drumming for Three Weeks in a row!! And, drumming is still going strong! So much for thinking that they're packing it up any minute now. THis is good and I'm glad its so cuz I'm planning on retiring on the drum circle pension fund. I'll really try and give you more here and soon, so stay tuned to this station and also check us out on Facebook..........Kaweah River Drum Circle. Ask to join and we'll let you in. Yes, anyone can join!

Beats People...............

Yep, we have a Blog going about the Drum Circle pretty much. Though, there is other stuff to keep the reader interested in whats going on in the general area. Sometimes I put up pics from places I visit that I think you might like. Who knows? I feel like those of you who are in some office in some city working for some boss should be able to just get away for a minute. Go into somebody else's lives and see what they are doing. A quick little get away to some place outside in nature. There's something special here, its these people and their crazee lives with their own music to keep the beat. You might want to flag this blog and refer to it often cuz its a different kinda story about a bunch of different kinda lives. Enjoy!

Back on Track ....Weather Wise

Climbing the second week of January on the Mineral King Road.......

Nice day today on this Wednesday! We finally got our rain last Friday and it lasted till pretty much yesterday. Lots of white in the Mountains which is really good! We need it for the year coming. Its so different compared to last year and all the rain and snow that it brought. This year the rain we got was the first since early November. It was starting to look grim. So, the River also came way up Friday nite. Up to around 3000 cfs. The biggest it gets in the peak normal year is around 5000 cfs so this was a big surge of the River caused by all the Rain in the high country coming down. The ground so hard from no moisture that it was like water on a duck's back. Anyway, we've been Drummming along, Sunday was great of course, raining off and on and our Fire Spinner came anyway and gave us a show to be remembered. I sure hope he doesn't swallow too much of that lamp oil before he blows it in a huge ball of flame! Gary and I took a real nice Sauna last night and then it was off to the RIverview for Taco Tues. Come on up and let's get together..............

This is the Year.........

The weather here has been record breaking warm. High 60's are all around and the hills even warmer. So much for global warming being wrong! Now its January and we haven't had rain since November, let alone any snow in the Sierra. But, Drumming is still going on. This year is our 20th year of doing it. And, this year we really gotta give it our all. It could change. That is, drumming could change this year, the year that supposedly, Gary is moving away. Let's all stay in touch alot and do more of what we do together and come Sunday Night and we'll talk more. Have a nice Day!

Hot Fire Sunday Night

It's been freezing,every night.But its just right at freezing. Still the days are sunny and cool and stars are in the sky at night for sure. The shortest day of the year is right around the corner and then it'll start getting light longer, but man, hurry up! We've been hard at it doing some work at the Gallery. A elec. and a new/old gate....you'll see when you come up for our Sunday Night Drummmg. We've had some good hot fires too for Drumming. Its nice to be out when its real chilly if you have a hot fire you can rotate around. Yea, you want to watch the south side of the circle though cuz thats where the smoke goes, usually. We all have our places we go to in the circle every Sunday. We have our special spots. I know I do and if you get there late, well sorry, you lose. Sometimes out of respect that person will give it up to the core drummers, but some don't know. We didn't plan it and this is how it got to be. See you Sunday eh??

We are on Facebook

You got it we're on Facebook. Its a closed page but your invited! Just check it out and please join. Its a good way to get more recent updates on all the drummie activities. Type in Kaweah River Drum Circle to Facebook and our page will show.

Some Fall Photo Art.........

Anyone up for a River walk...........

Well, its definatly cool now. Last Thursday I almost stepped on a rattlesnake and today its coooool! Winter is here with alittle fall left. I'm about ready to take a walk down by the river..............

The Big Drumming of Last............

The Sunday after our performance at the Three Rivers School Carnival was pretty special. Some of the old core drummers showed and we all remembered how it was to drum together and why it is a great thing to do all these years. We can just be drumming and stare at each other and the words are spoken so.........

Update Time..........

Dang, time moves too quick for me. Its time for an update! Alls been well in the world of Drumming and all the Drummies are doing good too. We're gearing up for our big yearly gig at the Halloween Carnival across the street from the Gallery here in Three Rivers. Its out on the baseball field of the School. Lots of folks attend this Saturday nite party and we'll be going the last hour of the event.....7 to 8 in the eve. Who will show is always the question. A few of us core folks will be there for sure. It should be good and your welcome to join us. You get a free dinner and its always great food. It will be in front of about a thousand people and most you'll know so wear a costume and they won't know its you acting like some drummer from town. Come on up. I'm going to be updating more now that I"ve just about fininshed my 6 month work with the Sequoia National Park Fire season so stay tuned................

Its not what you think...........

Getting ready to go up and Drum tonite. Its Sunday folks. Time to be by the River and get the heat from a different vantage point. The exact center of town. Got my drum, got my shakers and cowbell and claves. Got lots of water........it always suprises me how many show with no water!! What are you thinking dude! We're planning on drumming, I mean getting down with it,not just sitting there and slapping your hand lightly around, we're thumping the skins. I'm planning on sweating and getting some excercise and drinking lots of water too. I'm planning on watching the most beautful women dancing and playing the soundtrack for that movie........The future is now my friends........come on up tonite!

