Ukulele Tonya

While I was out backpacking (see entry below), our oldest son, Matt, finished up the website for Augustino LoPrinzi and got the final okay from Augie and Donna to make the site go “live.” Augie and Donna make some very nice ukuleles (and guitars, too–but it’s the ukuleles that interest me), combining old world luthier skills with modern techniques for getting the sweetest sounds from their instruments. I love my little semi-custom, spruce-top LoPrinzi soprano made for me a few years back. Check out the LoPrinzi site and do a bit of dreaming!

I just returned from a week-long, 45-mile backpacking trek with the coed BSA Venturing Crew we volunteer with and wanted to report on ukuleles in the “wilds” of the Trinity Alps (Northern California). Yes–we spotted ukuleles on the trail; two of them were from our group (Tate, one of the hiking Venturers is in “Ukuleles of Paradise”) and the other was spotted more than 20 miles from the nearest trailhead, perched on the back of a hiker who hailed from Ohio. I was certainly more excited to see another ukulele in the wilds than I was to meet up with the three Western Rattlesnakes we saw later that day!

Our evening campfires featured ukulele singalongs and music from Jumpin’ Jim’s “Camp Ukulele” book as well as Joyce Flaugher’s PDF of campfire songs. Both feature a range of traditional and fun tunes that beg to be sung while relaxing after a long day on the trail.

All right, Eric Gilliom and Uncle Willie K don’t play ukuleles prominently (or perhaps at all?), but this talented duo has banded together to form The Barefoot Natives and, since it’s great Hawaiian music, I figure it belongs here anyway. The two were in the Sacramento (California) area on Saturday as part of their latest (first?) mainland tour and Borders Books in Sacramento (which is recognized for hosting a number of Hawaiian music events) had them as guests for an afternoon mini-concert.

Cynthia and I figured that the two-hour drive south to Sacramento sounded like fun (especially since it was only in the high 90’s instead of the 100-degree temps of a few days ago) so we made a “Hawaiian” day of it. Before searching out Borders we enjoyed lunch at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue (the one on Arden Way). Cynthia had never enjoyed a typical plate lunch; she opted for the recognizable elements of Chicken Katsu. I went with my forever favorite—loco moco (pictured above). The shop’s employees pointed out an award for “Best Loco Moco” on the wall and I can see why: the brown gravy was tasty, the two eggs cooked just as I asked and the hamburger patty had some real substance and flavor to it. I love loco moco! Of course “two scoops” (of rice) and mac salad accompanied the plate lunches.

Finishing all that ono food, we braved the heat outside again and headed for Borders Books. We arrived 40 minutes before the event was to start but the seats were already filling up quickly. Hawaiian shirts, slippahs and smiles were evident everywhere. We “held” our seats and browsed the well-stocked Hawaiian section of music and DVD’s. There was a whole separate category for “ukuleles” even! I settled on these CDs: The Barefoot Natives, *Bruce* Shimabukuro’s “Incognito,” this year’s Grammy winner, “Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar” and “The Best of The Brothers Cazimero” (hard to believe I didn’t have that one yet).

Eric and Willie played five or six songs, most from the album. While Uncle Willie typically connects really well with his audiences, that wasn’t the case yesterday; he had a virus of some kind and, while he played and sang well (they sounded great in that close-up venue), everyone could tell he wasn’t feeling well. Eric picked up the slack (no pun), charming the crowd with side comments, laughter and his evident true love for performing. The Barefoot Natives CD is a “must buy” in my book. Also, check in with this Borders Books for future Hawaiian events…the price is right (free!) and you’ll find the best selection of Hawaiian music you can imagine.