My solo gigs at an upscale local grocery chain called Andronico’s have bloomed into five weeks of steady bookings for a 3-4 piece band. It’s a neat idea: they’re in the food business, and food is a sensual experience that goes with music. Us live human musicians help to make their customers passionate. I respect that this is a solid business case for performers, Napster or not.

We’ll play noon-3 at the San Anselmo store the first four Saturdays in March and in the Berkeley store on the last Saturday. The band will have trumpet, alto horn, guitar, violin, dobro, mandolin, and standup bass (though not all at every gig).

A fringe benefit for the musicians is getting to wisecrack about groceries. The down side is interrupting your solo to help with bagging.