Price anything but blue about new musical home in Oceanside

By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer | Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:22 PM PST ∞

It was the beach that brought longtime Austin, Texas, fixture Toni Price to Oceanside in 2007. Knowledgeable fans of the local scene, though, are unlikely to be surprised if the roots and blues singer decides that the music environment of San Diego County is every bit as alluring as the (usually) balmy climate.

Fresh on the heels of the release of her latest CD, "Talk Memphis," Price is making her first local appearance as a San Diego County resident when she sits in with Sue Palmer at Dizzy's on Saturday night.

"I've known Candye Kane for years, just from when I was in Austin," Price said, by phone from her Oceanside home last week, by way of explaining how Saturday's gig came about. "She lives down the street from me ---- that's how I ended up here ---- and Sue Palmer played with Candye for about 10 years, so it's all a big, round circle."

While Austin has been known as a haven for non-mainstream music, from underground country to alt-rock to the blues, Price said changes in her longtime base (she originally grew up in Philadelphia) made living there any longer impossible.

"It's just dreadful what they've done to that town. Condominiums, condominiums and more condominiums. And they sure don't want any hippie singers there. They just tear down everything and build a condominium that I can't live in and I don't know anybody who can afford to live in."

While the late Cliff Antone's legendary blues club is still there ---- Price said his sister, Susan, helps run the joint now ---- even Antone's has live blues only one night a week, with rock music on the bill most nights to keep the bills paid.

"Everything's getting kind of homogenized. Through some grace, that club is still there."

When it was time to move with her youngest daughter, 14, to a new town, Price settled on San Diego County because she had played here in the past and vacationed here on her own time.

"I came here because of my need to be near the ocean," she said of her Oceanside home just blocks from the beach, adding that she can see her friend Kane's house from her balcony. "It's a lovely area, which I've visited over the years. And I thought, 'I can sing anywhere.' "

"I just had a gut feeling. I knew Candye, and I do have a reputation, sort of underground."

That reputation has been earned through countless nights playing at clubs like Antone's and others on the blues and roots circuit, as well as a string of well-received blue and R&B albums on Antone's independent label.

Price said she's still getting to know the local landscape, but hopes to start playing more local shows in addition to her occasional tours and regular visits back to Austin, where she can still find regular work. In the meantime, local fans can see her with Palmer on Saturday. Saturday night's show is titled "Sophisticated Ladies," and will feature songs from Palmer's latest album of the same name with a variety of female singers sitting in with the band ---- including Price, who said she'll be singing one of her own songs plus another.

"It's myself and several other ladies who are singing, and Sue's the hostess and piano player. It's just going to be fun ---- I'm looking forward to it. I'm doing 'Talk Memphis' from my record, and a Camille Howard tune because it's very conducive to piano and the atmosphere. And Sue is wonderful."

"Sophisticated Ladies" with Sue Palmer and guests, including Toni Price

When: 8 p.m. Jan. 19

Where: Dizzy's at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, Harbor Club Towers ground floor, Second and J streets, San Diego

Admission: $15

Info: (858) 270-7467 or dizzyssandiego.com

Web: toniprice.com

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