Beth Custer

Guitarist/composer Will Bernard and I have been playing, recording, performing, eating Indian food, and attending JC’s soirees together since 1986? We used to run a quintet together and performed in some fine establishments including Noe Valley Ministry (with Trevor Dunn, Matt Brubeck, Kenny Wollesen) and DeYoung Museum (with Jan Jackson, Jeff Cressman and John Schifflett (RIP), the Koret Auditorium (Dan Fabricant)…phew! As a duo we’ve played SF Jazz and others stunning venues. Bird and Beckett remains a favorite and we’ll return there 11/11/26, 7pm.

Check out our only recording SKY. It got some great reviews and someone wrote me the other day asking when our next duo record will be out. I’ve decided, without consulting Will, that we’ll record ‘Dirt’ in 2027 as a companion recording to SKY. Don’t miss us, Wednesday, November 11th at the local treasure that is Bird n’ Beckett. Special thanks to Eric Whittington for all he does for our community.

December 4th, 8pm, Russian Telegraph performs at Winter’s Tavern in beautiful Pacifica. Robley D Variety Show graces the stage at 9pm, Go To Hell, 10pm. It’s a gorgeous drive to get to Pacifica, we hope to see you out there. And a very special thanks to Robley D.

Khachapuri Trio performs twice in December: December 11th, we’ll be at the intimate Red Poppy Art House. Tickets will go on sale soon, I’ll post the link once they do. On December 19th, we’ll be performing at SF Park Branch Library in the Program Room. Special thanks to Dina at Red Poppy Art House for making such a treasured venue happen and the SF Library for continuing to present live music.

Don’t forget, hearing live music helps you live longer! Thank you New Farm cat ‘Bobby,’ your cat spa day cometh!

In 1983, I moved to San Francisco from Albany, CA where I’d landed for 2 years. I immediately met Richard Marriott on the roof of the Club Foot, a punk club on 3rd St. He asked me to perform with his new group for one performance, I said yes! That ‘yes’ began what has been one of the most enjoyable threads of my career. The new Club Foot Orchestra was formed. Snakefinger was in the band! We played Oasis, Lipps Underground, DuNord, The Farm, The Vis (now the Independent) and countless other clubs until the mid’80’s when we started performing live original scores to silent era films, first at The Roxie and then The Castro theatres, up and down both coasts…..

The Club Foot Quintet will be performing Sunday, September 27th, 3:30pm at The Roxie, Richard’s score to GARDEN OF EDEN, directed by Lewis Milestone (Arabian Nights, All Quiet on the Western Front). The event is co-presented by the National Film Preservation Foundation and Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. On September 30th, we’ll be at the SRJC Petaluma Campus Carole L. Ellis Auditorium performing Buster Keaton’s Day Dreams at 6pm and ‘Garden of Eden at 7pm. Not to be missed, folks, great movie and live music!

Hope to see you out there, and….more soon!

Hi there, tomorrow, Friday, September 4th, 11:30 am I’ll be a guest on the radio at KXSF.FM (102.5 FM), the ‘Frequency Uplift’ show with filmmaker Anne Milne calling in from Scotland. We’ll be talking about the New Farm Friday Film Series’s next show the following week, Friday, 9/11/26. It’s a New Farm fundraiser and the last in the film series for this year. Tune in and find out what Anne’s Chronological Short Films will be about. Thanks!

     

Throughout my music career I’ve always done things backwards, only realizing in retrospect what I started. I founded BC Records in the early ’90’s not realizing I’d put out dozens of releases. I founded All Hands on Deck Publishing Company and am overwhelmed by how many scores I can publish. Everything is self-serving in the hopes of getting more work…and bringing joy!

I started The New Farm Friday Film Series last summer as a fundraising idea for the volunteer & donation based community center. We presented Cathy Lee Crane, William Farley, and My Grandmother. I’ve sealed the lineup for this summer, save the dates and attend! I’d be much obliged–you can watch me do things backwards!

The New Farm Friday Film Series presents:

September 11, 2026, 5-9pm:

Anne Milne She’ll be coming over from Scotland, we’ll be showing many of her very cool films that have won awards the world over. Frenchy LeBeau performs his music outdoors from 5-6:45, screening will be indoors 7-9pm.

July 24th 5-10pm:

Jakub Kalousek: ‘Week Old Sushi & All Bagel Mix’…who knows what Czech transplant Jakub will bring to the table but you will be entertained, there is no doubt! Some of you may have attended his mattress film showing at New Farm a couple years ago, David James and I will be accompanying Jakub for his ballet and Frenchy LeBeau will entertain you on the outdoor stage before the screening.

June 26th 5-10pm:

LOCALS SHORTS, a evening of short films by people who’s work I adore including ShadowLight Productions (honoring director Larry Reed, RIP), Kara Herold, William Farley, and a screening of LOADED WARRIOR honoring Jarico Reese, hopefully POOL OF THANATOS by Peter McCandless with my score recorded by Club Foot Orchestra, and Anne Hamersky CULTIVATING AWE plus a short by John Law, and maybe some others! Not to be missed!

The New Farm Friday Film Series has been created to help bring in donations to support our ongoing work as a burgeoning community center replete with numerous stages and gathering places. The New Farm is located at 10 Cargo Way in San Francisco. Hope to see you out there!

Photo of Beth Custer Ensemble: Anne Hamersky @1999-2000 (?) at Radio Habana Social Club. Wearing a Michael Roman (RIP) printed dress.

Thanks for reading~peace!

Hi good people! I’ll be performing at the lovely Wyldflowr Arts venue in Oakland, this will be a return to Oakland for Russian Telegraph. We’ll be performing our Turnips release and many other pieces. Hope to see you there and thanks for reading…be well~

Will Bernard played in The Beth Custer Ensemble until he moved to Brooklyn. As he was leaving he said you should check out David James~ I found him at his place of work and and asked him to play in my band. He came for a jam and became the guitarist in BCE which morphed into Russian Telegraph and he founded GPS. David James’s GPS & special guests will be presenting Mission Rebels No. 1 CD/vinyl release concert, on Friday, January 23rd. 7:30pm at Capp Street Theatre. Advance tickets highly recommended~you’ll be glad you did!