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Saturday | 12/26
THE SUN KINGS
Here's a Beatles tribute band just the way you want it—focused on the music of the Fab Four, not the outfits and haircuts. The Alameda five-piece (Paul's keyboard and bass duties are divvied up between two members) renders spot-on covers of tunes spanning every Beatles era from "Please Please Me" to Abbey Road, with an emphasis on the latter-day music that gets the Bay Area's Beatle fans foaming at the mouth. Between Drew Harrison's Lennon vocals, Michael Barrett's McCartney impersonation and sterling musicianship by rest of the band, it's a party in the making. Tonight's fete at Don Quixote's includes free champagne at midnight and more than enough good cheer to go around. Don Quixote's; $15; 8pm. (Traci Hukill)
Rockin' Lloyd Tripp
It's a hard-working musician who shows up in a bar 1,700 miles from home on the day after Christmas to give the locals a reason to crack a beer and kick up their heels. It's an Elvis thing to do—at least an early Elvis thing to do—which makes it particularly fitting for Austin-based Rockin' Lloyd Tripp, who trades in pared-down, hopped-up early American rockabilly of the sort performed by Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets and all the other greats of the era. Tonight's show is a guaranteed gas, extended drive time notwithstanding. Any doubts, just check the pompadour. Jailbreak opens. The Blank Club, 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose; $10; 9pm. (TH)
Sunday | 12/27
LE BOEUF BROTHERS
Specialists in spare, syncopated jazz compositions, the Le Boeuf Brothers' arrangements owe as much to the cut-and-paste sensibility of hip-hop and post-rock as to modern jazz. The duo shifts time signatures and approaches with ease, seamlessly segueing from lush arrangements into precise bursts of rhythmic experimentation. The Santa Cruz–reared brothers Le Boeuf—Remy on saxophone, Pascal on piano—represent an emerging strain of New York jazz that is equally fluent in progressive jazz, contemporary classical, electronic music and alternative rock, making music that is very much of its time. Don Quixote's; $10; 7pm. (Paul M. Davis)
Tuesday | 12/29
TROMBONE SHORTY
At the age of 22, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is a former childhood prodigy who counts fellow New Orleanians Wynton Marsalis and Allen Toussaint as fans. Doing double-duty on trumpet and trombone, Andrews may not be a child anymore, but the term "prodigy" still fits. He has taken the stage with rock luminaries such as U2, Green Day and Lenny Kravitz and played venues ranging from intimate jazz clubs like Moe's Alley to massive music festivals like Outside Lands. Tonight, with his own Orleans Avenue band, he specializes in piping hot servings of funk and jazz. Moe's Alley; $18 advance/$20 door; 8pm. (PMD)
WHITE ALBUM ENSEMBLE
Interpreting the Beatles has always been a unique experience for anyone who takes the time to really listen. Some treat their music like a textbook chapter on pop songwriting, others see it as political poetry disguised as rock & roll and still others see a spiritual message of unity. These local Fab Four fanatics treat the music of the Beatles like a modern pianist treats a book of Frédéric Chopin concertos. Championing the Liverpool quartet's 1968 double album, The White Album ensemble performs a first-class tribute to the legendary record with a musical and visual feast for the senses. Rio Theatre; $26.25; 8pm. (Curtis Cartier)
Wednesday | 12/30
SHORELINE
For 35 years Felton native Steve Kling has been picking his banjo in coffeehouses and other intimate venues up and down Northern California. It's only recently, however, that he's resorted to child labor and started a full-on bluegrass band. To be fair, his four "kids" on guitar, standup bass and mandolin, are all full-grown adults, so he may escape prosecution. Plus, everyone knows that most early bluegrass band members were related to each other in some way, whether they knew it or not. Whatever your thoughts on labor laws or Appalachian family trees, the bottom line is that Shoreline is a gifted set of musicians that furthers Felton's reputation as little town that's big on bluegrass. Don Quixote's; $10; 7:30pm. (CC)
THE GROGGS
Since its inception, the hard-hitting garage rock trio known as the Groggs has given new hope to the Santa Cruz music scene. Lead singer and guitarist Keith Thompson's slightly surfish licks blend beautifully with punch-packing power chords and grungy, soulful singing. All the while, he struts onstage with more swagger than a rooster in the hen house, backed up by the bountiful bass rifts of Ryan Allbaugh. Justin Ward rounds out the group, hammering away on the skins and keeping the beat for the infectiously catchy yet dingy tunes. Overall, the Groggs are a band to be reckoned with, and they put on a show not to be missed. Crepe Place; $5; 9pm. (Brian Harker)
X
Here at Beatscape we are not much in the habit of peering beyond the confines of our town for stuff to do; why bother, when we have the best little music scene on the Central Coast? But tonight's show in San Francisco of protopunk outfit X—yes, the X, with John Doe, Exene Cervenka, DJ Bonebreak and Billy Zoom—demands our attention and our recommendation. The last time they played the Catalyst, a year or two ago, the entire room was soaked with sweat. We liked that and think you will too. It's so Christmasy. The Heavenly States get things going. Slim's, 333 11th St., San Francisco; $31; 9pm. (TH)
