Now in its 60th season, the Santa Cruz Symphony presents Embracing the Dance, a concert showcasing the work of celebrated American composers John Adams and Leonard Bernstein, as well as Ludwig van Beethoven. The program begins with Adams’ 13-minute long “Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra” from 1985. It continues with Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from the West Side Story score, and concludes with Beethoven’s 7th symphony, the 40-minute long masterpiece that includes a funeral march as well as moments of levity and joy. 

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. $29-$85. 426-6966. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov, 13 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the concert.

The post Giveaway: ‘Embracing the Dance’ appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of November 8, 2017.

THURSDAY 11/9

ELECTRONIC

CUT COPY

Melbourne ‘s Cut Copy is nearing two decades as a band. In that time, they’ve covered a lot of territory musically, whether it be disco, dance-rock, or ’80s New Wave funk. But whatever they’ve done, it’s always been through the lens of re-interpreted pop music of the past into something light-hearted and dance-y. It’s not something that will ever feel too unfamiliar. In fact, the whole point of Cut Copy is to play with the familiar, and blur the line between nostalgia and slicked-out modern pop music. Their latest, Haiku From Zero, is no exception; it even sounds like they’re cutting and pasting from their own catalog. Nostalgia for nostalgia. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

THURSDAY 11/9

JAZZ

PATRICIA BARBER TRIO

Over the past 25 years, Patricia Barber has carved out a singular niche on the jazz scene as a skilled pianist whose keyboard work adds considerable drama to her low-affect vocals. An incisive interpreter of standards and more contemporary pop tunes, she’s often at her best singing her own poetically charged material, including songs inspired by Greek mythology written with the support of a Guggenheim Fellowship. A resident artist in Chicago’s illustrious club the Green Mill (her latest release is the digital-only album Monday Night Live at the Green Mill, Volume 3), she’s performing with her highly sympathetic trio, featuring drummer Jon Deitemyer and bassist Patrick Mulcahy, top Chicago cats. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 11/10

MARIACHI

METALACHI

For those who’ve never experienced the magic that is Metalachi, stop existing and start living. After all, this is the world’s only heavy metal mariachi band! The six-piece puts its own traditional Mexican twist on hair-banging, hesher favorites. From Axl’s “Sweet Child o’ Mine” to Ozzy’s “Crazy Train” to Tenacious D’s infamous “Fuck Her Gently,” Metalachi delivers with a relentlessly fun show. Even your abuelita will get her dance on, just don’t tell her it’s really the devil’s music! As an added treat, Santa Cruz’s Reverend Stephen Sams is opening the night. Orale! MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door.  479-1854.

FRIDAY 11/10

FOLK

KRIS DELMHORST & JEFFREY FOUCAULT

Calling Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault a folk music power couple sounds a bit off, mostly because the two are too damn nice to be a power anything. But a folk music power couple they are. Two well-known artists with successful solo careers of their own, the twosome recently teamed up on Delmhorst’s The Wild. The album balances sophisticated songwriting, engaging vocals and natural song crafting abilities with quiet grace and charm. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $17/adv, $20/door. 335-2800.

FRIDAY 11/10

ROCK

DIRT TRACK HEROES

“You wouldn’t be stupid enough to let Dirt Track Heroes play in your house,” the group posted on their Facebook a couple years back. A solid point! They may be loud as hell and more fun than a night of binge-watching Stranger Things, but do you really want to be responsible for the kind of cleanup a chaotic, noisy rock band like this might require? Just let the Blue Lagoon staff take care of it. They’re professionals! You just show up, have your mind blown by meaty, bluesy riffs, and go home to a couple peaceful hours of sleep. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $5. 423-7117.

SUNDAY 11/12

COUNTRY

TRIBUTE TO JESSE WINCHESTER & TOWNES VAN ZANDT

This Sunday, share a night of music, poetry and country storytelling as the Kuumbwa presents a tribute to singer-songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Jesse Winchester. While both artists have already passed on from this astral plane of existence, their music and words live on. This all-star line-up of local acts includes McCoy Tyler, the Coffis Brothers, Ralph Anybody of KPIG fame and many more to soothe the soul. Kick up the dust with some old-timey ballads and hear some of your favorite tunes in a new way. MW

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25-$40. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 11/14

INTERNATIONAL ROCK

JARABE DE PALO

Hailing from Montanuy, Spain, Jarabe de Palo is a rock ’n’ roll outfit formed in the mid-’90s. Across numerous lineup changes over the years, the band has collaborated with top-tier international artists, including legendary Cuban artist Celia Cruz, Spanish pop star Antonio Vega, and Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper and songwriter Vico C. It has also won several awards and been nominated for multiple Grammys. On Tuesday, the Spanish rockers make their Moe’s Alley debut. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $35/adv, $40/door. 479-1854.

TUESDAY 11/14

HIP-HOP

AMINÉ

Up-and-coming rapper Aminé has bars and he has hooks, but what really seems to set him apart is his ability to mix silly humor with uncomfortable truths. The video for “Redmercedes” has the unsettling aesthetic of the rapper going to a car dealership wearing whiteface, dressed in Ivy League clothing, and being treated as thugs by the “racist” black salesman. Apart from being odd and hilarious, it makes a strong point about racism. His newest album Good for You is one of the best rap albums of 2017, and features the brilliant line “White girls love me like my first name Coachella.” AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20-$89. 429-4135.

TUESDAY 11/14

AMERICANA

MANDOLIN ORANGE

Resting comfortably in that rootsy sweet spot where folk, gospel, country, bluegrass and pop overlap, Mandolin Orange is a modern-day Americana standout. Hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the duo—songwriter Andrew Marlin on vocals, mandolin, guitar and banjo; Emily Frantz on vocals, violin and guitar—has been at it since 2009. Their music boasts tight harmonies and virtuosic musicianship and has made a name for them on the Americana roots circuit, including stops at Austin City Limits, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Newport Folk Festival and Merlefest. CJ

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $24. 423-8209.

