The Rowan Brothers are opening Concert Under the Stars on July 14.
Carson City has had the pleasure of welcoming Rowan Brothers, Lorin and Chris, over the years as they’ve played at Cafe at Adele’s. This year is no different, but with one exception: In addition to opening Concert Under the Stars, A Benefit For The Greenhouse Project, Thursday, July 14, The Rowans also play at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 13, on the veranda.
For nearly 50 years, Rowan Brothers have found new and innovative ways of expressing themselves musically. It has been this capacity to adapt and their willingness to challenge that has kept them relevant as ever, in a changing world.
This past year has been no exception, with Chris finally finishing up a new CD which had been 10 years in the making, and Lorin creating his next incarnation of musical expression, all of which in the early days, could never have been foreseen.
Like most parents with children pursuing a “career” in the arts, the boys’ (Peter, Lorin and Chris) parents used to always ask, “When are you going to get a real job?” Lorin said. “That question finally stopped when we got a recording contract, and Mother became our biggest fan.”
Having been raised in Massachusetts, the boys came West in 1970, while their folks remained back East.
“Mother would call the radio stations asking them to play The Rowan Brothers, and on occasion would record herself singing with our records and send the recordings to us.”
“She always had a lot of space for us and I guess what she thought the life was about,” Lorin said. “She came out to visit in the 1970s and I told her we were going to meet my ‘rug dealer,’ literally a friend of mine who sold rugs; so she meets my rug dealer, and later I overheard her on the phone with a friend saying, ‘today I met the boys’ drug dealer,’ saying like it was just another day in the life, totally calm about it ... Never mind she had misheard what I had said. That’s how she was.”
And as always this past year has meant new creative outlets and making new memories for Chris and Lorin and new music for their fans to enjoy.
“This past year we’ve kept evolving musically and while Chris and I perform together doing our Americana Rock-Blues-Jazz duo, we are also working on our independent projects,” Lorin said. “When I heard we would be opening for Tower of Power, I called Charlie (Abowd, chef and co-owner of Cafe at Adele’s) and asked if we could do our intimate on the veranda show, and of course he said yes.
“Being part of Concert Under the Stars in support of such a great cause is exciting; it is going to be fun.”
In addition to performing with Chris, Lorin also has two bands he describes as Americana/Rock projects. The first is Rattlebox, (Lorin on guitar and vocals; Barry Sless on pedal steel guitar; and Doug Harman on cello), with music available on iTunes and at performances. In the past year he has created Deep Blue Jam (Lorin on vocals, mandolin, guitar; Kirk Casey, guitar and vocals; Eric McCann, bass and vocals; Matt Willison, drums, Kenneth Nash, percussion; and Mookie Siegel, keyboards. The new CD and videos are available for download online at www.deepbluejam.com.
Lorin and Casey have also spent a lot of time co-writing material together, some of which has been written for such television shows as The Young & The Restless, Sons of Anarchy and NCIS.
“Having different options to play keeps the process fresh and innovative,” Lorin said. “To be watching a show and suddenly hear your music is a bit surreal, and it is often playing in the background so (the audience) wouldn’t necessarily know where it came from.”
Lorin has also been working on a compilation of original music, “taking it out of bluegrass and moving it into a rock genre,” as he reinterprets old favorites.
“This speaks to how diverse music is and allows a new way of not only performing it, but for the audience to experience it,” he said. “All music keeps me going, and I think when someone’s doing anything they love and are passionate about, (the experience) is the same.”
Seeing so many musicians passing recently has brought some introspection as well.
“I am moved to live in the moment and to be aware of the blessing of time,” he said. “I like doing different things and have learned to be in the now; we are still here and never gave up on being inspired to explore two-part harmony with Chris and I and three-part harmony with Peter (Rowan), that brother harmony which is something special.”
Further updates and access to both Chris and Lorin’s music can be found on their web site at www.rowanbrothers.com.
In addition to presenting a spectacular show each year, the benefit also features a live auction for The Greenhouse Project and a silent auction befitting Capital City FFA. The live auction so far includes Dinner with the Band, an annual tradition; Lake Tahoe boating trip and lunch; a day of outdoor wildlife photography instruction and lunch with Larry Burton; Sonoma Music Festival package; and wine tasting for 20 at Total Wine. Anyone wishing to donate a trip, dinner, services or outdoor package is asked to call Karen Abowd at 775-232-8626. The silent auction for Capital City FFA again features yard art. Contact ag teacher and FFA leader, Charlie Mann, 775-830-4548 to make a donation or for more information.
Corporate sponsors include NVEnergy, Carson Tahoe Hospital, Northern Nevada Toyota Dealers, Hop & Mae Adams Foundation, Gold Dust West Casino & Hotel in Carson City, and Cafe at Adele’s.
Tickets are selling fast. Remaining tickets cost $45 for general and $30 for bleacher seating, on sale now at www.carsoncitygreenhouse.org. Gates open at 5 p.m. Cafe at Adele’s is located at 1112 N.Carson St.