Hot and Sweaty times are good.......

We had a good one last nite. How do you describe a "Good One"? Well, in a way they are all good, but some just stick out. Maybe it was cuz it was sooo hot and sticky. It got the blood boiling I guess. The other thing is its who shows. We had friends from the past, friends who are regulars and friends who are starting to come and have for several in a row. Pretty soon we get this group who is always there and know who we do what we do. We grooved it last nite. Thumping the town of Three Rivers on a Sunday nite when all the people just watching TV we're wondering what was making the pictures shake on the walls. Now, thats a GOOD ONE! and Thanks to all of you for making it so.

And, Yes, the River........

After Hours this last Sunday Night..

Yes, some of us still stay late after all the Drums have been put away and get out the guitars, ukelelalees, flutes and all things that don't make so much noise but make nice music happen. Its also a really nice time of the nite to just be out by the river and enjoy hanging out with friends who we only see once aweek. No loud instruments due to our curfew. You are all welcome of course!

Going to Bed with Drums in your Head

What starts out as a quite small gathering can quickly change at the Drum Circle as those of you who have come often know to be true. The saying goes, "it could just be us". But hardly ever it is just US. Last night proved all that stuff true! We had around 31 friends show and some even bringing drums. We had several Dancers and even a River Drunk washed up from below to twirl tpsy round and round the dance floor where she was stopping/falling none of us knew.It finally took some of our core women Drummers to escort her away. And, the Drumming was the usual crazeness when everyone that has Drums is trying to be louder than everyone else who has Drums. Drum Wars ruled. But out of it all we reined in some deep bottom hugging groove thangs that stuck and left all who attended going to bed with drums in their head........

Its Tonight we Gather........

After a really nice week of cool temps. the River is becoming aproachable and swimable if you know where to get in that is. Its still a deadly current and a very cold tempature to deal with. You could drown! Anyways, its going by the Drumcircle and its loud that River. It covers up all the noise we make and sometimes when it is just noise its a good thing. It keeps all the new people who haved moved into Three Rivers and used their millions of dollars to build their big houses from complaining about us. All the new arrivals in town always gotta complain bout something cuz thats what they always did in the big cities they came from. We just ride all that out though and have for all of our 19 years. We just groove along and enjoy the great life we're given, no complaining. I always have friends ask me what's a good time to show up for the Drumming. Well, we start at 6 technically. But its still light out. People start arriving and some go into the Gallery and look at the art, some go to the River and check things out, others go into the circle and get it ready for the big event of the night. Usually I tell everybody that the magic starts happening when it starts getting dark. When we light the fire or the oil lamp. Darkness is the best for doing what we do. It makes us all look ageless. It covers all the background that can be distracting. When red is gray and yellow white, you can decide what is right and what is an illlusion...............

A Hot and Sweaty bunch of Grooves......

A nice and hot sweaty sunday nite drumming it was. The river was ripping and splashing in the background and the drums were going in the foreground. We had a great show of hands on deck, Chuck, Wil, and all the core members who come and jam out the grooves in the heat of the night. We had a special guest, our lady who plays the Diggee the best, with her new baby strapped to her as she played. Wil's friend also had a Diggereedoo and together it was a girls nite out with the Diggee'ss. I hope to get the video up so you can check it all out. Well, it happens alot so you still got a chance to see all the cool stuff we're up to and things that show up in the dark.........

The Good Life........

We had a big one Sunday night! People showed and like its been lately, we didn't know them, but they came and had great fun. Drumming and Dancing and Hula Hooping and Spinning Fire too. Its like that these days, a few core members and lots of others coming to see what all the talk is about. That Drum Circle up in Three Rivers, they rock man!!
We've been meeting at the Riverview on Tuesday Nights. Tuesday Taco Nights that is. We always get a table right next to the Raging River and have Tacos and its good and lots of Drum Circle folks are there too. You all are welcome of course!
Its supposed to be really hot today, 107. Man, I know you might want to just jump in the river cause its just right there but don't. Its so crazy high and it'll suck you in and you might not come out. A Raging River running at its most cubic feet per second of the year. See you soon...........

Finally!!

Here we go then...........Its been awhile my friends, but Drumming lives! We've been hard at it every Sunday night. With a fire too, its been chilly most Sundays. Last Sunday we even had to move under cover due to rain starting all of a sudden and big drops too! The weather around here has been all the talk of course. The whole month of May was very cool and this hasn't happened as long as I remember..(and thats a long time) Now its June and its just starting to get kinda hot. I"m working back up in the Park and our Fire season will and is off to a slow start, though soon to rage. Well, we're having a Potluck at the Gallery Tonite at 6.00. You should plan on coming up to see us and to Drum. The river is as high as it gets and is something to see. Come on up friends and lets catch up...........

Recording at the Gallery Recording Studio....in the Old Days

We've spent hours and hours recording our original music and its not always just drumming. My own feeling is that the stuff is Excellant!

Old Friends come Visit.........