IN THE QUEUE

THE SAM CHASE

Gravelly voiced, Bay Area Americana favorite. Friday at Kuumbwa

SEE NIGHT

Shoegaze-psych out of San Francisco. Friday at Crepe Place

DONNA THE BUFFALO

New York-based Zydeco, folk and rock outfit. Saturday at Catalyst

HILARY & KATE

Roots-inspired, contemporary string duo. Saturday at Crepe Place

ABYSSINIANS

Classic roots reggae. Saturday at Moe’s Alley

The post Music Picks Nov 8-14 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt picked up the trumpet early, and by high school he had a keen interest in jazz. The Berklee College of Music grad went on to play with the Mingus Big Band after college, and has since worked with an impressive roster of artists, including Nancy Wilson, the Skatalites and Bobby Blue Bland. Named a Downbeat “rising star” five consecutive years, Pelt has been described as a “technical marvel” who “never lacks for flair or sensitivity.” His latest release, this year’s Make Noise!, blends the classic jazz foundation he laid in his early years with a contemporary approach to harmony and collaboration. 

INFO: 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Jeremy Pelt Quintet appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of November 15, 2017.

WEDNESDAY 11/15

AMERICANA

BABY GRAMPS

There aren’t many musicians as unique or downright odd as Seattle-based artist Baby Gramps. Known as “the Salvador Dali of Folk Music,” Baby Gramps has delighted audiences with his witty palindromes, steel guitar, grizzled throat singing and humorous lyrics. From Late Night with David Letterman to street busking, Baby Gramps has lived a life as tall as his tales, like his claim that he built the log cabin he was born in. His live show is personable, often inviting his audience to participate, and as intimate in a large venue as it would be in a living room. MAT WEIR

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10. 335-2800.

THURSDAY 11/16

JAZZ

MARTIN TAYLOR & ALISON BURNS

People refer to Martin Taylor as Mr. Jazzy Fingers. Ok, technically, I’m the only one who calls him that. But it’s a fitting name. For five decades, Taylor has been a force to be reckoned with in the acoustic jazz world. Have you heard his bouncy finger-picking style? It’s the kind of thing that might lead someone to give him a cool nickname—like, say, Mr. Jazzy Fingers! He’ll be teaming up with legendary Scottish jazz vocalist Alison Burns, who has a tender deepness to her voice à la Ella Fitzgerald. Speaking of, Taylor and Burns will be commemorating the work that Fitzgerald did with guitarist Joe Pass in the ’60s. AC

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s On Main, 2591 S. Main St., Soquel. $27/adv, $30/door. 479-9777

THURSDAY 11/16

INDIE ROCK

KELLEY STOLTZ

Bay Area singer-songwriter Kelley Stoltz recently had what he calls the “thrill of a lifetime” playing guitar on tour with his heroes Echo and the Bunnymen. With his spooky, psychedelia-infused brand of indie rock, Stoltz is a perfect fit for the ’80s new wave group. The experience sparked a creative burst, and Stoltz emerged from the tour with several albums worth of new music, including Strat: Live at the Whammy Bar, a “proper new album” titled Que Aura, and Natural Causes, slated for release next year. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 11/16

LATIN

ILE

Puerto Rico’s Calle 13 were beasts in the world of Latin hip-hop. For a decade, they spat rapid-fire Spanish verses over high-energy Latin dance beats. In other words, they kept one foot in the traditional music realm and the other very far away from it. Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar, a singer in the group, changed her name to iLe when Calle went on hiatus in 2015. A solo record soon followed, and it was light years from Calle 13. She’s positioned herself as an interpreter of the classic music of Latin America. She’s got the guttural, romantic voice to pull it off, too. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $35/adv, $40/door. 429-4135.

FRIDAY 11/17

JAZZ

BILL FRISELL’S BEAUTIFUL DREAMERS

Describing Bill Frisell as one of the most influential and revered guitarists in jazz is true—as far as it goes. At any given performance, the Seattle-based aural adventurer might tap into one or more of some two-dozen distinct but interrelated bodies of music, each inextricably linked to specific players. For this tour, Frisell is revisiting music from 2010’s Beautiful Dreamers, a body of concise, melodically engaging tunes informed by early American popular and roots music (the artists covered include Blind Willie Johnson, Benny Goodman, and Stephen Foster). As on the album, he’s joined by violist Eyvind Kang and Rudy Royston, one of this era’s definitive drummers. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 & 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227.

SUNDAY 11/19

ROCK

OUR LADY PEACE

Do you remember when grunge bands were rebranded as alternative rock? Our Lady Peace does. Since 1992, the Canadian group has sold millions of albums and toured the world with their erratic brand of rock. While their signature 1997 album, Clumsy—the  20th anniversary of which they’re celebrating on this tour—saw singles “Superman’s Dead” and the title track solidify the band’s spot in the Canadian rock scene, us Yanks remember them most for their 1996 single “Starseed,” featured on the Armageddon soundtrack. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

SUNDAY 11/19

NEW ORLEANS FUNK

REBIRTH BRASS BAND

If you need to shake the cobwebs off your soul and get your booty moving, then buckle up, because the Rebirth Brass Band is coming to town. A New Orleans institution, this horn-driven band covers audiences in funk so deep and grooves so wide that you’ll find yourself wondering which end is up—and that’s just the first song. Rebirth has been around since the early ’80s, it’s won a Grammy, and it’s been a force in reintroducing brass band tradition—a defining feature of New Orleans music and culture—to younger generations. CJ

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.

MONDAY 11/20

JAZZ

REGINA CARTER

Last year, jazz violin virtuoso Regina Carter wowed a Kuumbwa audience with tunes from her haunting and personal record Southern Comfort. Carter did what she does best that night, setting ego aside and surrendering to the muse. Since then, she’s returned to the studio and emerged with Ella: Accentuate the Positive, a tribute to the music of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. The record gives new life to some of Fitzgerald’s lesser known tunes, such as “I’ll Never be Free,” “Reach for Tomorrow,” and “I’ll Chase the Blues Away.” CJ

INFO: 7 & 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 11/21

AMERICANA

MARK OLSON & INGUNN RINGVOLD

If you dig music that exists on that fine line between country and rock ’n’ roll, there’s a good chance that your favorite band was influenced in some way by the Jayhawks. They weren’t huge sellers, but they have an amazing catalog. Acoustic guitarist/singer Mark Olson quit the band in 1995, and these days, he tours and records with his wife Ingunn Ringvold. Their music is eclectic and lush, with exactly the kind of harmonies you’d expect from Olson. AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $20. 335-2800.

