Features

Happy Holidays from Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Ben Kaufmann, Karl Denson and Bill Payne

KARL DENSON
Saxophone/Flute/Vocals
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Greyboy Allstars

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
When I was four or five years old, my aunt gave me a remote controlled sports car. This was back in the ‘60s, so the controller was attached to the car by a wire.

What gift do you want most this year?
I don’t think about gifts for myself very much—it’s part of being a dad—but it would be something related to cooking.

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
New Year’s Eve, 2000. We got stiffed for the gig, but we had one of the biggest laughs ever when Baby New got his diaper ripped off by a drunken girl. (Ed note: Baby New refers to Tiny Universe band manager Erik Newson).

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BILL PAYNE
Keyboards
Little Feat

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
My favorite gift received was a Kindle. I love reading. With all the traveling I do, I no longer have to figure which books I want to bring with me.

What gift do you want most this year?
A gift certificate for Amazon to buy books. Sound like a theme? Oh yes, and I would like World peace (don’t get me started).

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
It was a New Year’s Eve show with the Doobie Bros. at the Cow Palace. We came out at the start of the New Year clothed in diapers. We were crazy, the crowd went crazy. It was a fun night. It was a long time ago.