THURSDAY
ROCK
GINGERBEE
Santa Cruz’s Gingerbee is breaking all the rules, stereotypes and norms about being a band. First off, the members span the globe. Then there’s the fact they are a self-described beemo group, combining emo, noise pop and bedroom skramz. To make a tour work, the three core members—Dani, Melody and Gus—are joined by a rotation of friends and musicians. Gingerbee will be freshly off tour and rocking out with Grad Nite, With Open Arms, we’rethecurrency and Awakebutstillinbed so they’ll be primed and ready to get down with their hometown (well, one of several hometowns). MAT WEIR
INFO: 6:30pm, SubRosa Community Space, 703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 426-5242.
BOOT JUICE
Boot Juice is perfect for adding an extra pep to the step or any occasion to get folks on their feet and dancing. The horn lines and layers of vocals bring the energy of a warm summer day to any moment. Their refreshing mixture of Americana with funk and soul can get anyone to boogie their way to the dance floor. Their energetic and electrifying live shows will clear the clouds of any rainy day. The music will fill the space of any venue, drawing folks to the infectious rhythms. Don’t be surprised to find band members hanging from the rafters or dancing with the audience—even they cannot resist their own music. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $20/adv, $24/door. 704-7113.
FRIDAY
SOUL
MIRIAH AVILA
The days of Motown’s thriving girl groups are long past, but the legacy of that time endures, and Miriah Avila is one of the singers who is keeping it alive. Avila’s roots are in Southern California, where she grew up singing at car shows and fish markets, but her sound is unmistakably rooted in ’60s Detroit. In her music videos, she sports a perfectly lined lip and winged eyeliner that would make Brigitte Bardot jealous, singing songs that combine the pathos of Amy Winehouse’s croon with the shoop-shoop catchiness of the Shirelles. She’s modern, she’s vintage, she’s full of feelings. JESSICA IRISH
INFO: 9pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.
FOLK
DEAD NETTLE
There is a kind of dreamy, captivating music that feels particularly crafted for riding on a train, watching varied landscapes whip past the window. Dead Nettle, the moniker for Bonny Doon’s own Lindsey Wall, creates just such pensive and enchanting music. Slow, fingerpicked melodies accompany lyrics that feel both intimate and oh-so-relatable. Lines like “I was not your lover/I was a symbol” capture a relational dynamic that’s likely familiar to the heart-wrenched dreamers of the world. Aldous Harding and Neko Case fans will enjoy Dead Nettle’s allusions to the natural world, and everyone will appreciate her vocals. JI
INFO: 8pm, Lille Aeske Arthouse, 13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. $25/adv, $30/door. 703-4183.
SATURDAY
METAL
PISS BAPTISM
Despite heavy metal having a long, involved history that goes back (in some variation) six decades, it’s still considered a niche genre. This year was the first time the Olympics featured a metal act in the opening ceremony, showing that while it’s becoming more accepted by the masses, it still isn’t as mainstream as Lady Gaga or Celine Dion. Then there are bands like Sacramento’s two-piece blackened death grind act Piss Baptism. Consisting of Flesh Pisser (drums) and Blood Pisser (guitar), this duo is not for everyone, and, most likely, they’re happy about that. For those craving blast beasts, gorrific songs about infected eardrums and brutal, head-splitting riffs performed by two guys in executioners’ masks, they’ll love Piss Baptism. MW
INFO: 8:30pm, Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 423-7117.
COMEDY
WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?
Improv comedy is like the violin: delightful—even beautiful, in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, and excruciating otherwise. Luckily, four of the best improvisers to riff on a suggestion are coming to town to show us how it’s done. Whose Live Anyway? (a live take on the popular, long-running TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway) stars Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray presenting an evening of improv games and songs. Who knows, maybe they’ll even invite audience members onto the stage to join ’em. There’s no need for intimidation; the points don’t matter. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
INFO: 7:30pm, Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz, $60-$77. 420-5240.
ART ROCK
STINKFOOT ORCHESTRA
Frank Zappa’s music is notoriously difficult to play. While undeniably tuneful (at least most of the time), it’s complex and challenging. Years after his passing, Zappa’s music continues to amaze audiences and musicians alike. Bay Area bandleader Nick Chargin’s Stinkfoot Orchestra is a 14-piece ensemble that deftly tackles Zappa’s imposing body of work, bringing its humor, power and excitement to today’s audiences. Providing a strong link with the master and his work, the group features Zappa alums: the Santa Cruz date will feature longtime Zappa vocalist/guitarist Ray White fronting the band. BILL KOPP
INFO: 8pm, Veterans Hall, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 454-0478.
SUNDAY
ROCK
THE DROWNS
Imagine Motörhead’s Lemmy writing a power-pop Broadway musical paying tribute to the rowdier side of ’50s proto-punk rock and roll for a good sense of how Seattle’s the Drowns hit the ears. It’s a wild mix as they speed through catchy, aggressively upbeat tunes with blistering guitar solos and sing-along choruses. They’re fun with a kind of sincerity that makes one think it would be an absolute blast to lose one’s mind. Lace up the dancin’ boots; their West Coast tour with the Last Gang stops in Santa Cruz on Sunday. KLJ
INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, $15/adv, $20/door. 713-5492.
MONDAY
FUNK
FRED WESLEY & THE NEW JBs
The “world’s most famous sideman” trombonist and band leader Fred Wesley is the secret weapon of funk and soul. Wesley established himself as a major force in music early on as a key member of groundbreaking Parliament-Funkadelic in the ’70s. Alongside sax master Maceo Parker, Wesley provided much of the musical firepower for Soul Brother Number One by James Brown. As musical director of that band (the JB’s), Wesley ensured that heavy funk and deep grooves were at the core of Brown’s sound. Today, at 81, he leads jazz-funk heroes the New JBs, drawing on his deep catalog of work, always, always bringing the funk. BK
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $52.50. 427-2227.
Wow…how lucky are we to get such a stellar week of music in our own backyard !??!!!
Wishing there was enough room for the GT staff to add info about opening acts, if any, to these listings partly due to the fact that our local heroes of funk, Jive Machine, will be opening in Felton on Thursday (manana) for the awesome Boot Juice crew.
Plus, there’s Mountain Sol both days this weekend !
Vibrational !