IN THE QUEUE

BAYLOR PROJECT

Husband-and-wife jazz/soul/gospel collaboration. Thursday at Kuumbwa

KEZNAMDI

Emerging star of the Jamaican reggae scene. Saturday at Moe’s Alley

ANONYMOUS THAT DUDE

Bay Area-based rapper. Saturday at Catalyst

DIRTY CELLO

Cello-driven blues and bluegrass out of San Francisco. Saturday at Kuumbwa

TISH HINOJOSA

Acclaimed singer/songwriter. Sunday at Don Quixote’s

The post Music Picks November 15-21 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz, are you ready to be slayed?

From deep within the bowels of Richmond, Virginia, the heavy metal space aliens Gwar have surfaced and they are showing no mercy. On Nov. 17, they return to the Catalyst—for the first time in five years—promising another night of chaos drenched in the blood of their prey. Only this time, they demand more than a sacrifice.

“I look forward to leaving Santa Cruz with a briefcase full of money and drugs,” says guitar player Pustulus Maximus. “It doesn’t even have to be a specific amount of money, the briefcase just needs to be full of it. And drugs.”

Just don’t try to pull a fast one on the Scumdogs of the Universe.

“No coins, it needs to be all paper,” he warns. “It can even be the Canadian funny money, that’s fine.”

For the last three decades, this grotesque group of renegade alien warriors has toured the world slaughtering ear drums with their merciless music and brutal stage show. At each show, Maximus, the Berserker Blothar (vocals), Balsac the Jaws ‘O Death (guitar), Jizmak Da Gusha (drums) and Beefcake the Mighty (bass) drenching their loyal fans—also known as bohabs—in gallons of blood. Literally. Bohabs specifically wear white for the occasion, often keeping each tour shirt as a token souvenir from their gods.

But who are these mysterious creatures and how did they come to wreak havoc on our planet?

The Gwar mythos is deep and often mysterious. They were intergalactic warriors serving a supreme being called the Master, and sent throughout the universe to kill his enemies. The only problem was that they were a little too enthusiastic about their work and each member “earned a reputation for being an intergalactic fuck-up.” They were banished to a dirt planet called—you guessed it—Earth, where they changed the natural order by mating with apes, creating all human life. They found their way to Antarctica, where the Master trapped them for centuries, only to thaw in 1984 and return to the slaughter. They even managed to escape the planet for a tour in space, but quickly returned because, well, space doesn’t have crack for them to smoke.

But don’t take our word for it—it’s all explained on their latest album, The Blood of Gods.

“It definitely tells the tales of our struggles, trials and tribulations over the last years,” Maximus admits. “Especially the last few years, which have been an extensive grieving process and rebirth.’

The band has had a cast of characters come and go over the years—from their cave troll slave Bonesnapper to their greasy manager, Sleazy P. Martini. However, tragedy struck when their longtime guitarist, Flattus Maximus, stole a spaceship and returned to his birthplace of Planet Home.That’s when Pustulus stepped up to the plate, defending the honor of the Maximus clan.

“The last time we played [Santa Cruz] in 2012 was actually my first tour with the band,” he remembers.

The second tragedy came in 2014, when founding member and long-time singer Oderus Urungus, became trapped between dimensions, unable to return to the band, and is now confirmed deceased.

But as Maximus noted, with destruction comes rebirth. From the portals of time, Gwar pulled Blothar through history and into our realm. The Blood of Gods might be his first album with the Scumdogs, but he was able to quickly carve his own warm hole in the group.

“We are the gods [in the title],” he says. “It’s been shown over the past decade that Gwar can bleed and suffer mortal blows.”

“He speaks for all of us in the band through these lyrics,” Maximus states. “And I think he did a fucking great job at expressing what we needed to get out there. If you want to know what’s going on with us, it’s all there.”

From the opening track, “War on Gwar,” to tracks like “Crushed By the Cross,” Gods is a brutal onslaught of heavy metal. It was a massive undertaking that the cretins didn’t take lightly, knowing how heavily they would be watched along the way. And as sales have shown, they nailed it.

“It was an accomplishment to make a record without Oderus Urungus, which was the elephant in the room,” acknowledges Maximus. “Every listener is going to judge us in that respect, so we decided, ‘Fuck it, we’re going to do what we’re going to do.’ It was a very organic process.

Blothar agrees.

“We wanted to do a Gwar record, and I’m very glad for that,” he says. “Gwar has changed over the years, but there was a cohesion to the way things were put together.”

While it is definitely a Gwar record, what makes it stand out from their most recent albums is the decidedly rock ’n’ roll turn they chose to take. Songs like “Phantom Limb” and “El Presidente”—in which bohabs will hear a horn section, something that hasn’t appeared on a Gwar album in years—bring a distinct 1970s hard rock flavor to the music. They even do a gruesome cover of AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood.”

“Oderus had wanted to cover that for years,” Blothar remembers.

“The biggest reason why this is such a diverse record is because we didn’t want to be limited by any one style,” he says. “And Gwar shouldn’t be, considering we invented all of them.”

This new rebirth has led the band on a wave of destruction with Oakland-based Ghoul and Richmond group U.S. Bastards, on a tour that Maximus describes as “long and hard, much like a pecker.” But it’s a tour that is needed, because it seems not even space aliens can escape the IRS.

“We don’t get any medical benefits, but they still take a shitload of taxes. How’s that for America?” he growls. “I’m not even allowed to vote, since I’m not a natural-born citizen. Not like there’s anyone to vote for anyway.”

INFO: 6:30pm. The Catalyst Club. 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25adv/$29door. 429-4135.

