Dr. Zarcon's Jug Band

Jug Band Jamboree Apri 10th - Don Quixote's

2011-03-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's time for Dr. Zarcon's Jug Band Spring Break 2011 with performances at:

April 8 - Dana St. Roasting Co. in Mountain View at 8PM
April 9 - Gilroy Arts Center in Gilroy 8 PM
April 10 - Jug Band Jamboree at Don Quixote's in Felton, CA. time TBD.

Performing with the band this year are Juggist Stan Eckel (New Hampshire), Vocalmandoguitarist David "Frog" Berner (Kansas) and Songstress, Donna "D.D." Rico in addition to the regular west cost members including John Feldmeyer, Dave Williams, George Anich, Christopher Richard & Charlie Gibson. This will be the band's second appearance at the jug band festival and a performance that is sure to entertain with many of the original members gathering again for the mini-tour. The band was founded in Niagara Falls, N.Y. in 1966 to perform at "rent parties" and occasional social functions and was the first group to perform at New York State's ArtPark located in Lewiston, NY. The band recorded their first album "Jug Band Music" at the Levon Helm Studio in Woodstock, N.Y. in 2008 and is currently working on at second project. For more information be sure to visit their Facebook page at "Dr Zarcon" or e-mail drzarcon@gmail.com. Be sure to pencil in one or all of their dates on your calendar as this is one band you don't want to miss.

Dr. Zarcon @ Santa Cruz Jug Band Jubilee

2010-03-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

THIS JUST IN...

WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH YOUR SETS? Dr. Zarcon will be performing during the dinner hour at the Santa Cruz Jug Band Jubilee on March 21. The first set begins at 5 PM and the second about and hour later. Come join the band as they serenade diners supping on left over corn beef and cabbage and sipping the dregs from the Guinness kegs. And remember... always be safe while dining near the band, use a condiment. Dr. Z

It's March Madness time and The Amazing Dr. Zarcon's Breathing Machine is mad to play at the Santa Cruz Jug Band Jubilee on March 21 at Don Quixote's in Felton, Ca. http://www.donquixotesmusic.info/

The day will feature a variety of jug bands and other acts recovering from St. Patrick's Day that will officially kickoff the jug band season; the ceremonial throwing out of the first jug player will take place around 2:30 PM near the side entrance to Don Quixote's.

Appearing with Dr. Zarcon will be the ever-popular songstress Donna Federico and mandolin player Christopher Richard. The show is sponsored by the California Jug Band Association http://www.jugfest.org/jugfest/

Of great interest to followers of the Dr. Zarcon Jug Band is that this year marks the 40th year of its existence. The band hails from Western New York and still has an auxiliary band of the same name roaming the Empire State. On occasion the two massive forces in jug band music collide such was the case for their first recording in Woodstock, NY at the Levon Helm Studio. The CD, "Jug Band Music" will be available at the upcoming show.

We hope you'll set aside March 21 and join the band at this remarkable setting to help celebrate the arrival of spring and some good ol' jug band music. It should be a great day for all. The show begins at 2 PM and Dr. Z is tentatively schedule to play around dinner time--they'll be doing their dinner show that you won't want to miss. When the exact show times are released we'll let you know. Hope to see you there.

Be sure to check out our Facebook page and become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Amazing-Dr-Zarcons-Breathing-Machine/235846090182?ref=ts

Dr. Zarcon

Dr. Zarcon Jug Band - East Coast Performance, November 28

2009-06-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

The East Coast version of The Amazing Dr. Zarcon's Breathing Machine will take the stage at The Breaktime in Jamestown, New York on Saturday, November 28. Performing at this show are Stan Eckel, Jug, Dave Berner, Gutiar, George Kobas, Guitar/Mandolin, John Merino, Guitar, Kim Reeves, Washboard, Harmonica and other things what make noise, Tom Sharpe, Gut Bucket and expected to appear David Frumkin, Violin/Banjo. Copies of the band's first album, The Amazing Dr. Zarcon's Breathing Machine Jug Band Music will be available for purchase at the show. For more information please write to doctorzarcon@aol.com.

Appearing with Dr. Zarcon is Last Stop Willoughby that includes 10,000 Maniacs founders Dennis Drew and Steve Gustafson along with their current guitarist Jeff Erickson. Rhonda Harp sings, TR Mckotch is the percussionist and John Merino guitar/accordion.