This past weekend we had friends come visit from Lake Havasu, Arizona. Friends who had been at the Drum Circle some years ago and influenced our music in many ways. As the word got out the result was a bigger Drum Circle Sunday Night, in fact for those keeping meticulous records, it was the biggest of the year. Good Grooves with good friends equals a life well lived................

Burning Art and Drumming.

Here's a few pics to show you that all is still grooving along here. We burned Art at our last big drumming a week ago. I always hate to see that beautiful art get burned, but it was around for a long time and funny.....it was real hard to make it burn! You would think that a wood frame with canvas wrapped around and latex paint all over would burn, but it sure took longer than I would have guessed!

Well, its coming soon......

Yes, we're due for something new here eh.........Check back and we'll see whats in store..........

Heavy Rain Due.........

The last few days they've been letting out water from the lake to bring the level down. There's some really big rain makers coming through in the next few days and the river might come wayyyyyy up! It was raining last night already and they are big wet drops that are falling. The higher elevations are expected to get up to 10' of snow and since this is a Tropical weather event some if not all of the snow will be coming down the mountain. Stay Tuned. I put in a picture of the 02 Oct. high water going by the Drum Circle. That Ole River can come wayyy up eh.......

The Misty Drumming.....

We were all outside again this last Sunday nite to a couldy. misty cool night around a roaring fire. Good grooves coming from the core drummers who've been coming for years and know how to do what we like best....and from friends all over.

The Rain.......

Well, it was raining hard when I left for drumming Sunday Nite and it never quit till way after 12. Didn't know if anyone would show up with all the weather and the drive around the lake and all. It ended up being real nice. Friends showed and we had a nice little jam inside of course. Normally I hate being inside because it can get sooooo loud, but this time as last, we jammed with sensitivity to sound and groove. Nice to see you and Thanks for coming and drumming........

Back in the Saddle........

I'm back after some serious computer stuff. Its a wild world on the internet and now I've got my internetesstial back on the air. How's it been going? Haven't heard much from you all in the way of comments and such....Tell me what's on your mind. We're still hard at it, drumming away every Sunday night. And,since its been a smaller crowd the grooves together have been of GRAND scale! I mean there're really good and its with a different mix every Sunday. Its been pretty darn chilly out there and that's why some of you have'nt come I'm sure. Well, once you get there you'll see a big fire now thats its colder and its warm. COme on up you all.........

Creature Features....

I know we all like critter pics. These are all ones I saw in the last 2 months. Thought you would like to check them out!

Inside around the fire....

Sunday night was raining like crazy when I headed up. So, that means, Thanks to Gary, that we're inside the Gallery with the full circle of whoever shows. And the groove was really good in the "boom room" too, I mean really good! The gallery was shaking and outside it was raining.

Getting back to the Frontier...

Halloween Drumming 2010....

When Halloween falls on the Sunday of Drumming, well its a special occasion and this last Sunday it was so. Many came dressed as something they are usually not. Halloween is fun that way, you can be anything you want to be and nobody cares, but the coolest dressed are just that and they were a few worth mentioning. Carol was the funky chicken and a nice outfit to fit that tag for sure. Michelle and I were Pirate girl and Buccaneer and Maha was some kind of weird alien type. Many more were dressed and I missed some cuz we were handing out candy at home. Actually, I should correct that and say we were handing out stuff that kids like and it wasn't any candy. So, the drumming was great of course and we had our first FIRE of the fall. Its nice to burn wood and the smells and the mezmerizing stares you get by looking at the flames tell all. Yes, we had the big sky with ink blackness and stars everywhere. Only in Three Rivers. Thanks for coming and drumming and dressing for the Halloween to remember!!

A Rainy but well attended Sunday........

Well, it didn't start raining right away. We thought as we drummed along that when it actually started drizzling that we could "Drum" it away and wow....we did!! At least for awhile, then around 9 it started pouring big wet drops on the drum heads. We were fast going flat with the sound and so we headed for cover. With a couple of candles and around 25 people we jammed to the gallery and put out some grooves that would make even the biggest drumming compete. It was the ambiance for sure, I mean the river was starting to make noise and we had a small crowd of hard core drummers who mostly came from miles away to attend so YEA! it was a drumming for the record books.....especially since NO ONE came the Sunday before! That WAS a record, one we don't want to repeat youall..................Thanks for Coming and Drumming!!!!

Back from the Hillls

Last post was quite awhile ago! Man, I better catch you all up on whats been going on with us, the drum circle. First, Yes, we're still doing our drumming EVERY Sunday nite at the Cort Gallery. We still have a nice crowd joining us too! Thank you all for checking in and wondering. Its just amazing to me that you do. Now of course it hasn't all been cake and ice cream, but we are still intact and moving along as we do. I've been very busy with our fire season and its been a big fire in Kings Canyon thats been paying my paycheck. Of course with camera in hand I go there every day, a 3 hour drive and do what I do for my job. Its a beautiful place! I'm adding a pic of the Kings River, basically the next drainage north of the Kaweah River drainage. And I'm working on getting you some more news about us. Again, Thank You for checking in.......

Last Wednesday at the Ruins......