The post Preview: Gwar Returns to the Catalyst appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Lech Wierzynski doesn’t have a typical American funk and soul artist backstory. For starters, he was born in Warsaw, Poland. But as a youngster, he was introduced to the music of Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong and others, and when the family moved to the U.S., Wierzynski’s love of music grew. When a friend introduced him to the Rebirth Brass Band, he found his musical calling. Now frontman for the California Honeydrops, Wierzynski leads one of the funkiest dancefloor-packing acts in the Bay Area and beyond. With tight horns, irresistible grooves and a New Orleans-inspired sense of get-down, the band is pure joy in action. On Dec. 1, the Honeydrops bring the party to the Catalyst. 

INFO: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $22/door. 423-1338. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 27 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: The California Honeydrops appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

The best live music for the week of November 22, 2017.

WEDNESDAY 11/22

REGGAE

MEDITATIONS

Formed in 1974, the Meditations are an impressive Jamaican harmony group. They sang backups on songs by Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. You can hear them on the Congos’ Heart of the Congos album, one of the best roots reggae albums ever recorded, with harmonies that are gorgeous and eerie. They also recorded their own music; their most famous track is “Woman is Like a Shadow.” They still have great voices, and play authentic roots reggae music in a way few living artists still can. AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $20. 335-2800.

FRIDAY 11/24

INDIE

CANDACE

Hailing from Portland, Oregon via Minneapolis, Minnesota, Candace is a shoegaze-y indie band with a penchant for moody, atmospheric tunes driven by pop aesthetics. Confused yet? Imagine slow grooves, chilled-out bass lines, jangly guitar, and pleasing, mellow multi-part harmonies. Comprising Sarah Rose, Sarah Nienaber, and Mara Appel DesLauriers, the trio—which was formerly known as Is/Is—has weathered relocations, lineup shakeups, reunions and a name change to emerge as one of the best (if still underappreciated) indie groups in the Pacific Northwest. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

FRIDAY 11/24

REGGAE

THROUGH THE ROOTS

There’s an informal rivalry between Santa Cruz and San Diego as to which is the most Cali-reggae city of all. Obviously, I’m too biased to name a winner, but let’s just say that San Diego “tries hard.” Hell, let’s give a shout out to one of their coolest bands, Through The Roots, a group formed in 2008 by several reggae-loving friends who wanted to spread of message of peace, love and “bloodshot eyes.” The group spent the first few years playing backyards and garages. These days, they headline big clubs, sprinkling reggae positivity wherever they go. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 11/24

POP-PUNK

NEW FOUND GLORY

There have been a lot of waves of punk rock—like, seriously, a ton of them. In the 2000s, there was a second wave of pop-punk that was huge. These bands had ridiculously catchy hooks, anthemic choruses, emo-angst, fast beats, and a bit of studio polish. One of the key players in this era was New Found Glory, who in a lot of ways helped to define it. And guess what, they have a new album out, Makes Me Sick. What it’s like? Let’s just say that the video for single “Happy Being Miserable” includes an orgy of vomiting. So basically, it’s not a huge departure. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $23/adv, $27/door. 429-4135.

SATURDAY 11/25

ROOTS

NAKED BOOTLEGGERS

Boasting four-part harmonies, down-home instruments—including a washboard—and a porch-jam approach to making music, the Naked Bootleggers are part of Santa Cruz’s lively roots music scene. The band draws inspiration from the Santa Cruz Mountains, the local creative scene, old-time mountain music and even shitty jobs—check out the song “I Don’t Wanna Go to Work Today.” If acoustic jams are your thing, put this band on your radar. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10. 335-2800.

SUNDAY 11/26

BLUES

GUITARSONISTS

Mighty Mike Schermer is one of Santa Cruz’s favorite musical sons. Now a well-known guitarist on the national blues scene, Schermer honed his chops in Santa Cruz before relocating to Austin. On Sunday, Schermer teams up with multi-instrumentalist bluesman Chris Cain and Bay Area favorite Daniel Castro as the Guitarsonists. An all-star group dripping with talent and passion for the blues, the Guitarsonists have a collective musical pedigree that rivals any contemporary artists, including collaborations with Albert King, Bonnie Raitt, Ronnie Lane, Albert Collins, Marcia Ball, Tower of Power and many more. CJ

INFO: 4 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

MONDAY 11/27

JAZZ

JEREMY PELT QUINTET

A leading voice on the trumpet, Los Angeles-reared Jeremy Pelt first gained attention on the New York scene in the Mingus Big Band. With his gorgeous tone and capacious improvisational resources, he became one of the most in-demand horn players around, recording with veteran jazz masters such as Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, James Moody, Ralph Peterson, and Nancy Wilson. Since releasing his first album as a leader in 2002, he’s made more than a dozen increasingly impressive sessions, leading up to his latest, Make Noise!. Pelt is touring with the same blazing young band featured on the album, with pianist Victor Gould, drummer Jonathan Barber, percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo, and bassist Richie Goods (filling in for Vicente Archer), a prolific player known for his work with jazz and pop stars. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 11/28

ELECTRONIC / SOUL

SYD

Producer. Songwriter. Syd is a person who wears many hats in the industry and has just as many musical projects. Earlier this year, she released her solo debut album, Fin, along with her instrumental EP, Raunchboots. Forever restless, Syd dropped another three-track EP of electronic soul and R&B jams two months ago, appropriately titled Always Never Home. Along with her ever-evolving solo career, she is also the singer for soul act The Internet, and was a long-time member of the Odd Future collective. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 429-4135.

IN THE QUEUE

DAN JUAN

Fun-loving alt-country/indie-rock out of Santa Cruz. Wednesday at Moe’s Alley

REDLIGHT DISTRICT

Local psychedelic rock and roll outfit. Wednesday at Crepe Place

TERROR REID

San Jose-based rapper. Friday at Catalyst

GRAND LARSON

Blue-eyed soul. Saturday at Crepe Place

ISRAEL VIBRATION

Legendary roots reggae group. Saturday at Moe’s Alley

The post Music Picks Nov. 22-28 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

The secret to the Pixies’ success is that listening to their music is like talking to the preachy-preach about kissy-kiss. It’s like looking up at the sky in a poetic kind of way, what you call it when you look up at the sky in a poetic kind of way. You know, when you grope for luna. But you already know this, and, sure, you want to see the most influential rock band of our generation. But this show is sold out, because despite being more than a decade into their reunion, this band is as hot a ticket as ever. So try this trick: follow the directions below to try to snag our giveaway tickets. (SP)

INFO: 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $40. 423-1338. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: The Pixies appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Music highlights for the week of November 29, 2017.

