The La Honda Voice

The Face of Local Music - Neil Panton

 

Neil at the La Honda Fair 2010

by Craig Eddy

I can't think of any local musician that shows the depth of local talent here in the greater La Honda area.  It might be said of Neil Panton, "he does everything".

Like many youngsters Neil was pretty much forced into piano around age five.  His parents were both musicians and when they realized he had perfect pitch they signed him up for piano lessons. He never really took to the traditional teaching methods.  Once his parents gave up trying to force it on him he started doing it his way and continued playing.  At nine years old he took up oboe and by twelve he was performing with orchestras.  He continued playing oboe for the next three decades playing in some of the best venues around the world. However his passion became playing Boogie Woogie and Rock n Roll piano. Once he discovered the bands that featured more sophistacated arrangements he realized this was his calling.  With his background in classical he dove headfirst into bands like Genesis, Jethro Tull and Sting. I first met Neil when he was interning at the Music Annex in Menlo Park and Neil now has quite a list of composing and enginering accomplishments.  His main recording work involves composing as well as arranging for background music for video and television.  One of his bigger successes is one of the theme songs for the Garfield kids show. Neil perfected his engineering and production skills by donating time to Mountain View public access station KMVT.

Neil's latest full time band was Ruthie and the Gents which is one of his favorite projects as they always played with the idea of drawing the crowd into the experience.  Getting people excited about the music and establishing a raport with the audience is what makes it all work for Neil.  He also enjoyed his stint in the funk band Disfunction. He loved this band because it got him out to the front of the stage as a sax player rather than hiding in the back as a keyboard player.

Neil currently doesn't have a fulltime band but is enjoying the depth and variety of the local music scene and sits in with The Remnants, Saxyman and the Lads, Bundy Brown, and This Way Up.

Of all the musical possibilities in our area Neil could be said to be one of, if not the most talented and versatile musicians around. Having played with him many times in informal jam situations I can say his low key and humble approach makes him one of the first to call when a jam is forming. It's not hard to check out Neil as he plays all around the area from the General Store in San Gregorio, Apple Jack's, Sullivan's, to Alice's up on the hill.

I Find a Dead Man's Foot!

by Mary Bordi
This was not the first time I had seen a suspicious brown object thrusting itself up from the earth--in passing I've observed something similar beside the trail in oak woodlands on local hikes. This one was alongside our driveway, and since I have to stop and open the gate, drive through and shut it, I had been observing the suspicious object for several days. First the earth seemed a little disturbed as if a gopher was excavating. The mound grew larger and seemed to contain...something. Today, when I decided to investigate closely I discovered a dead man's foot! Fortunately, I had my camera with me and I was able to snap a picture to share. 

Actually, what I had been watching is a fungus, Pisolithus arrhizus, not a ghoulish moldering foot. Pisolithus arrhizus pushes its way to the surface (sometimes quite forcefully, in hard soils) to fruit and release its spores. Once known as Pisolithus tinctorius and commonly called "dyeball", it produces a dark brown dye on wool or a gold on silk. It is widespread throughout the world and is also said to be used in Chinese medicine. Its resemblance to something dead or something left by the dog makes me reluctant to put it to any use. But sighting it close to Halloween makes it an interesting...uh...trick or treat.

To find out more information and other names it is known by check out:

Bay Area Mycological Society
Sonoma Mushrooms
Mycoweb

Download the October Edition of the La Honda Voice

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Common Grounds

 

By Craig Eddy

Where else can you sit down over a cup of the best coffee around and chat with a nuclear engineer, an astronomer, an artist, a writer, musicians, contractors, and on and on? The La Honda Market is continuing a long standing tradition by offering early morning coffee.  Started by the original Merry Prankster Cafe and continued by the Church of the Redwoods, and now by the Market.  The quality coffee is still the same and many of the patrons are the same. Just another great thing about our town under the redwoods. The sense of community can be seen in action. A great way to start the day seeing friends and neighbors.  Many folks stop by just long enough to say hello and head on up the road to work. Others hang out for an hour to socialize or hook up with clients.  The owners have purchased a gazebo to put over the new patio when the weather changes  so the locals can still get together even as winter approaches. Come on by and start your day with a cup of organic fairtrade coffee and a chat with fellow La Hondan's. We have solved almost all of the worlds problems right here in La Honda every weekday morning.