Rock band with Menlo Park roots Rock band with Menlo Park roots (November 27, 2002)

By Jane Roberts

Special to the Almanac

Local rock and roll band Cool Water Canyon is moving its annual Thanksgiving weekend homecoming concert. Instead of playing at the British Bankers Club in Menlo Park, fans will find them in San Francisco at Slim's, 333 11th St., on November 30, at 9 p.m.

"We look forward to this show every year. It's a chance for us to see old friends and family and really party it up," says lead guitarist Andrew Allen.

Mr. Allen and band members Carter Beim and Jesse Tyre Karp have roots in Menlo Park, and can trace their friendship back to elementary school, says Mr. Karp. Mr. Allen graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School, while Mr. Beim and Mr. Karp graduated from Menlo School.

Mr. Beim, the bassist, explains that the BBC has always treated the band well, but in the past few years too many people were waiting in line to get in. "We needed a bigger venue, and Slim's fit the bill perfectly," he says.

"This show is really about having fun, playing some old favorites and maybe a couple of surprises," says Mr. Karp, the band's rhythm guitarist. "It's been pretty wild in the past, and we wouldn't want to expect anything less this time around. It's a show for all ages, though."

Cool Water Canyon has been together since 1995, when members met while studying at the University of California, Santa Barbara, according to Mr. Karp. He says they have shared the stage with Bob Weir, Ben Harper, and Jackson Browne, in addition to recording two albums. Their third album is on the way.

The band describes its music as high-energy rock and roll, with influences from jazz, funk, and rhythm and blues.

Tickets for the concert are $14, and can be purchased in advance from www.slims-sf.com. For more information about the band, visit www.coolwatercanyon.com.