WEDNESDAY 11/29

JAM

HIGGS

What is “cosmic California rock,” you ask? Short answer: Southern California band the Higgs. Long answer: a whole assortment of styles—funk, psych-rock, jazz, prog rock—done with some elements that are structured, and also some free-form improvisation. I guess you could call them a jam band, but the jams aren’t long guitar solos, they’re group explorations of groove. AARON CARNES

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 479-1854.

THURSDAY 11/30

CELTIC

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA

Now in its 12th year in Santa Cruz, Irish Christmas in America is a celebration of Irish music, humor, dance and history—all imbued with holiday spirit. The tour and performance is produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada of award-winning lrish group Téada and is traveling to venues around the country, including the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Performers at this year’s family-friendly concert include special guest singer Niamh Farrell, Séamus Begley, and dancer Samantha Harvey. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $26/adv, $30/door. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 12/1

JAZZ

QUEEN ESTHER MARROW with THE TAMMY HALL TRIO

Queen Esther Marrow received her crown directly from a duke—Duke Ellington, that is. As a complete unknown just starting to think about pursuing music professionally, the 22-year-old Marrow got the call from Ellington to sing in the 1965 Concert of Sacred Music that consecrated San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. Her soaring voice provided a highlight of the evening, and she went on to work with other royalty, performing at events with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over the years she’s recorded in gospel, jazz, and R&B settings, but has spent much of the past two decades working in Europe. Looking to re-establish herself back stateside, she’s performing in California with an ace trio. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 12/1

GARAGE-ROCK

THE PACK AD

The video for Pack AD’s song “Dollhouse” is unsettling. The entire video is a continuous shot of singer Becky Black, who stares directly at your soul while her head bleeds, and she sings the words “Do you realize we live in a dollhouse?” to you. Her image goes in and out of focus. But that’s not the weirdest part. The video opens with a solid 20 seconds of her just staring, with no music playing. It’s like she knows you’re there! The group, a minimalistic duo, plays beefy bare-bones garage rock riffs backed by darkly humorous lyrics about depression and grief. Fun! AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

SATURDAY 12/2

INDIE

TUNE-YARDS

In 2011, the indie world became obsessed with Tune-Yards, the project of Merrill Garbus. It’s not hard to see why. The song “Gangsta,” for instance, is a highly infectious African-beat-influence pop song and will immediately make you want to jump out of your chair and dance with total abandon. Discussions revolved around the fact that a white girl was playing music so clearly pulling from African sounds. But this critical perspective was short-lived, especially as she proved that her influences were much vaster, and that her execution was authentic to her own oddball artsy self. She’s got a new album scheduled for January, and the single mixes some electronic elements. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $16/adv, $21/door. 429-4135.

SUNDAY 12/3

ROOTS

KPIG HUMBUG HOEDOWN

The KPIG Humbug Hoedown is back and bringing the holiday season in piggie-worthy style. Kicking things off is the Carolyn Sills Combo, our hometown heroes of the national Western swing scene. Headlining the evening are the T Sisters (pictured above), a California-based family band comprising three sisters—Erika, Rachel and Chloe—who have been writing and performing together their entire lives. The group’s repertoire includes folk, pop, indie and Americana. On Sunday, they present a special acoustic show. Bring at least five cans of food—for people or for pets—to save $5 at the door. CJ

INFO: 7 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15. 335-2800.

SUNDAY 12/3

HAWAIIAN

WILLIE K

Prince once called Hawaiian multi-instrumentalist Willie K a “funky mother#%@&er.” In the music world, I’m not sure there is any higher praise. And Willie is well-deserving of the title. A musical force who can play any style of music thrown at him, he is also a down-to-earth, kind-hearted person who derives great joy from playing music and loves to share that joy wherever he is and whatever he’s playing. From indigenous Hawaiian music to country, reggae, jazz and classical, Willie has something in his repertoire. He’s particularly fond of the blues and, on Sunday, he performs at Moe’s as part of the Afternoon Blues Series. “Playing the blues makes me happy,” he has said, “and everybody loves it when I do.” CJ

INFO: 4 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

TUESDAY 12/5

BLUES

JONNY LANG

Outside of the hip-hop world, it’s hard to find teenage artists with No. 1 hits, but that’s just how Jonny Lang broke into the scene. Twenty years ago, at the ripe age of 16, Lang burst onto the airwaves with his first hit, “Lie To Me,” off his second album of the same name. Since then, the Grammy-winning artist has continued to grow with his blend of blues, gospel and rock to perform with some of music’s biggest artists, like Aerosmith, Buddy Guy and the late B.B. King. This year, he returns with his first new album in four years, Turn Around, which hit the Billboard 200 charts. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $28/adv, $30/door. 429-4135.

TUESDAY 12/5

ROCK

CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD

When describing the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, the namesake frontman recently told Rolling Stone, “Our business model is based on the soul more than anything,” and we’d have to agree. There aren’t many major bands today that capture the rawness of the blues while elevating their listeners to the height of psychedelia. Yet, somehow CRB has managed to continuously do it throughout their five-year and six-album career. Separate from Robinson’s Black Crowes, the Brotherhood mixes the Grateful Dead with Muddy Waters and douses it in Led Zeppelin for a raging jam of passion and fun. MW

INFO: 8 p.m. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. $30. 423-2053.

IN THE QUEUE

BLITZEN TRAPPER

Indie-rock meets country-rock. Thursday at Moe’s Alley

TRACE BUNDY

Guitar and looping phenomenon. Friday at Don Quixote’s

ROSIE PLAZA

Surf rock and pop out of Oakland. Saturday at Crepe Place

COLLIE BUDDZ

American/Bermudian reggae. Sunday at Catalyst

NORA JANE STRUTHERS

Folk-rock singer-songwriter. Monday at Don Quixote’s

The post Music Picks Nov. 29 – Dec. 5 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Charlie Hunter is a favorite of contemporary jazz guitar fans. A musical and improvisational wizard, he plays custom seven- and eight-string guitars, allowing him to play melodies, rhythm, chords and basslines at the same time, and like no one else. On Dec. 18, Hunter brings his current trio to Santa Cruz, comprising vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Silvana Estrada and drummer Carter McLean. 

