WEDNESDAY 9/14
COUNTRY
COUNTRY LIPS
This eight-piece ensemble from Seattle is the type of country band that requires some dancing boots, dancing hat, and dancing whatever-the-hell-else-you-need to keep yourself from being a wallflower. They evoke an old-timey swinging country sound. It’s got swagger, style and with all those people on stage playing the songs, a lot going on: sweet harmonies, toe-tapping piano, steel pedal, violin, you name it. This is whiskey-soaked, small town honkytonk music. Does the thought of driving to a dive bar in the middle of a quiet town 100 miles away frighten you? No worries. To reiterate the reviewer’s wise words, they will bring the party to you. AARON CARNES
INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
THURSDAY 9/15
DUB
MAD PROFESSOR
Dub was originally an offshoot of ’70s reggae. Basically it was the first “remix,” with the producers taking existing songs and making new tracks out of them. The results were often hypnotic and surreal. Mad Professor was one of the leading figures of the second wave of dub in the ’80s, when producers started to work with digital technology. Mad Professor also helped move the genre outside of reggae. He worked with several reggae artists, but also Massive Attack, Sade, and the Orb. AC
INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $22/door. 429-4135.
JAZZ
GARY REGINA’S IN THE LOOP
From a one-man orchestra to a burning bandleader, multi-instrumentalist Gary Regina displays all facets of his creative pursuits in an evening featuring two distinct ensembles. Best known as key component of the Santa Cruz world music scene via his work with the bands Special Fun and Worlds Collide, Regina has spent years honing a performance practice using live looping, layering various instruments in real time to creating sumptuously detailed soundscapes. He follows a solo In the Loop set with a full band performance, focusing on saxophone with guitarist Baird Miller, keyboardist Bill Spencer, bassist Bob Wider, drummer Brian Loftus, and special guest vocalist Johnny Fabulous. ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $23/door. 427-2227.
FRIDAY 9/16
BLUESY ROCK
STONE FOXES
With their unique blend of thunderous Americana mixed with garage rock and a country-blues twist, the Stone Foxes have claimed the self-appointed title, “San Francisco’s rock band.” Their swampy sound includes lyrics that span a variety of topics, from gentrification to income inequality. That consciousness extends beyond the stage, however, and manifests in their Goodnight Moon Project: an effort to humanize the homeless through music and cinematography. The project involves a canned food drive; fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items at Stone Foxes concerts—you’ll get a poster in return—and the band will personally deliver the goods to local soup kitchens. KATIE SMALL
INFO: 9 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15. 335-2800.
FUNK/SOUL
SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS
At age 60, Sharon Jones has made a career out of survival and revival, both her own and that of the funky, horn-driven 1960s soul sound that she helped usher into a new era. The singer worked as a prison guard before rising out of obscurity through Daptone Records. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2013, Jones made a brutally honest documentary about her experience. The cancer eventually went into remission, only to return a year ago. Jones is still fighting—she had to cancel the European leg of her summer tour, but told Rolling Stone last month that performing is as effective a therapy as any pill. “When I walk out [onstage], whatever pain is gone,” Jones says. “You forget about everything … I have cancer; cancer don’t have me.” Her powerful voice has been compared to a train—when Sharon Jones sings, you’d better get out the way. KS
INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $35/adv, $38/door. 429-4135.
SATURDAY 9/17
FOLK
MONICA PASQUAL
Blame Sally is a long-running, musical collaboration between four San Francisco-based female singer-songwriters. In addition to their efforts as a quartet, the members all have various side projects, including solo work and other bands. On Saturday, Monica Pasqual, who plays piano, accordion and sings, brings her new band, the Handsome Brunettes, to town to celebrate the release of their debut album, Is Fortune a Wheel. Joining Pasqual are Blame Sally percussionist Pam Delgado and cellist Joshua McClain. Also on the bill is fellow Blame Sally member Renée Harcourt and her new project, Dear John Love Renée. CAT JOHNSON
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $22/gen, $30/gold. 427-2227.
SUNDAY 9/18
BLUES
JOE LOUIS WALKER
A torchbearer for the blues, Bay Area guitarist Joe Louis Walker spans the distance between blues legends Mike Bloomfield, Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, and the crop of contemporary blues artists. Already a Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Walker has a reputation as a powerhouse guitarist and vocalist, and prolific songwriter. His sound and open approach to styles and genres helped lay the foundation for blues-rock acts the Black Keys and the White Stripes, and his blend of the blues, soul, gospel, rock, and funk is a testament to his depth of musicianship. CJ
INFO: 4 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.
LATIN-REGGAE
BACHACO
Duo Bachaco couldn’t have come from any other place in the world besides Miami. The band’s music has a true cross-pollination of cultures. The members sing in English and Spanish, and they play reggae, pop, rock, cumbia, reggaeton. It’s sunny and fun but has an intense late-night dance club vibe. The music screams “Don’t even come out unless you intend to spend the next two hours showing off your best moves.” A never-shuts-down town like Miami is perfect for this band. It may not be permanent spring break in Santa Cruz when they roll through, but be prepared to go all in. AC
INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 479-1854.
FOLK/COUNTRY
GUY CLARK TRIBUTE
This year has dealt some heavy blows to music lovers, with the loss of David Bowie, Prince, and Bernie Worrell to name just a few. The folk music world took a huge hit with the passing of Guy Clark. One of the finest songwriters of the last 50 years, Clark balanced his stuff-that-works approach to life and music with a musical sensibility that made him one of the great singer-songwriters of his time. On Sunday, local acts, including Sharon Allen, Sherry Austin, Carolyn Sills & Gerard Egan, Michael Gaither, and KPIG’s Sleepy John Sandidge pay tribute to the legend. Proceeds benefit victims of the Sobranes fire. CJ
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/gen, $40/gold. 427-2227.
IN THE QUEUE
EAST POINTERS
Folk trio from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Wednesday at Don Quixote’s
LILY & MADELEINE
Minneapolis-based sibling duo supports Brett Dennen. Wednesday at Rio Theatre
NICK MOSS BAND
Celebrated blues guitarist out of Nashville. Friday at Pocket
JOHN KADLECIK BAND
Dark Star Orchestra founding member and his ace band. Friday at Moe’s Alley
CROOKIES
British indie-rockers. Monday at Catalyst
