WEDNESDAY 1/4
ACOUSTIC
MURIEL ANDERSON
Think of Muriel Anderson’s show less as a concert and more as an audio-visual performance. On this tour, she’ll be showcasing her new piece, “Wonderlust,” playing an exotic guitar-harp. The idea behind the show is to take audiences on a journey around the world—the visuals are stunning snapshots of breathtaking sites from all over the globe, accompanied by gorgeous, sweeping acoustic music that will make you feel like you are soaring through the astral system, taking in the places that define the essence of humanity. AARON CARNES
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $17/adv, $20/door. 335-2800.
FOLK ROCK
RAINBOW GIRLS
Six years ago, four women in their mid-20s bonded at an underground open mic in Santa Barbara. The multi-instrumentalists went on to form the Rainbow Girls, and have released two studio albums and toured extensively around the U.S. and Europe. They are currently on an “acoustic house tour,” accepting open requests for living-room performances. Now located in Sonoma County, the foursome’s sound lands somewhere between bluesy folk and country rock, featuring soulful harmonies, energetic accordion, gypsy melodica, and a dynamic percussion section. KATIE SMALL
INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.
FRIDAY 1/6
FUNK/TRIBUTE
KATDELIC
One of the biggest in a series of body blows to music lovers this year was the loss of David Bowie, whose art so thoroughly consumed him that even his impending death inspired brilliant, transcendent songwriting. On Friday, Katdelic, led by P-Funk All Star Ronkat Spearman, celebrates Bowie’s birthday weekend with a performance honoring the music giant’s life and music. Also on the bill: DJ Little John. CAT JOHNSON
INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 1/6 AND 1/7
AMERICANA
COFFIS BROTHERS
At the recent Santa Cruz Guitar Company Christmas party, a handful of people gathered in one of the back rooms while a circle of musicians led by local teacher and bluegrass standout Steve Palazzo picked out tunes. It was a joy-inducing jam I didn’t think could get any better. Then Kellen and Jamie Coffis showed up and played a slowed-down, stunningly sad and beautiful version of the Everly Brothers song “Dream.” I had tears rolling down my cheeks—and I wasn’t alone. If you haven’t had a chance to see these brothers do their thing, remedy that immediately. Also on the bill: Kingsborough (Friday) and McCoy Tyler (Saturday). CJ
INFO: 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10. 335-2800.
SATURDAY 1/7
REGGAE
SOUL MAJESTIC
Soul Majestic’s eight-member lineup includes keys, saxophone and robust male and female harmonies; the band traces their humble beginnings to UC Santa Cruz circa 2001, crediting KZSC for ample radio exposure. These days, the reggae collective aims to “channel their sunny beach days and bonfire nights into a unique brand of reggae music.” In 2013, the group crowd-sourced enough money to build their own private recording studio and have since produced multiple albums. Special guests Collective Movement featuring Aidan Shiwa, DJ Splice and Kava Jah support. KS
INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $9/adv, $12/door. 479-1854.
METALCORE
KINGDOM OF GIANTS
Five-piece metalcore band Kingdom of Giants plays with the ferocity that the genre demands, and the members live their lives with the same level of intensity. In other words, they are road warriors. Whether they are bringing their show to fans in cities across the country, or ripping through their tunes with beastly rage, it’s with utmost passion, and from the gut. Getting some studio polish after signing with InVogue in 2014 has only made the band’s tunes better. When it’s quiet, it’s really quiet. When it’s loud, it’s at eardrum-bleeding levels. AC
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-4135.
POP
ISAAC & THE HAZE
One of Santa Cruz’s favorite new party bands, Isaac and the Haze performs high-energy cover songs spanning from ’80s rock to contemporary soul to reggae rock and hip-hop. The band’s song list reads like a collection of cross-genre chart-topping jams, including “Kiss” by Prince; “Can’t Feel My Face” by the Weeknd; “Girlfriend is Better” by Talking Heads; “Hey Ya” by Outkast; “Need You Tonight” by INXS; and “California Love” by Dr. Dre and 2Pac. For those in the mood to dance into the night to radio hits of the last several decades, this band has you covered. CJ
INFO: 9:30 p.m. The Crow’s Nest, 2218 E Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. $7. 476-4560.
SUNDAY 1/8
AMERICANA
RONSTADT GENERATIONS
Fact: Linda Ronstadt’s Simple Dreams is one of the best albums of the ’70s. It showed that she could make a great pop record, while tinkering with genre liberally, a trend that would continue with her music. Guess what? That runs in the family. Her younger brother Michael J. Ronstadt (and his sons) have their own band, in which they play folk, jazz, blues, and whatever else they feel like. The lyrics are in English and Spanish, with both originals and covers. AC
INFO: 7 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15. 335-2800.
MONDAY 1/9
BARBARA DANE & THE TAMMY HALL TRIO
Kuumbwa kicks off the new year with a timeless singer and supremely soulful band. In a career stretching back to the early 1950s, Barbara Dane has moved effortlessly from her folk music roots to singing jazz and blues with commanding authority (while never abandoning her resolute leftist politics). She celebrates the release of her first new album in a decade, Throw It Away…, a collaboration with the invaluable Oakland pianist Tammy Hall. The accompanist of choice for many of the best jazz singers in the region (such as Kim Nalley and Denise Perrier), Hall wrote the arrangements for Dane’s magpie repertoire. Whether she’s interpreting Paul Simon’s “American Song,” Memphis Minnie’s “I’m Sellin’ My Porkchops,” Leonard Cohen’s “Slow,” or Andy Razaf and Fats Waller’s “How Can You Face Me?,” Dane still sounds marvelous at 89, her phrasing sure and her sense of humor pleasingly tart. ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 427-2227.
IN THE QUEUE
ACOUSTICALLY SPEAKING
Acoustic Grateful Dead covers with Kat and Mik Bondy and the Scott Cooper Duo. Thursday at Moe’s Alley
GROOVITY
Dance rock jams from the ’70s. Thursday at Crow’s Nest
THE HERMS
Post-punk out of L.A., by-way-of the Bay Area. Friday at Crepe Place
EDGE OF THE WEST
Americana-meets-cosmic jam band. Saturday at Crepe Place
JESSE DANIEL & THE SLOW LEARNERS
American roots and country punk. Monday at Don Quixote’s