INFO: 7 & 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Charlie Hunter Trio appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

“We are a sort of an outer space cyborg club looking in at the Earth,” says Tony Assi about his band Psychic Astro Club.

The group plays psychedelic rock with hints of jazz and mellow slowcore indie rock. The project is an evolution of sorts for Assi, who originally recorded an EP in 2014 under the name Tony Tricks, which was also psych-rock, but more blues-oriented. He then put together a band to play the songs live. Over time, the band members have changed. Once he got a solid lineup, and saw how the group was developing its own sound, he changed it to the Psychic Astro Club.

“It’s definitely more thought out, and complex. Better produced. Just generally more thoughtful,” Assi says.

The biggest change in Psychic Astro Club is the sci-fi themes around the band, both in terms of lyrics and in terms of the overall presentation of the group, which Assi says is somewhat modeled on George Clinton’s Parliament. Assi describes the new record Station 1, which came out last week, as a concept album, but not one with a cohesive storyline. It has more to do with the unusual perspective the music comes from, like a third-party perspective. What would aliens think of humanity and Earth if they saw it?

In concert, the group has also has been playing with more theatrical elements. “If you’ve ever seen me live, I wear a costume, makeup and sometimes even play the part of an actor. This is the direction that I want to go in. I’ve been making some subtle steps in that direction,” Assi says.

INFO: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

The post Love Your Local Band: Psychic Astro Club appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Jacob Martin studied acting in school, and lived for a while in Los Angeles, where he gave his dream of being a professional a shot. He did get some work, but something unexpected happened that was much more magical: he discovered his passion for music.

“I always enjoyed writing little ditties,” Martin says. “I felt a lack of creativity. Songwriting came in and filled that void. Songwriting was a way for me to stay connected to myself.”

He ended up in Loma Mar, outside of Pescadero, where he worked as a naturalist. While rehearsing for an open mic up there, friend/co-worker Joshua “Bobcat” Stacy overheard him and offered to play with him. Quickly, other friends in the area like Maranda Duval (vocals, percussion) and Emilie Lygren (piano) joined the ensemble.

“The songs became something I never expected. They felt a lot more artsy,” Martin says. “Before, it felt kind of country, like straight-up folksy. Now it feels like something pretty unique and special.”

Now a resident of Bonny Doon, Martin is drawing from personal experience as well as memories of his childhood home in West Virginia in his songwriting—and his acting experience, too.

“Acting is all about storytelling. I use songwriting as another way to explore that,” Martin says. 

INFO: 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

The post Love Your Local Band: Jacob & The Ghost Train appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Any mention of famous rock ’n’ roll New Year’s Eve performances would have to include the Grateful Dead. The legendary Bay Area band made a practice of celebrating the dawn of the new year in high style, including a six-hour set at the Winterland Ballroom in 1978. Now the Dead tribute band China Cats keeps the tradition alive with an end-of-year performance at Don Quixote’s. Comprising lead guitarist Matt Hartle, rhythm guitarist Scott Cooper, bassist Roger Sideman, keyboardist Steve Sofranko and drummer Michael Owens, China Cats is an all-star group of music veterans and a favorite of local deadheads.

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $35/gen, $99/dinner. 335-2800. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 to find out how you could win a pair of dinner packages.

The post Giveaway: China Cats New Year’s Eve Bash appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Our picks for the best live music for the week of December 20, 2017.

WEDNESDAY 12/20

NEW ORLEANS/R&B

STAR LA’MOAN

As the story goes, performer Marla Stone adopted the name Star La’Moan for a songwriting contest years ago, and the loose spoonerism stuck. Now bandleader of her own outfit, the Kitchenettes, La’Moan tears through rock, R&B, New Orleans second line, blues, and gypsy jazz with ease. The Kitchenettes includes horns, a “full raucous rhythm section,” and even a bassoon. For this performance, La’Moan and the band welcome local gospel/R&B singer Tammi Brown. CJ

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15. 335-2800.

WEDNESDAY 12/20

ALT-ROCK

SMASH MOUTH

Hey Now! You’re an all-star, get your game on, go play! Did you know that song is almost two decades old? And yet, Smash Mouth’s big ’90s hit “All Star” has somehow become one of the biggest memes of 2017. Whether you discovered the song on MTV, on the Shrek soundtrack, or chopped and screwed and mixed with Seinfeld quotes on YouTube, there’s just something undeniably, universally catchy about the song. As they return to Santa Cruz, Smash Mouth has enjoyed a little resurgence as of late, thanks to the internet craze. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

THURSDAY 12/21

JAZZ/ROOTS

POST STREET RHYTHM PEDDLERS

This dance inducing double bill pairs the Post Street Rhythm Peddlers, a New Orleans-style trad jazz combo, with the country western honky tonkers of Whiskey West. A seven-piece band featuring a tight cast of Santa Cruz stalwarts, the Rhythm Peddlers combine the low-down growls and riffs of brass with the searing, propulsive lines of a string band. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 427-2227.