The show is for the benefit of WRFA which is the local Arts Radio Station (heard on the web at WRFALP.COM) in Jamestown, N.Y.

Past Performances - West Coast

Much to the chagrin of local music fans, The Amazing Dr. Zarcon's Breathing Machine jug band will be traveling to the bay area again this year for two performances in mid August. The band performed last year at the GOF Festival in Holister and in Mountain View at the Dana Street Roasting Company. Both appearances were acclaimed as being "appalling, distasteful and vulgar" but critiques claimed it was the "best show of the summer," (they missed). Just love those guys! Actually, the jug band was right-on their performance mark for the shows, evident from the renegade video clip from the GOF Festival, below. A quote from Stan Eckel, virtuoso jug player sums up the bands effort last year, "the cows in Holister haven't milked since we played there." As the FTA goes into overdrive to clear some of the band members to fly, folks at Dana Street Roasting Company (August 14) and the San Francisco Jug Band Festival in Golden Gate Park (August 15) are prevailing of Robo-call Irene's offer to have their red carpets cleaned in anticipation of Dr. Zarcon's house calls.

Friday, August 14 - 8PM
Dana Street Roasting Co. 744 W. Dana Street Mountain View, CA94041 650 390 9638

The Amazing Dr. Zarcon's Breathing Machine will reunite for a performance at the Dana Street Roasting Company on Friday, August 14 at 8PM. The group, hailing from Western New York, roamed the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 70's and 80's performing at popular venues including Paul's Saloon, Chuck's Cellar, Turk Murphy's Earthquake McGoon's, Miramar Beach Inn and at concerts including Kate Wolf. The band performs jug band classics with Stan Eckel on the jug and flavors their performances with blues favorites by David (Frog) Berner and bluesette, Donna Federico. The nucleus of the group, John Feldmeyer-guitar/mandolin, Dave Williams-bass, George Anich-violin and Charlie Gibson-drums/washboard reside in the bay area while the others travel from New Hampshire, Kansas and Oregon, respectively. Several members of the band recorded at the Levon Helm's Studio in Woodstock, N.Y. in what hopes to be an album release in the near future.

2009 San Francisco Jug Band Festival Saturday, August 15 - Bandshell, Golden Gate Park, 10 am - 6 pm,
DR. ZARCON @ 4 PM
http://www.jugfest.org/jugfest/

This is Zarcon's first appearance at a California Jug band Association event and the first performance in San Francisco in many years. The group is very excited about playing with many other west coast jug bands at a venue as special as the Spreckels Temple of Music located on the concourse between the De Young Museum and the newly renovated California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park (see map below). Be sure to check the festival's web site for performances times for the bands (Dr. Zarcon plays at 4 PM) or better yet, get there early and stay all day. Admission is free.

We hope to see you at one of these upcoming performances. Here's a video of the band performing "Washboard Wriggles." Ready. Set. CLOG!

Z-Wear Coming Soon

A limited supply of The Amazing Dr. Zarcon logo T-shirts will be on sale at the gigs coming up in August. The shirts are "band black" with white lettering and logo. "Dress like the band and get thrown out of public places too!" - Dr. Z

A LOOK BACK

Dr. Zarcon at the start of the three-day Los Robles la Batalla del Orbe (Battle of the Orb). Sadly, there were no survivors. (photo circa 1978)

The Amazing Dr. Zarcon's Breathing Machine on Facebook

What They're Saying

Zarcon Post

I am one of those who is both chagrined and pleased at the return of the Dr. Zarcon band to the local music scene this summer. Actually the past two years represents a heyday (as well as a nadir) for this multi-layered, but oddly one dimensional group. Chron critic Phil Elwood once said they demonstrated qualities of Joe (and Ben) Venuti – with hints of blackcherry, oak, and 5 cent cigar. One rainy night in San Francisco the public had a choice between two unknown bands, Dr. Zarcon and Cheap Trick. And while Cheap Trick has done everything possible to live up to it’s name, Dr. Zarcon remains pure, untouched by the decadence and debilitating ennui of conventional success, yet somehow continuing to embody all that is low and unholy. Unquestionably (although it is quite open to debate) this band will continue to breathe life into the great jugband swingband repertoire while simultaneously ensuring that this music remains safely entombed.

Conflicted in Concord