Other than Greene

At some point, it becomes necessary to negotiate the sliding heap of press releases that begin so neatly stacked in the corner of my office and end up a composting heap of yellowed documents that look like they belong in a historical archive. What’s embarrassing to realize is that many of them are from the same record company and management firm, Dig Music, and that I’m way behind in letting my readers know all that’s happening in that small office on V Street.

If you know who Jackie Greene is, then you already know Dig Music. Dig (and co-founder Marty DeAnda) has been the principal force in shaping Greene’s career. While Greene has been in Southern California putting the finishing touches on his first international album for Verve (with help from Elvis Costello’s backing band, the Imposters and producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos), Dig’s record-label arm has been busy with a variety of other projects. There have been releases from Bucho, Sons of Champlin and Cold Blood, and plans with Mumbo Gumbo singer Chris Webster and former Beau Brummels lead singer Sal Valentino.

Needless to say, there is much in the works. Of particular note is Dig’s involvement in Webster’s solo career. The first step is re-releasing Webster’s back catalog, including her first two solo albums, Drive and Now Playing, and her excellent recording with her sister Cassie Webster and guitarist Scott Nygaard, Ten Thousand Miles. Incidentally, Ten Thousand Miles is the best local folk CD to be released in Sacramento in a good long while, so Dig’s association with it (and with Webster) is well-deserved.

Webster also has been in the news for winning the Gibson New Musician Award at the second annual HatcH Festival in Bozeman, Mont. The award, which included a Gibson Traveling Songwriter acoustic guitar, was presented by Hall of Famer Jackson Browne.

As for the new year, Dig’s plans include pushing Bucho further into the spotlight via a couple of tours, steering Greene through 40 days of touring with Big Head Todd and the Monsters and finally finishing the Sal Valentino record. Produced by Greene, who wrote three songs for the project, Valentino’s album is slated to be completed by March.

Speaking of Valentino and Greene, I had the opportunity to stop by the new version of their old stamping grounds, Marilyn’s on K Street. The bar has moved to 908 K Street and has a cool, downstairs nightclub vibe that is perfect for its clientele. It’s not quite as upscale as Harlow’s (at least not yet—there were various signs that Marilyn’s was still under construction), but it is slightly larger in capacity. Nonetheless, Greene sold it out on a Thursday night with a $20 ticket price. That’s pretty rare among local musicians, but not uncommon for Greene. Must be that extra “e” at the end of his name. It worked for Jackson Browne, too. From now on, I’m spelling mine Kiefere. Find out more about the new Marilyn’s at www.marilynsonk.com.