THURSDAY 12/21

AMERICANA

ERIC MORRISON AND THE MYSTERIES

“Enjoy the mystery,” Eric Morrison’s bio ominously states. The local musician isn’t quite so ambiguous when he straps on a guitar and sings his heart out. He and his backing band have become one of the most talented American roots rock acts in Santa Cruz. Americana Soul, they call it, which is a fancy way of saying that there’s a little bit of blues, some swamp rock, some country influences, and a healthy heaping of R&B. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

FRIDAY 12/22

REGGAE

SOULWISE

Local reggae band Soulwise will release their debut record, Good Day, at Moe’s on Friday. It’s a meditative, laid-back reggae record. The single “Paradise” includes a ton of slow motion underwater shots in its music video; the scenery is gorgeous, and the speed of the cameras is never beyond a snail’s pace. It really captures the vibe of the music, which I call “yoga pose.” The group, led by cousins Sean and Kevin Eichhorn, has been working the local scene hard for the past few years, even getting some success on the iTunes reggae charts. They are hoping this record will launch them into a whole new stratosphere. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 12/22

ROCK

ZEPPELIN LIVE   

For years, Led Zeppelin reunion rumors have left fans dazed and confused, but at this stage it seems like there’s been some communication breakdown. Luckily, Zeppelin Live (formerly Heartbreaker) is here with a whole lotta love! These guys are the premiere Zeppelin cover band, and make audiences throughout California do their best Misty Mountain Hop. Legend says if you close your eyes and open your ears just enough, their music can take you up the stairway to heaven and into the houses of the holy for a mind-expanding journey of what is and what should never be. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15. 335-2800.

SATURDAY 12/23

ROCK/JAM

EDGE OF THE WEST

If the descriptor “cosmic honky tonk” makes you sit up and take notice, you’ll want Edge of the West on your musical radar. The Santa Cruz-based band, led by hometown-guitarist-done-good Jim Lewin, bridges genres and cultures as it blends a jam band ethos with American roots grooves and rock ’n’ roll foundation. The members have a collective resume that includes stints with Great American Taxi, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Todd Snider. With set lists that include original tunes and “eclectic covers,” Edge of the West is one of the best-kept secrets of the local music scene. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

SATURDAY 12/23

HIP-HOP

ZION I

For more than two decades, Zion I has been a testament to the tenacity of conscious hip-hop. Originally formed in Oakland by Zumbi and Amp Live, they released their 2000 debut album, Mind Over Matter, to critical acclaim. Throughout the years, they continued to delight fans and critics with their ninth album, Shadowboxing, nominated as one of SF Weekly’s “10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012.” Yet the future remained uncertain when Amp Live announced he would be leaving the duo. But true to form, Zumbi continued to carry the Zion I mantle, releasing The Labyrinth in 2016. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $18/door. 429-4135.

IN THE QUEUE

JHENÉ AIKO

R&B singer-songwriter. Thursday at Catalyst

WHEELHOUSE

Tribute to the Grateful Dead. Thursday at Don Quixote’s

STORMIN’ NORMAN & THE CYCLONES

Local rock, roots and country. Saturday at Michael’s on Main

EXTRA LARGE

Santa Cruz dance and party band. Saturday at Crow’s Nest

7 COME 11

Organ-driven funk outfit. Tuesday at Crepe Place

The post Music Picks Dec 20-26 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

On local indie group Urban Theory’s debut release, 2015’s Perpetual Summer, the members blast through ethereal, moody tunes. Between the rhythm guitar, second guitar, keys, and vocals, there are a lot of layers of music going on at once. There’s rock and tender balladry at play, with a lot of heart-on-sleeve moments. John Mayer is a big influence for all of the group’s members.

In 2018, the band plans to release its follow-up, but this time people will hear a leaner, and more guitar-driven sound. For the past year, the band has been a quartet: vocals, two guitars, bass and drums.

“We definitely have more space nowadays. It’s left a lot of room for us each to do things,” says singer/guitarist Ryan Cummings. “Before, when we had a keyboardist, we were like, ‘OK guys, let’s make room for the keys to come in.’ Now we all have that room to play with. It leaves us with a lot of room to express ourselves, which is really crucial.”

The band formed in 2011 and has gone through several members, but the latest lineup has been in place for a year. Cummings assures me their upcoming EP is going to be a phenomenally recorded batch of songs. The first single, “We Rise” will be coming out in January or February, with the rest of the record following later next year.

“We’re kind of digging how it’s been sounding so far. We’re trying to revamp as a four-piece. It sounds really full,” Cummings says. “We’re excited to release our music to the public.”

INFO: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

The post Love Your Local Band: Urban Theory appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

If you need a little bit of mambo in your life, don’t miss the Pacific Mambo Orchestra. Considered one of the best Latin big bands in the world with its fusion of mambo, salsa, cha-cha-cha and Latin jazz, the orchestra gives a nod to the big bands of the 1940s. Boasting rafter raising energy, irresistible dance grooves, and style for days, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra has collaborated with an elite roster of artists, including Carlos Santana, Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo and Arturo Sandoval. On Jan. 6, they welcome Grammy-winning vocalist Herman Olivera. 

INFO: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. $35/adv, $40/door. 423-2053. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Pacific Mambo Orchestra with Herman Olivera appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of December 27, 2017

THURSDAY 12/28

R&B

GINA RENE

Holidays got you down? Maybe your uncle had one too many dips in the spiked eggnog? Or maybe you’re one of the many locals in the service industry who doesn’t really get any time off? Then get ready for this Thursday as the Catalyst hosts the Santa Cruz Homegrown After Xmas Party featuring a wide array of local talent, including Alex Lucero, Travis Cruse, Etienne D. France, and Anthony Orlando. This year, Gina Rene headlines the show with her rich and sultry voice that spans across genres. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-4135.

FRIDAY 12/29

FUNK

MONOPHONICS

When record producer Al Bell, co-owner of the legendary Stax Records, calls you “one of the best live soul bands [he’s] ever seen,” you know you’re doing something right. Such is the case for the Monophonics, a Bay Area psychedelic soul outfit that layers smooth, trippy vocals over tight grooves and driving horns. Drawing inspiration from classic funk and soul bands such as Funkadelic and Sly & the Family Stone, the band has a foundation built on respect and technical understanding of the classics, but its San Francisco-infused rock and psych elements push it into territory occupied by only a few other bands. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 12/29

ALTERNATIVE

FRIDAY-SATURDAY 12/29-12/30

ROCK

WHITE ALBUM ENSEMBLE

Holiday season means a few things in Santa Cruz: downtown is decorated, we have a truly Californian parade, and the White Ensemble rings in the new year with their covers of songs from the Beatles and more. This year, the boys honor the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour by tackling them on Friday night. Saturday night, they perform their “Player’s Choice” set, rendering covers from all of the Fab Four’s albums. Saturday night, they’ll also be joined by Beggar Kings, the 13-piece Rolling Stones cover act who will include a tribute to the late, great Tom Petty who was taken from us this year. Both nights will also include a guitar raffle benefiting the Guitars Not Guns nonprofit. MW

INFO: 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $25/gen, $40/gold. 423-8209.

