Marc Ford Joins Brethren of the Coast and Quactus in San Clemente, CA

Now, it’s not every day you get to see a legendary guitarist in a small venue in South Orange County, CA but on March 1st, I got the chance to witness something amazing…in fact, a lot of amazing things.  Former Black Crowes guitarist and all around guitar god, Marc Ford, was in the house to jam out “a few songs” with Brethren of the Coast (BOTC).  Now, BOTC is no slouch of a band in their own rite.  They have Duane Betts, son of Allman Brothers guitarist, Dickie Betts and Pedro Arevalo, who plays bass with Dickie’s band.  Musical pedigree was running deep at the OC Tavern Sports Bar and Grill in San Clemente, CA.  Add to all of this, Quactus was sharing the night with them and Quactus’ guitarist, Gabriel Isaac, just co-wrote a song with 311 called “Friday Afternoon” that will be out on the new 311 album this month.  Some serious 6 string skills in the room.

 

Now, this venue defines intimate with a capacity somewhere around 150 people.  An off track betting parlor for horse racing by day and a music club by night, if you were there on Saturday night there was no time during the night that you were less than 100 feet from the stage or any of the previously mentioned guitar gods.  “What’d you do on Saturday night?”  “Oh, just hung out with Marc Ford!”  Seriously, everyone there could say that without lying.

BOTC came out on stage just after 9:30 pm and played a few songs before inviting up Ford “for a couple songs”.  A couple turned into the rest of their set…roughly an hour of BOTC with Ford.  Boy did we get a treat!  Truly one of those musical moments in time that you look back on and say, “WOW, I was really there!”

Quactus then took the stage and there was anticipation of Ford joining them on stage but, instead, Arevalo decided to join in the fun and jumped up to close out the night with Quactus on slide guitar.  A nice treat.  Ford stood in the audience taking it all in.  Quactus opened with a fitting tribute to Harold Ramis by playing “Ghostbusters” followed by a rare and fitting toast to the fallen actor/director, “Drinko”.  Encore of “Fever Boy” brought Arevalo on stage to play slide guitar.

The whole night was amazing music.  If you missed it, these guys are getting back together on April 26th at the PCH Club in Long Beach, CA.  Do yourself a favor and go see both of these bands…they’ll melt your face and warm your soul.

Quactus Setlist

March 1, 2014; OC Tavern; San Clemente, CA:

Ghostbusters*, Drinko > Firefly > Van Winkle’s Dream, If I Lost My Way, Umbrella~, Esprit D’escalier, The Offer > Mine All Mine, Poison, Wine

Encore: Fever Boy^

* Dedicated to Harold Ramis
~ Last Time Played, April 14, 2012
^ With Pedro Arevalo on Slide Guitar (Brethren of the Coast, Dickey Betts and Great Southern)