THURSDAY 2/9
ALTERNATIVE ROCK
THE REVIVALISTS
If the Alabama Shakes replaced Brittany Howard with a mid-range white dude, it would sound something like the Revivalists. The seven-piece roots rockers formed in New Orleans in 2007 when lead vocalist David Shaw met guitarist Zack Feinberg on a bike ride. The rest of the lineup features pedal steel guitar, saxophone, bass, drums, keys and trumpet. The band’s latest release, Men Amongst Mountains, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Alternative Albums Chart and caught the attention of Rolling Stone, who hailed the group as “one of the top 10 bands you need to know.” Sharing the bill is another seven-piece, San Francisco’s Con Brio, an upbeat collective with a funky psychedelic-soul sound. KATIE SMALL
INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $23/door. 429-4135.
JAZZ
THEO BLECKMANN ELEGY
Roughly speaking, most male jazz singers spring from one of three distinct schools. There are big soul belters who light incense for Donny Hathaway (Greg Porter), bebop-steeped hip cats who worship Mark Murphy (Kurt Elling), and blues-drenched crooners versed in Joe Williams (Kevin Mahogany). And then there’s Theo Bleckmann, the startlingly original German-born vocalist who spent a dozen years performing with ingenious composer and singer Meredith Monk. An accomplished improviser and master of textural subtly, Bleckmann is known for exploring material far outside the American Songbook. He just released a gorgeous program of songs inspired by a near-death experience Elegy (his debut album for ECM), and is touring with largely the same stellar cast of players, including the aptly named Israeli-born pianist Shai Maestro, guitarist Ben Monder, Peruvian-born bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer John Hollenbeck. ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 427-2227.
FRIDAY 2/10
SKA
ENGLISH BEAT
How is it that the English Beat—a band whose last record was released in 1982—can roll into Santa Cruz every couple of months and sell out whichever venue it plays? It’s a testament to both how vibrant the tightknit community of ska fans is, and also how amazing the group’s songs are. “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “Save It For Later,” their cover of “Tears of a Clown”—these tunes never get old. This year, however, English Beat fans will finally get new music from the band for the first time in 35 years, thanks to a recent crowdfunding campaign. AARON CARNES
INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $26/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.
R&B
SEVYN STREETER
On the introduction to her 2015 album, Shoulda Been There Pt. 1, R&B singer-songwriter Sevyn Streeter provides a glimpse into her songwriting style saying, “Honestly, I just write according to how I feel. If I experience it, I write about it.” She promises to let listeners into her life, then delivers bouncy electro-grooves about partying, love, forgiveness and love gone wrong. As she sings on the title track, “I’m going to regret you / I’ma call my ladies / And tell them how you drove me crazy.” CAT JOHNSON
INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $18-$65. 423-1338.
MATH ROCK
JOAN OF ARC
The mission statement for Chicago’s Joan of Arc started out as creating music “with no audience.” The initial explanation of this credo sounded familiar: An attempt to go beyond pre-existing genre barriers. Over a dozen albums later, it’s clear that what the group was after was actually to piss off critics and alienate fans—particularly those invested in singer Tim Kinsella’s prior band, emo legends Cap’n Jazz. It is hard to predict just what styles of music will be on a new Joan of Arc album: noise, math, emo, electro-clash, instrumental jams. It’s the group’s snobbish, snickering humor, lackadaisical performances, and excessive noodling that give the whole project a much more, as they say in This is Spinal Tap, selective audience. AC
INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $12. 429-6994.
FRIDAY 2/10 AND SATURDAY 2/11
BEATLES COVERS
WHITE ALBUM ENSEMBLE UNPLUGGED
As part of its annual Valentine’s Day series, the White Album Ensemble will be playing a full weekend of acoustic Beatles love songs. The group’s song selections will cover the Fab Four’s last seven albums—Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s, Magical Mystery Tour, the White Album, Let it Be, and Abbey Road—with an emphasis on “beautiful melodies, acoustic guitars, piano and rich vocal sounds.” KS
INFO: 8 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $25/gen, $35/gold. 427-2227.
SATURDAY 2/11
OUTLAW COUNTRY/ROOTS
MISS LONELY HEARTS
The Santa Cruz roots music scene is lit right now. We’ve always had great roots bands, but some of our current acts have attracted national and even international attention. Miss Lonely Hearts, a local outlaw country band, was recently nominated for an Ameripolitan Award—as was Santa Cruz’s own Carolyn Sills Combo—and will fly to Austin for the award ceremony on Feb. 15. Before then, however, the band is celebrating in style with a hometown performance along with American punk blues duo Hillstomp and Oakland-based singer-songwriter Willie Tea Taylor. The evening promises to be a rafter-raising, boot-stomping good time. CJ
INFO: 9 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $12. 335-2800.
TUESDAY 2/14
ALT-COUNTRY
SLIM CESSNA’S AUTO CLUB
Roots music and gothic horror storytelling both swim around in the same southern cultural landscapes, but it’s rare to see these elements combined. That’s what makes Slim Cessna’s Auto Club unique. They comfortably carry the “gothic Americana” label for their adherence to both traditional American roots genres, and a passion for dark, foreboding, apocalyptic imagery. It works surprisingly well, as the group emanates a certain amount of mystery. They aren’t actually Southern (they hail from Denver), and for years, they called oddball punk label Alternative Tentacles their home, which actually makes a lot of sense. AC
INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.
IN THE QUEUE
PAUL BARRÉRE AND FRED TACKETT
Former Little Feat guitarists join forces. Friday at Don Quixote’s
RUSS
Fast-rising hip-hop artist. Monday and Tuesday at Catalyst
CHARMAS
Celtic comedy sing-along. Tuesday at Don Quixote’s
TUCK & PATTI
Love warriors celebrate Valentine’s Day. Tuesday at Kuumbwa
SURFER BLOOD
Indie-rock out of West Palm Beach, Florida. Tuesday at Catalyst
