A 'real' music festival, plus Tim Baley's farewell

My job in this column is to spread the word on fun doings about town, and boy, do I have a hot tip this week.

Sitting on my backyard patio in the evenings lately, I've heard folks hooting and hollering, screaming and cheering like I haven't heard in years. I was sitting under the plum tree last night when cheers erupted with such passion a line of tingles climbed up my spine. I had to walk out and find the source.

I already knew what it was -- most outbursts are directly preceded by the "ping" of an aluminum bat hitting a ball. It's Carson City Little League over at Governor's Field.

Last night, the Nafco Industries Mariners played the Custom Design Giants -- the second game for each in the double-elimination city tournament.

I joined Kathy Elliott and Corinna Davis in the press box, where they were keeping score and announcing batters.

Elliot said she has been involved in Little League for more than 20 years. Her grandson Anthony Morris, 11, was playing second base Wednesday under the lights.

Davis had two sons on the field -- 12-year-old catcher Jason, who made the All Star team this year; and 11-year-old center fielder C.J., who made the Hooligan team. She called out to Jason from the box after he appeared to have been hurt.

"Jason, are you OK?"

He nodded through his catcher's mask with a grimace.

"What is it -- the same knee?"

He looked up at her in the window and whispered, "Cup check."

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I went up to Portland on Southwest for some quality time with my family on Thursday for Father's Day.

While I was up there, a buddy asked me about the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy.

"There're no real festivals anymore," he said. "That's like one of the only real festivals left."

The HSMF is a guaranteed "real" festival. More than 80 bands play over four days from July 3-6. There's camping, workshops with musicians, child care and youth programs, a well-stocked beer garden -- all in the forests of the Sierra foothills along the Feather River (where my mom learned to swim).

This year's lineup is incredible: Steve Winwood, Sound Tribe Sector 9, The Les Claypool (of Primus and Oysterhead) and his Frog Brigade, Steve Kimock Band, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Yonder Mountain String Band and many, many more.

I got the new album by the Steve Kimock Band in the mail for review. I listened to it in my Land Cruiser while driving to the Reno airport and thought, "I need to go see these guys live."

Look for me up there on the night of July 4. I'll make the 2 1/2-hour drive to Quincy -- out past Portola -- as long as there isn't a fire that needs coverage down here.

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Carson City concert pianist Tim Baley will perform a free farewell concert at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Brewery Arts Center. Baley has played in town for about seven years, but now he's off to live closer to family in Ohio. He has played regularly at the Carson City Sizzler and many other local venues, plus at the White House, several military bases and a NASA facility, according to his Web site.

Baley, also a talented painter, was diagnosed with mild retardation and light cerebral palsy after an overdue delivery and his mother's 48-hour labor ended with the use of forceps on June 23, 1952.

Bring a birthday card to let him know how much you appreciate his contribution to our community. He'll play at the Performance Hall, 511 W. King St. Call 883-1976. Check out Baley's Web site at http://timbaley.com.

Karl can be reached at 881-1219 or khoreis@nevadaappeal.com