Singer Peter Case Gets Boost From a San Diegan

Last week, 350 Peter Case fans around the country received the two-page first edition of “travellin’ light,” a newsletter by and about the Geffen Records recording artist and former leader of L.A.’s early-’80s new-wave band, the Plimsouls. The editor-in-chief of the missive is local performer-songwriter Jon Kanis.

Among other tidbits, Volume I, Issue I of “travellin’ light” announces the birth last Jan. 8 of Case’s daughter, Leah Jane Case (mom is Diane Sherry). The singer also discusses the progress he’s making in preparation for his third album. Case’s last release, 1989’s impishly titled “The Man with the Blue Post-Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar,” was a critical favorite.

Also sprinkled throughout the newsletter are recommended listenings (Bob Neuwirth’s new album, “99 Monkeys”) and sociopolitical editorializing. An item about witnessing a celebratory return of Marines from the Persian Gulf to the desert post in Twentynine Palms is headlined “Some People Make a Living. Some People Make a Killing. Some People Make a Living Killing People.” But mostly, “travellin’ light” lives up to its name in the sense that it proffers a good-natured howdy to Case’s followers.

Kanis, 26, has been a regular performer at the Espresso Cafe in North Park and Megalopolis on Fairmount Avenue. By publishing the newsletter, he perhaps officially becomes Case’s biggest supporter, as well. But unlike a number of similar communiques that are generated by zealous fans with or without the approval of the artist, the idea for this newsletter came from Case himself.

“I was talking to Peter after his show at the Belly Up a year ago,” said Kanis recently, “and he said he’d been meaning to put out a newsletter ever since the Plimsouls broke up (in 1984). He more or less instructed me to get one started.”

Kanis was hard-pressed to get the first quarterly finished and mailed before leaving for England two weeks ago with the members of the local band, Manual Scan. Ostensibly, Kanis would be helping the band with equipment and other logistics on their mini-tour of London clubs, but there also was a good chance that the acoustic musician would open a couple of Manual Scan’s shows before leaving for an exploratory solo jaunt around Europe.

“The newsletter is a good way for Peter to stay in touch with his fans when he’s not touring,” said Kanis, who acknowledged that Case is underwriting the modest project. “For now, it’s a freebie, but I suppose that if the format and the mailing list get big enough we might eventually charge for it.”

Those interested in getting on the mailing list should write to: Travellin’ Light, 1223 Wilshire Blvd., P.O. Box 551, Santa Monica, 90403.

The band Bordertown continues to get great mileage from their song, “Someday,” an ironically ominous-sounding, minor-key ode to sociological optimism.

Last summer, “Someday” got the North County quartet as far as the semifinals of Musician magazine’s third-annual “Best Unsigned Band” contest, an international competition. Bordertown then recorded “Someday” for their own cassette, “Angsters of Love,” which was released in October and remains on sale at both Tower Records and Off the Record. The song also was included on “The Care,” a benefit album of songs by local artists compiled and produced a few months ago by the Musicians Who Care organization.

Last weekend, the song placed its co-writers, guitarist-pianist Dave Beldock and guitarist Dan Connor, in the finals of the North Coast Songwriters’ Competition. The two-day tune tournament was held at the MiraCosta College Theatre in Oceanside and featured live performances of original songs by 12 area finalists.

Bordertown, whose other members are guitarist-percussionist CiCi Porter and bassist Glenn Goodwin, performed the song at the Saturday night segment, at which audience members were the judges; and again at the Sunday installment, which was adjudicated by music industry veterans from Hollywood. “Someday” won first place both nights, and earned Bordertown a $1,100 cash prize and $1,100 worth of musical equipment.

Bordertown videotaped their performances and will be selling the videos at upcoming gigs. The band plays May 3-4 at Carlos Murphy’s (University Towne Center), and begin a six-week stint at the Jolly Roger in Oceanside on May 8. Another North Coast Songwriters’ competition finalist, local folk singer Peggy Watson, performs at Choice’s Restaurant on North Torrey Pines Road on Friday night.

GRACE NOTES: Tickets went on sale Saturday at all TicketMaster outlets for “The Clash of the Titans,” a metal-mania event featuring Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax and Alice in Chains. The actual clashing will occur May 24 at the Sports Arena. . . . Two late-May concerts have just been announced: Pat Benatar will play the Spreckels Theatre on May 21; a show co-headlined by the Alarm and the Fixx will be presented May 27 at Starlight Bowl. Tickets for both events go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at all TicketMaster outlets.

CRITIC’S CHOICE: DESERT ROSE BAND CARRIES THE TRADITION

Under the leadership of former Byrds bassist Chris Hillman, the Desert Rose Band for five years has fulfilled the true promise of the country-rock hybrid by maintaining high standards in the areas of writing, arranging, lyrics, vocals and musicianship. The sextet will perform at Belly Up Tavern tonight and Thursday.

At least in performance, the band’s ace is guitarist John Jorgenson. The one-time Disneyland musician owes no apologies to Albert Lee, Frank Reckard, Jerry Douglas, or any other of the gasp-inducing country pickers in this competitive field, and he goes them one better by doubling on mandolin and occasionally on a very Byrds-y sounding 12-string guitar. Veteran steel guitarist Jay Dee Maness provides fast-picking ballast on the opposite side of the stage. Still, it is the sum of the band’s strengths that puts them at the head of the country class.

Hillman’s consistently excellent songwriting--the key to the band’s success--reaches its apotheosis on “Start All Over Again,” a minor-mode gem that demonstrates how country structures can be stretched to embrace unusual tonalities. The band’s close harmonies are among the best--virile, carefully blended, imaginative. Their ensemble playing is a tight weave loosened by a coltish spirit and a friendly stage demeanor, all of which coalesces into a compelling concert experience.

The Desert Rose Band will be joined by Chris Gaffney and the Cold Hard Facts for tonight’s show; Scary Mary and the Noose opens Thursday’s concert.