Sonoma Ukulele Club celebrates music in the community

As I walked into the doorway of Vintage House’s Ukulele Club session, I was not expecting to hear the phrase, “Look at the riff.”

But one of the club’s two instructors, either Alan Freeman or John Brady, said it to the 22 or so ukulele players who were gathered in a circle that rainy day in mid-January.

I was anticipating witnessing more basic instruction such as, “Put your pointer finger on the first string.” But these ukulele enthusiasts needed no beginner assistance, they were there to play.

Meeting at Vintage House on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, the club is almost three years old. The two instructors previously held ukulele classes but due to COVID-19 and other circumstances, they morphed the classes into a guided group of remarkably competent players.

Membership to the Vintage House is not required to participate, although it does reduce the cost per session from $10 to $5.

Freeman and Brady pay for the space, and nobody is rich. The payoff is the fun that’s had and the enhancement of skills players gain over time.

The pair manage the club, and about 10 days ahead of each session, Freeman and Brady send out a list of the 10 songs the group will play. Each guest has time to feel out the song; to learn the chords and perhaps even the lyrics. Singing along while playing is encouraged.

Freeman introduced one song the gang recently played called “Trouble In Mind.” He shared some of the song’s history and said the version they’d be playing was one by Mavis Staples and Levon Helm.

Freeman launched the strumming and all players joined in, some more confidently than others, but it seemed they were all playing along with one another. When the time came for some hot licks, Freeman played a blistering solo.

Brady was up next and introduced a tune “Magnolia Wine,” by the wonderful Texas songwriter, Guy Clark.

Brady implored the group to “try not to cry” while performing the song. Playing to a slow waltz-like rhythm, most club members followed along very accurately and proudly. A loud and fun, make-believe “wah!” followed the coda and was met with chuckles.

Next, the bandleader was Freeman again. He spent a moment discussing the upcoming song, “Act Naturally,” quipping, “It’s a Ringo song; I am allergic to Buck Owens.”

The group fell in nicely, with most playing along exuberantly. The song was fairly rollicking for a rainy Tuesday afternoon.

Of the club, Freeman said, “We are always open to new members and we keep it moving forward.”

The Vintage House Ukulele Club is a fun way to dip your toes into a friendly musical pond, with an instrument that’s fairly easy to play and enjoy.

With classes and clubs such as this so readily available in Sonoma, there would seem to be no reason to sit home watching TV.

Ukulele club member Steve Cohen said you don’t have to stay home when there are so many wonderful reasons to get out of the house.

The session ended with 21 ukuleles playing the Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House.” An appropriate ending to many folks having a great time playing and singing at the Vintage House.