SATURDAY 12/30

POP

FOREVERLAND

Eight years ago, the world lost pop icon Michael Jackson. But his music remains an essential part of international pop culture. It’s not unusual to see young people who were born decades after Jackson’s musical peak dancing and singing along to his jams—and there’s no sign of that stopping anytime soon. Bay Area 14-piece band Foreverland pays tribute to the artist and his music in soul-shaking style, with four lead vocalists, four horns and a six-piece rhythm section. If you haven’t seen this musical force in action, you’re missing something special. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $25. 335-2800.

SATURDAY 12/30

SURF

MERMEN

The Mermen’s newest album, We Could See It In the Distance, is the perfect title for paddling out from the last 12 months and into the hopeful sunrise of 2018. For 28 years, the Mermen have been one of the key leaders in surf music revival and continue to produce original and inspired tunes as mellow as the beach and as turbulent as the surf. If you haven’t seen them yet, then catch the next wave to Moe’s Alley and ride out this dumpster fire of a year with a barrel roll into the future. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz., $12/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY 12/30

EXPERIMENTAL-ROCK

BUCKETHEAD

How long could one man tour the country shredding his guitar while wearing a KFC bucket on his head and a Mike Myers mask over his face, and have people still interested? Apparently a really long time. From his early days of playing in obscure Bay Area club bands like Deli Creeps to joining the monster that is Guns N’ Roses, Buckethead has maintained a certain mystique, and kept his oddball solo project alive. He plays in a variety of styles, but specializes in metal, and plays his guitar like a lighting rod shooting out liquid audio beams into your ear at light speed. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $28/door. 429-4135.

SUNDAY 12/31

ROOTS/ROCK

MARTY O’REILLY

Local singer-songwriter Marty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra are headed to Moe’s to ring in the new year. A Santa Cruz original, O’Reilly and company formed in 2012 and have since earned a place in the national roots scene, even getting a nod from NPR about their soulfulness. Pairing electric guitar with fiddle, percussion and bass, the band nestles nicely into the space where roots music transitions into gritty rock ’n’ roll, picking up some country gospel, blues and folk music along the way. Also on the bill: rock, soul and gospel four-piece Whiskerman. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

SUNDAY 12/31

INDIE-FOLK

DAN JUAN

“Dan Juan is a band.” This is the single-sentence bio on Dan Juan’s Bandcamp page. It’s actually quite informative, as you most likely assumed that Dan Juan was the name of some guy. There is a Dan in the band, but his last name is Talamantes. He even has a different band called Dan Too. He really likes his first name! Dan Juan, the band, is a four-piece indie-folk band, that mixes psychedelic elements with a bit of Americana. The four-song EP The Last Juan is a laid back, reflective collection of songs that will get you hooked on every Dan-related band out there. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

IN THE QUEUE

DAVE HOLODILOFF BAND

Celtic, Balkan, jazz and more. Wednesday at Michael’s on Main

CON BRIO

Funk and soul. Thursday at Moe’s Alley

RIVER ARKANSAS

Mountain music out of Colorado. Sunday at Lille Aeske

FORTUNATE YOUTH

South Bay reggae. Sunday at Catalyst

CHINA CATS

Grateful Dead tribute. Sunday at Don Quixote’s

The post Music Picks Dec. 27—Jan. 2 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Bret Bailey has been drumming in local jam bands for years. He was hoping to do something a little different, so he figured he needed to start his own project.

“Usually the people singing are the ones picking the material,” says Bailey.

Together with bassist Pete Novembre, a longtime friend, he started putting together a band that in a lot of ways would be the exact opposite of the style he was used to playing in. His main emphasis would be the vocals.

“I’ve been playing in a lot of jam bands where vocals were really kind of an afterthought, and long instrumentals and improvisations were the emphasis,” Bailey says. “I really wanted to do something different. I wanted to have a funky, crunchy kind of vibe where the vocals were really the emphasis.”

He felt so strongly about having mind-blowing vocals that he got three lead singers to join the project. At first, there were two lead singers and two backup singers, but when the two backup singers quit, he replaced them with a third lead singer and figured whoever wasn’t singing lead at any given moment could be the backup singers.

“We’re doing songs that work best with at least two people backing up the lead singer. Like ‘Baby I Love You’ by Aretha Franklin,” Bailey says.

The group is partially a cover band, but also has its fair share of originals. The primary style of music is funk, and the band’s name is a reference to that.

“When I think of Cosmic Pinball, I think of more funk and disco retro, ’70s retro,” says Bailey.

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 479-1854.

The post Love Your Local Band: Cosmic Pinball appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Soul-blues rocker Tommy Castro is an unofficial ambassador for the San Jose music scene, having grown up in the South Bay’s musical mixing bowl of lowrider soul, San Francisco hippie rock, and Bay Area blues. He picked up a guitar at the age of 10, and went to as many concerts as he could as a young man, where he studied legendary musicians like Eric Clapton, Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal and Mike Bloomfield. Now Castro is the one onstage, inspiring future generations of artists in the South Bay and beyond. On Jan. 28, he and his band the Painkillers hit Moe’s Alley to celebrate the release of their new album, Stompin’ Ground. 

INFO: 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Tommy Castro & the Painkillers appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

The professional name White Buffalo suits singer-songwriter Jake Smith perfectly. A big guy with a big voice and a lumberjack-like appearance, Smith emanates a feeling of Old West authenticity and a working person perspective. Born in Oregon and raised in California, Smith balances underground folk traditions with a punk rock vibe and rock ’n’ roll delivery. On his latest album, 2017’s Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights, he blends alternative rock, blues, country and folk in his most electrified release yet. Also on the bill: the Roadkill Ghost Choir. 

INFO: 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $20/door. 423-1338. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

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