Aguilar in good ‘company’ with Big Brother

Any 1960s music historian can name the founding members of San Francisco’s Big Brother and the Holding Company. Super bonus points will be given to those who can name the surviving members on the band.

The lead vocalist, a Texas lass named Janis Joplin, has been gone for a long time. A couple others have moved on to the big jam in the sky, too.

The Valley of the Tunes’s own guitar monster, Glen Ellen’s Dave Aguilar, is playing Saturday night with the current members of Big Brother, taking the place of one of the departed members. Big Brother will live stream a show from the 19 Broadway bar in Fairfax starting at 6:30 p.m.

Aguilar was reached by phone from his studio/shop, where he records music and makes guitars. He told of how founding member Sam Andrew asked him to substitute for him on guitar for one gig a few years ago. He readied himself for the gig by “playing along with live recordings of the band. I never actually rehearsed with them,” Aguilar said. When they finally took the stage, Aguilar was ready, and he apparently impressed the band enough to be called back. Now that Andrew has passed on, Aguilar performs with Big Brother regularly.

The show Saturday night will feature the band’s most well-known songs; “Ball and Chain,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Down on Me” and Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz.” The lead vocals are being handled admirably by a brave woman named Darby Gould. She has been singing with Big Brother and the re-formed Jefferson Starship, and always impresses.

Gould, reached by phone in her East Bay home, had nothing but cordial comments about Aguilar, her band member from Sonoma. “He is a wonderful guy, and a flawless player. He’s such a gentle soul. Dave is just great,” Gould said.

Gould’s comment about joining Big Brother and the Holding Company, taking the role of rock goddess Janis Joplin? “No pressure,” an audible smile in her voice.

And the surviving members of the original classic lineup? Peter Albin on bass and Dave Getz on drums. The current lineup for the band also features Tom Finch on guitar and vocals, Gould on vocals, and Aguilar.

Tickets for the “live in virtual reality” show can be obtained at bit.ly/bbhc360.